Hoeven: FAA Radar Data Feed Cements North Dakota as the Most Advanced UAS Ecosystem in the Nation

Senator Worked to Pass Legislation Creating Radar Data Initiative, Advance System’s Secure Implementation at Northern Plains UAS Test Site

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today announced the activation of the Vantis Federal Radar Data Enclave, a secure integration of unfiltered radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the Vantis system at the Northern Plains Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Test Site.

The test site is the first non-federal entity in the nation to have access to the FAA’s unfiltered radar data feed.

The enclave establishes North Dakota as the national model for managing UAS traffic in the National Airspace (NAS) and gives three competitive advantages to the state:

Enables operators to fly UAS beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) statewide, while also allowing for more frequent BVLOS flights.

Provides capabilities needed to address counter-drone and national security concerns.

This bolsters efforts like the Point Defense Battle Lab that Hoeven worked to bring to the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The battle lab is focused on protecting domestic military bases against threats arising from the misuse of unmanned aircraft.

These capabilities are needed to protect critical infrastructure and high-profile events, like the 2026 World Cup and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

Creates new opportunities for UAS research and development that are not possible anywhere else in the country.

The initiative comes as a result of Hoeven’s efforts to pass the 2024 FAA reauthorization bill that included a requirement that the FAA evaluate how its radar data feeds could help integrate UAS into the national airspace.

Following this, Hoeven worked with then-FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker to set up the program in North Dakota and grant the state’s test site access to the FAA’s radar data.

Hoeven first announced this agreement between the FAA and the test site at the 2024 UAS Summit.

The senator has since been supporting efforts by the FAA, the test site and their partners, including the Thales Group, to install the required technology and validate the system’s security with the relevant federal agencies.

“The Vantis Federal Radar Data Enclave cements North Dakota as the most advanced UAS ecosystem in the nation. Federal radar data is one of the most comprehensive sources of airspace awareness available. We recognized that bringing this data feed to our state was essential for raising our UAS and counter-UAS operations to the next level. That’s why we worked to create this initiative through the 2024 FAA reauthorization bill and to set it up in North Dakota,” said Senator Hoeven. “No other state offers this level of capabilities, and it would take years for this type of system to be implemented anywhere else. We appreciate Trevor Woods and his team at the test site, the FAA and the Thales Group and other partners for their efforts to make this initiative a reality.”

“North Dakota is already a top proving ground for UAS technology, and launching the Radar Data Pathfinder program at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site will elevate our position as a hub for UAS innovation to even greater heights,” Gov. Kelly Armstong said. “This collaboration with the FAA, made possible by the work of Sen. Hoeven and an $11 million investment we approved with the state Legislature last year, will help shape the future of UAS operations in North Dakota and the United States and set the standard for integrating UAS into the national airspace.”

“The Vantis Federal Radar Data Enclave represents a foundational shift in how we approach shared airspace awareness,” said Trevor Woods, Executive Director of the Norther Plain UAS Test Site. “What began as infrastructure to enable scalable BVLOS operations has become something more significant—a governed surveillance backbone that supports both aviation innovation and counter-UAS readiness. This positions North Dakota at the forefront of secure airspace integration.”

“Vantis is a true testament to the magic that can happen when federal government, states and industry work together to innovate,” said Frank McIntosh, Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer. “This ground-breaking work marks a significant evolution in the FAA’s data-sharing approach and demonstrates our commitment to safe drone integration without disruption to existing airspace users. As we look ahead to expanded BVLOS operations and increased automation, initiatives like this one provide a practical blueprint.”

“Transforming the future of U.S. airspace starts right here in America and requires partners like Thales, a global high-tech leader in defense, aerospace, cyber and digital, who deliver innovation without compromising security,” said Alan Pellegrini, CEO of Thales North America. “Thales is proud to be a trusted partner of the State of North Dakota in fundamentally changing the way people experience the airspace. Our work on the statewide UAS integration network demonstrates our expertise in delivering safe, secure and proven systems that protect airspace sovereignty and defend against domestic or foreign interference. Our advanced airspace management technologies and robust cybersecurity measures in North Dakota exceed the most stringent operational and cybersecurity requirements in the world for air traffic management networks.”

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Crapo Backs Bill to Bar Federal Funds for State Gun Registries

State News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho has joined U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi and U.S. Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona in introducing the Gun-owner Registration Information Protection (GRIP) Act, according to a Feb. 27, 2025 news release.

The legislation would prohibit states, local governments and other entities from using federal funding or firearms background check information to create or maintain gun owner registries.

Current federal law prohibits the federal government from permanently storing information obtained through the firearms background check process. The GRIP Act would clarify and strengthen that prohibition and extend it to states or local entities using federal funds.

The bill applies to federal grant programs including the National Criminal History Improvement Program, the NICS Amendment Records Improvement Program and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. It would not restrict state recordkeeping for firearm permitting, law enforcement-issued firearms or reports of lost or stolen guns.


Hyde-Smith Continues to Work for Rural Broadband

DBJ

This past January, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), along with U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that is instrumental in improving access to broadband service in Mississippi and the rest of rural America.

The Middle Mile for Rural America Act proposes a five-year (2026-2031) reauthorization of the middle-mile infrastructure program to help connect rural communities to high-speed internet.

“If we’re going to ensure reliable, high-speed broadband service to people in rural areas, we must look at the whole, which includes critical middle-mile projects,” says Senator Hyde-Smith. “This is a small, but significant USDA program that fills a gap to help ensure reliable and affordable service for rural homes and businesses.”

“I expect this reauthorization to be approved so that electric cooperatives, like those in Mississippi, can continue their work to expand broadband service.”

The 2018 Farm Bill expanded the authority of the USDA Rural Utilities Service to fund loans, loan guarantees, and grants for stand-alone middle-mile broadband projects, which previously could only be supported indirectly as part of last-mile projects.


Kaine, Cortez Masto to Force Senate Vote Demanding Transparency into Human Rights Violations by Former President of Honduras

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced legislation to require the Trump Administration to produce a report detailing Honduras’s human rights violations under former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who President Trump gave a “full and complete pardon” in December of 2025.

Hernández was convicted by a U.S. jury for conspiring to import hundreds of tons of cocaine and for related weapons offenses and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. The former Honduran president has also been accused of taking bribes from Joaquín Guzmán, the infamous Mexican cartel leader known as “El Chapo,” and raking in millions of dollars from drug trafficking organizations.

“Americans deserve answers about why President Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, a notorious and convicted narcotrafficker who had previously bragged about flooding the United States with cocaine,” said Kaine. “This legislation, which is guaranteed to receive a vote on the floor of the Senate, will require a detailed report about the crimes and human rights abuses that Hernández has committed against Hondurans and Americans and let the American people decide whether President Trump should have pardoned him.”

“President Trump’s inexplicable pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández puts into sharp relief President Trump’s hypocrisy on public safety,” said Cortez Masto. “The American people deserve to fully understand the connections between Hernández’s government, drug trafficking organizations, and Honduras’s human rights record. Congressional Republicans should stand with us and ensure President Trump doesn’t get a free pass for pardoning a notorious drug trafficker.”

In the coming weeks, Kaine and Cortez Masto will force a vote on this resolution which would outline the human rights abuses under former President Hernández. This resolution asks for information about:

Connections between high-level Honduran government officials and drug trafficking organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel;

Corruption of Honduran government officials related to drug trafficking, including money laundering and bribery;

Torture, rape, illegal detention, witness tampering, and murder in connection with drug cartels and drug trafficking, and efforts to undermine police reforms and drug crime investigations.

The resolution also demands a description of the steps the United States has taken to promote respect for human rights in Honduras and bring Honduran government officials to justice for their involvement in drug trafficking. Finally, it requires an assessment from the Secretary of State of former President Juan Orlando Hernández’s current status post-conviction and any ongoing ties he maintains to drug cartels.

Under the legislation, if the Administration fails to produce the report, security assistance to Honduras would be prohibited by federal law. The legislation is privileged under the Foreign Assistance Act, meaning the Senate will be forced to vote on the measure.

The full resolution can be found here.

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Warner, Kaine Introduce Direct File Act to Guarantee Free, Easy Tax Filing for Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined over 150 lawmakers in introducing the Direct File Act, new legislation that would reverse the Trump administration’s decision to end the highly successful Direct File program — which allowed taxpayers to file their taxes online, for free, and directly with the government — and make the program permanent.

“Virginians should be able to file their taxes, quickly, easily, and for free,” said the senators. “The Trump administration’s senseless decision to end the Direct File program cost taxpayers billions of dollars. This bill would fully restore the program and make it permanent so that every year Americans have a reliable, hassle-free way to file their taxes.”

The average American taxpayer spends eight hours and $160 each year filing their taxes with tax prep companies. In 2024, the IRS launched Direct File to save families time and money. 94% of users described their experience as “excellent” or “above average,” and more than 70% of taxpayers said they would use Direct File if they were eligible. If fully implemented, Direct File was projected to save families up to $23 billion annually in fees, time, and tax credits.

Despite Direct File’s success, the Trump Administration ended the program after extensive lobbying efforts by tax prep companies. This decision contradicts recommendations from the independent Government Accountability Office and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, ultimately raising costs for Americans and making the tax filing experience even more burdensome.

In addition to directing the IRS to establish and operate a free online tax preparation and filing program, the Direct File Act would:

Prohibit the IRS from entering into agreements that restrict its ability to provide free online tax preparation or filing services.

Direct the IRS to publish an annual report on use levels, patterns of usage, and ways to improve access to Direct File.

Direct the IRS to enable seamless integration between state tax filing systems and Direct File, including through information sharing and a new grant program for states.

Reduce tax fraud by getting third-party income information to the IRS earlier in the tax season, allowing the agency to verify this information before issuing refunds.

In addition to Warner and Kaine, 38 other senators sponsored this legislation, including U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

120 Members of the House of Representatives sponsored the bill as well.

The bill is endorsed by 115 unions, advocacy groups, and national organizations, including Public Citizen, Americans for Tax Fairness, Economic Security Project Action, Groundwork Collaborative, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Communications Workers of America, Americans for Financial Reform, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Main Street Alliance, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, P Street, Patriotic Millionaires, Institute for Policy Studies - Program on Inequality, MoveOn, UnidosUS, 20/20 Vision, Advancing CT Together, Alliance for Retired Americans, Allons Babies, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Arkansas Asset Builders, Brazilian Worker Center Inc, California Alliance of Caregivers, CASH Campaign of Maryland, Catalyst Miami, Center for New Revenue, Center for the Study of Social Policy, Children's HealthWatch, Church Women United in New York State, Coalition on Human Needs, Color Of Change, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Community Change Action, Connecticut Voices for Children, Consumer Action, Courage California, Demand Progress, Elevate Idaho Families, End Child Poverty CA powered by GRACE, Fair Share America, Faith in Minnesota, Financial Empowerment Network, Futures Without Violence, Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc., Golden State Opportunity, Grow Brooklyn, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Housing Action Illinois, Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, In the Public Interest, Income Movement, Indivisible Georgia Coalition, ISAIAH (MN), Jobs with Justice, LIFT Inc, LIFT-DC, Maine Center for Economic Policy, Maine Equal Justice, MakingChange, Inc, Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY), Maryland Center on Economic Policy, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Meals4Families, Minnesota Budget Project, Mothers Outreach Network, My Money Story, National Association of Social Workers, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles, National Organization for Women, National Rural Social Work Caucus, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Mexico Voices for Children, Northern Santa Barbara County United Way, Northwest Progressive Institute, Oregon Center for Public Policy, Oxfam America, Prepare + Prosper, Prosperity Indiana, Public Good Law Center, RAISE Texas, Responsible Wealth, RESULTS, RESULTS DC/MD, RESULTS.org-Massachusetts, Rise Up WV, RootsAction, San Diego for Every Child, SiX Action, Social Work Grand Challenge to Reduce Extreme Economic Inequality, State Innovation Exchange, Strong Economy For All Coalition, The Arc of the United States, Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hidalgo County Texas, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, United for a Fair Economy, United for Respect, United Way of Frederick County, United Ways of the Pacific Northwest, Upper West Side Action Group, Vesta Prosperity, Voices for Progress, Washington Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition, Washington State Budget and Policy Center, Women Employed, and Young Invincibles.

“A free, direct e-filing tax return system is a fundamental taxpayer right,” said Nina Olson, Executive Director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights and former National Taxpayer Advocate. “Just as the government designs and printed paper tax forms for years, so should it design and maintain a user-friendly electronic filing option for individual taxpayers.”

The full bill can be found here and a summary of the bill can be found here.

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Warner, Kaine Press MSHA on Response to Mining Accident

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) sent a letter to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regarding the agency’s response to a mining accident in West Virginia in November 2025 that resulted in the tragic death of a miner. The letter stems from concern that MSHA staffing shortages are hampering the agency’s ability to protect mine workers in Southwest Virginia who risk their lives to power our country. In the letter, the senators press MSHA on its decision to not deploy a seismograph during rescue efforts and the implication of workforce cutbacks on its ability to protect mine workers.

“We write regarding the tragic Rolling Thunder Mine accident that occurred in Nicholas County, West Virginia on November 8, 2025, resulting in the devastating loss of one miner. We have serious concern over reports that have raised questions about the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) response to the emergency,” wrote the senators.

“As you know, incidents of this magnitude demand not only a swift and coordinated response, but also transparency, accountability, and a clear commitment to preventing future tragedies. Miners and their families in Virginia and across the country deserve confidence that MSHA prioritizes worker safety and preventing disasters, while also maintaining capacity to respond to any emergencies immediately and adequately. We are concerned by reports that MSHA failed to deploy and use a seismograph in its response to the accident at the Rolling Thunder Mine, despite the agency having access to an upgraded system,” the senators continued.

Mining fatalities increased by 27 percent in 2025, raising significant safety concerns across the industry. The senators emphasized the need for MSHA to work with Congress to assess the factors contributing to this rise and to identify steps that can be taken to improve mine safety and prevent future incidents.

“These reports raise questions about whether the ongoing efforts to downsize MSHA’s workforce have begun to interfere with the agency’s ability to effectively protect our nation’s miners. According to MSHA’s own reports, the agency has 1,409 employees, which is 14 percent below the 1,637 employees funded in the agency’s fiscal year 2025 appropriations. We are alarmed that staffing shortages may have begun to affect the agency’s ability to conduct inspections to prevent future disasters, enforce critical safety regulations, and respond timely and appropriately to emergencies like the one at Rolling Thunder Mine. For instance, it has been reported that MSHA impact inspections, which are conducted at mines deemed in greater need of enforcement oversight due to poor compliance or accident history, dropped 75 percent in the first five months of the Trump Administration,” the senators added.

Warner and Kaine concluded the letter by demanding that MSHA answer a series of questions regarding its failure to deploy a seismograph during the November 2025 rescue efforts, its awareness of safety concerns at Rolling Thunder Mine, and the strain caused by ongoing staffing shortages.

Warner and Kaine have long worked to support and protect miners, retirees, and their families. They successfully secured more than $600,000 for Norton Community Hospital and Black Lung Clinic during the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding process. The Inflation Reduction Act, which Warner and Kaine helped negotiate and pass, included a permanent extension of the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund’s excise tax, providing certainty for miners, miner retirees, and their families who rely on the fund to access benefits. This followed the senators’ successful efforts to ensure that miners receive the pensions and health care they earned.

Read the full letter here or below.

Dear Assistant Secretary Palmer,

We write regarding the tragic Rolling Thunder Mine accident that occurred in Nicholas County, West Virginia on November 8, 2025, resulting in the devastating loss of one miner. We have serious concern over reports that have raised questions about the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) response to the emergency.

As you know, incidents of this magnitude demand not only a swift and coordinated response, but also transparency, accountability, and a clear commitment to preventing future tragedies. Miners and their families in Virginia and across the country deserve confidence that MSHA prioritizes worker safety and preventing disasters, while also maintaining capacity to respond to any emergencies immediately and adequately. We are concerned by reports that MSHA failed to deploy and use a seismograph in its response to the accident at the Rolling Thunder Mine, despite the agency having access to an upgraded system.[1]

These reports raise questions about whether the ongoing efforts to downsize MSHA’s workforce have begun to interfere with the agency’s ability to effectively protect our nation’s miners. According to MSHA’s own reports, the agency has 1,409 employees, which is 14 percent below the 1,637 employees funded in the agency’s fiscal year 2025 appropriations.[2] We are alarmed that staffing shortages may have begun to affect the agency’s ability to conduct inspections to prevent future disasters, enforce critical safety regulations, and respond timely and appropriately to emergencies like the one at Rolling Thunder Mine. For instance, it has been reported that MSHA impact inspections, which are conducted at mines deemed in greater need of enforcement oversight due to poor compliance or accident history, dropped 75 percent in the first five months of the Trump Administration.[3]

Protecting the health and safety of our miners is paramount. Although these are inherently risky jobs, it is unacceptable that 33 miners lost their lives last year, a 27 percent increase in mining fatalities compared to 2024.[4] In response to these concerns, we request answers to the following questions:

Why was a seismograph not deployed in the response effort at the Rolling Thunder Mine accident that occurred on November 8, 2025?

If use of a seismic system was not possible during pumping and drilling activities that were necessary to remove water from the accident site, why did MSHA decide not to alternate between drilling and seismic device use?

Please provide a comprehensive timeline disclosing MSHA’s awareness of safety concerns at the Rolling Thunder Mine prior to the accident, including inspections conducted, violations cited, and any enforcement actions taken.

Has MSHA identified any workforce shortages or regulatory changes that may affect the frequency or quality of inspections?

Please provide a detailed plan demonstrating how MSHA will continue to fulfill its obligations to adequately keep miners safe despite more limited staffing capacity.

For generations, our nation’s coal miners have made tremendous sacrifices, literally risking their lives, to power America and ensure a robust nationwide supply of critical steel. We all share an urgent responsibility to guarantee that every available tool to protect miner safety is utilized appropriately to ensure that our miners make it home unharmed after every shift.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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[1] Tony, M. (2025, December 5). Miner safety advocates concerned by MSHA response to Rolling Thunder Mine incident. Charleston Gazette-Mail. https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/miner-safety-advocates-concerned-by-msha-response-to-rolling-thunder-mine-incident/article_37ce1e2f-2005-4c66-bfbd-d4aff7c59087.html

[2] Tony, M. (2026, January 24). Miner allies pan MSHA head over resource cuts, not enforcing black lung-focused rule. Charleston Gazette-Mail. https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/miner-allies-pan-msha-head-over-resource-cuts-not-enforcing-black-lung-focused-rule/article_e37402a4-22da-48ed-bb7f-c9954be560bb.html

[3] Ortega, B., Devine, C., Lah, K., & Tolan, C. (2025, June 4). Coal miners backed Trump. He’s dismantled their safety net. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/04/us/trump-coal-miners-inspections-safety-invs

[4] Yanik, K. (2026, January 5). MSHA: Industry finishes 2025 with 33 miner fatalities. Pit & Quarry. https://www.pitandquarry.com/msha-industry-finishes-2025-with-33-miner-fatalities/


In Yuma, Kelly Visits Auto Repair Shop and Fresh Produce Fields

Kelly heard from a small business owner in Somerton about impact of Trump tariffs

During his visit to Yuma, Kelly also met with Marine Corps leadership at MCAS Yuma and local agriculture leaders

In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly spent the day in Yuma where he visited Yepez Automotive Repair in Somerton to hear about running a small business and how rising costs driven by President Trump’s tariffs on imported auto parts are impacting them. While in Yuma, Kelly visited produce fields with farmers and farmworkers during harvest, met with leadership at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, and sat down with local agriculture leaders to discuss water, labor, and how he can continue delivering results for the region.

At Yepez Automotive Repair, a family-owned business that has served Yuma for fifty years, Kelly toured the shop and spoke with the owner about how higher costs for auto parts are affecting their operations. Tariffs on imported goods are driving up the cost of auto parts, forcing repair shops to make tough choices.

Earlier in the day, Kelly visited MCAS Yuma, where he met with leadership to discuss the base’s priorities and ongoing missions. He also toured Marine Operational Test & Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1) and received updates on the installation’s critical role in supporting military readiness. Kelly thanked MCAS Yuma leadership and staff for their service and reaffirmed his commitment on the Senate Armed Services Committee to supporting Arizona’s military installations and the service members and families who rely on them.

While in Yuma, Kelly also met with local agriculture leaders to provide an update on his work in Washington related to agriculture, labor, water, and conservation efforts. He heard directly from growers and community leaders about the challenges they are facing and reiterated his commitment to advocating for Arizona’s farmers and protecting the state’s long-term water security.

At each stop, Kelly underscored his focus on lowering costs for Arizona families, supporting small businesses and service members, and delivering results for communities in every corner of the state.


Kelly Statement on Latest Drone Incidents Near Mexican Border

Kelly has worked on the Border Drone Threat Assessment Act to fight drug cartels and improve collaboration between government agencies

Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly released the following statement after a second incident this month related to drone activity near the Mexican border led to airspace closure:

“When bad actors like cartels gain access to drone technology, the U.S. government must have a clear coordination plan to protect the country if it ever becomes necessary. After yesterday’s incident in Texas, it’s clear there is a problem and the need to address it is urgent.

“My Border Drone Threat Assessment Act will improve our threat response by clearing up roles, authorities, and coordination procedures across responsible agencies. This will prevent errors like the ones we’ve seen this month that cause chaos and put border communities at risk. I’ll continue working in Congress to get this bill passed and keep Americans safe.”


WATCH: In Senate EPW Hearing, Kelly Pushes Army Corps to Fix Delays Holding Up Arizona Flood Control Projects

This week, during a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly pressed Army Corps leadership on costly delays that have stalled critical flood control projects in Flagstaff and Winslow.

Kelly raised concerns about the Corps’ Section 902 review process, which has paused construction on projects designed to protect Arizona communities from worsening flood risks, even after Congress and local partners secured full funding.

Kelly highlighted the urgency of completing the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project in Flagstaff: “The Rio de Flag project in Flagstaff is designed to protect the city from flooding. We’ve got bad wildfires in the region. This project has hit the 902 limit. […] the nonfederal sponsor has been told by the LA district that this report will be completed and submitted to Congress by May of 2026, so in about 3 or 4 months, and in in time to be included in this year’s water bill.”

Kelly also pressed officials about the Winslow Levee Project, which would remove the entire city of Winslow from the floodplain but is now delayed due to the same 902 process. Despite Congress authorizing the project in 2020, Kelly securing the full federal match in 2022, and the Arizona Legislature providing the full local match in 2024, construction cannot begin.

Kelly expressed frustration with the bureaucratic delays: “It feels like they did everything right and now we’re in this downward spiral. To get it reauthorized, it’s going to take more time. In that period of time, the cost is going to go up, and it’s going to hit a 902 limit again. You wind up spiraling and you never get the project done.”

Lieutenant General Graham acknowledged responsibility for the delays and committed to reviewing all projects currently undergoing 902 reviews nationwide.

Sen. Kelly questions witnesses at a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing.

Click here to download a video of Kelly’s remarks. See the transcript below:

Sen Kelly:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you both for being here. Mr. Telle, the Rio de flag project in Flagstaff, it’s designed to protect the city from flooding. We’ve got bad wildfires in the region. We discussed this project during your nomination hearing. It’s hit the 902 limit. So, for folks in in the room that don’t understand what that is, that means construction is on hold until the LA district completes a cost validation study. And then that study has to be reauthorized in some sort of water bill to restart construction. You know this, Mr. Telle. The nonfederal sponsor has been told by the LA district that this report will be completed and submitted to Congress by May of 2026, so in about 3 or 4 months, and in time to be included in this year’s water bill. So, let me just start with General Graham, is that the timeline that you’re tracking for completion of the validation study?

Lieutenant General William H. Graham Jr.:

Senator Kelly, thank you for that question. Yes, it is. The director’s report is scheduled to be on my desk May of this year.

Sen. Kelly:

So, Secretary Telle, will you then commit to making sure that this study is submitted in time for word of 2026?

Assistant Secretary Adam R. Telle:

Senator Kelly, I believe and I would check with the chairman that May 2026 will be a sufficient time to have that included in WRDA 2026. I would also point out, this is a project that’s affected by real estate issues related to railroads, as you well know. This is an initiative, part of our building infrastructure, not paperwork initiatives, about how do we solve some of these global real estate challenges. Railroads are a big one. I think we can work with the railroad industry nationwide to have a better working relationship that will help projects just like this one.

Sen. Kelly:

Well, that’s great. That’s good news that it’ll be in time for WRDA 2026. Similar issue. The Winslow Levee project. Right now, the entire city of Winslow is in a floodplain. And this project, this levee system, will fix that. So let me quickly just go through the timeline here. In 2020. Congress authorized the project. In 2022, I secured the full federal match for the project. In 2024, the Arizona Legislature, they stepped up and provided the full local match for the project. But, once again, like the other one, this hit the 902 limit, which means construction can’t start. General Graham, when do you expect that the validation study for this one, the Winslow Levee Project, will be completed? And will this be in time for WRDA 2026?

Lt. Graham:

So, Senator Kelly, direct answer. No, I don’t believe that we’ll be able to get the documentation for a packer up here in that time. Let me let me explain that. It was authorized—and this is the behavior, that we’re working under a building infrastructure, not paperwork, this is the behavior we’re trying to prevent—it got authorized at roughly 5% design. And so shockingly, when we start to actually put the real engineering behind what it’s going to take to better protect Winslow, we realized that “oh, there’s more,” and that more is going to be more expensive and in a different place. Acknowledge, absolutely, that the other challenge here is that it’s a ring levee basically around the town. And so, we can’t just come up with, “let’s just do a little piece,” because eventually the water will surround it. So, we have to do this, the whole thing. So, that behavior of asking for authorization for projects when we don’t have enough engineering to give you what a good cost estimate is. I own that, and we’re working hand-in-hand with the Secretary’s office to fix that. We’ll see if we can beat—well, we’re not going to make it for WRDA 26—and we will make a commitment to make WRDA 28.

Sen. Kelly:

Is there anything that the local sponsor should have done differently here? Because this is frustrating because it feels like they did everything right and now we’re in this downward spiral.

Lt. Graham:

Senator Kelly, that’s on us. We own that. We have to working hand-in-hand with the local sponsors. We’ll see if there’s some options where they might be able to provide funds. But to try to get this over here by the end of May, I don’t believe that we’re going to make it. I understand that it’s a challenge for this community, that they’re vulnerable. And we will continue to work with a great sense of urgency to do everything we can to offer protection.

Sen. Kelly:

How many projects nationwide are currently under 902 reviews?

Lt. Graham:

Senator, the number I’ve got in my head is 29.

Sen. Kelly:

And what do you think that is as a percentage of all projects?

Lt. Graham:

We have thousands of projects, Senator.

Sen. Kelly:

So, it doesn’t feel like a high percentage.

Lt. Graham:

Every one of those is a commitment we’ve made to this committee and we’re not delivering on. So, those are unacceptable as part of building infrastructure, not paperwork there. We’re going to take a look at every one of those 902 busts to see why we’ve had to come back. A lot of this is going to be, we got it authorized with immature engineering, but some of it is we just don’t have the right team on it. So, we’ll take a look at that, and if that’s the case, we’ll move it to a different team or a different district.

Sen. Kelly:

Yeah, but it seems like, with this one especially, it’s going to be a scenario where to get it reauthorized, it’s going to take more time. And in that period of time the cost is going to go up and there’s going to hit a 902 limit again, and then it’s going to get reauthorized again in new engineering and cost estimates. And you just wind up spiraling, and you never get the project done.

Lt. Graham:

That’s the spiral of doom that the Secretary and I are working with to get the Corps out of it.

Sen. Kelly:

All right. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.


King, Cramer Introduce Bill to Help Servicemembers Access Earned Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), both members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), introduced a bipartisan bill that would provide support to veterans in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) applying for the benefits they earned in service to the nation. The TAP Promotion Act would allow accredited representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or other organizations, to participate in TAP classes to help transitioning servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims.

TAP is offered at over 300 installations around the world and helps prepare servicemembers for civilian life. Since TAP classroom instructors are not legally allowed to help veterans fill out benefits paperwork, having an accredited representative physically present in TAP classrooms during Veterans Affairs (VA) briefings would ease and simplify the process as service members transition to veteran status. Through BDD, servicemembers can file expedited claims and complete medical evaluations before leaving service. Accelerating claims decisions would allow transitioning servicemembers to have minimal gaps in essential care like mental health counseling and medication management once they officially leave service.

“Every year approximately 200,000 servicemembers transition out of military service into civilian life, whether the servicemember is finishing their first deployment, or retiring,” said Senator King. “The TAP Promotion Act would allow these servicemembers to connect with an informed, VA accredited representative who can mentor them in the process of applying for and receiving the benefits they earned. Thanks to my colleagues for understanding the importance of serving our veterans—just as they have served us throughout their careers.”

“The Transition Assistance Program, otherwise known as TAP, is one of the most important tools we have to help service members prepare for life after the military,” said Senator Cramer. “But, of course, information alone isn’t enough. It takes people. State and county Veterans Service Officers are often the first ones to help veterans access benefits that veterans themselves have earned. I think it’s important to always remember that—they’ve earned these benefits. What our bill does is it makes sure they are part of the process from the start and not brought in after a veteran is already out the door.”

“No service member should walk out the gate on their final day in uniform without a clear path to the care and benefits they earned. The TAP Promotion Act ensures that VA-accredited representatives can participate in TAP briefings and assist with Benefits Delivery at Discharge claims, helping prevent unnecessary delays in compensation, mental health care, and other critical services. This is a practical, bipartisan fix that improves oversight, strengthens transition outcomes, and honors our nation’s commitment to those who served. The VFW is proud to support Senators King and Cramer in advancing this important legislation,” said VFW National Legislative Service Associate Director Joy Craig.

In addition to King and Cramer, the bill is cosponsored by Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jim Risch (R-ID), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Curtis (R-UT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Ashley Moody (R-FL), and Rick Scott (R-FL).

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs. Earlier this year he introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would address an unfair rule in federal law that creates unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.”

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Lee Cosponsors Government Surveillance Transparency Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) cosponsored the Government Surveillance Transparency Act to require public reporting and notice of the hundreds of thousands of criminal surveillance orders issued by courts each year. These orders are typically sealed indefinitely, keeping government surveillance hidden for years, even when the targets are never charged with any crime.

“This bill strikes an appropriate balance between protecting criminal investigations and notifying individuals when their private electronic communications are surveilled by the government,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Americans have a right against unreasonable searches, and that includes in their digital communications and data. I am proud to cosponsor The Government Surveillance Transparency Act.”

The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Steve Daines (R-MT). The House version of the bill was introduced by U.S. Representatives Warren Davidson (R-OH) and Ted Lieu (D-CA).

“Law-abiding Americans deserve to know when and how their government tries to spy on them,” said Senator Ron Wyden. “This bill establishes a clear process to ensure the government can’t conduct surveillance operations in the dark by misusing sealing orders, with commonsense protections to make sure that active investigations aren’t compromised.”

“The government should not be able to read your emails, access your personal data, or surveil your digital life in secret,” said Senator Cory Booker. “But right now, the law lets them do exactly that. Congress has a responsibility to fix it, and it’s long overdue. Every American, every New Jerseyan, has a constitutional right to know when the government has searched their personal information. This bill makes that a reality and restores the transparency every American deserves.”

“Montanans and Americans have the Constitutional right to protection from unreasonable searches and seizures,” said Senator Steve Daines. “I’m proud to work with my colleagues on the Government Surveillance Transparency Act to increase transparency and maintain integrity of investigations.”

“Americans should not be subjected to secret government surveillance that stays sealed forever, with no notice and no accountability,” said Congressman Warren Davidson. “This bipartisan bill restores constitutional balance by requiring eventual notice and ensuring transparency without compromising legitimate law enforcement needs.”

“Americans deserve transparency when the government obtains their data, but current rules allow law enforcement agencies to keep these activities hidden indefinitely,” said Congressman Ted Lieu. “The Government Surveillance Transparency Act prevents the government from keeping the public in the dark forever. By adopting common-sense transparency measures, our bill ensures Americans are eventually notified about subpoenas and court-ordered surveillance of their electronic data. I’m pleased to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate on this important, bipartisan legislation.”

The Government Surveillance Transparency Act would:

Require law enforcement to notify targets about subpoenas and court ordered surveillance of their electronic data, similar to existing rules for wiretaps and bank subpoenas.

Permit providers and other interested parties to challenge sealing orders, requiring the government to pay the challenger’s costs and legal fees if it loses.

Require that surveillance applications and orders eventually be unsealed and docketed, ensuring they are available to the public and press once it no longer disrupts an investigation or puts individuals at risk.

Require courts to publish online basic data about every surveillance order they authorize, while not revealing any personal information that could disrupt an active investigation.

Require that law enforcement notify courts if they search the wrong person, house, or device pursuant to an order issued by the court or if a provider discloses data not authorized by the court.

Require the Administrative Office of the Courts to expand the annual wiretap reports to include data on the surveillance of stored communications, interception of metadata, and gag orders.

Provide grants to State and Tribal courts to implement the requirements of the bill.

Access the full text of the bill here.

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Luján, Schumer, Cantwell, and Senate Democrats Take on Skyrocketing Cost of Food and Household Items as Trump Imposes His Tariff Tax and Turns a Blind Eye to Monopolies

Senate Democrats Release Report: “Trump’s Broken Promises: Devastating America’s Farmers and Working Families”

Washington, D.C. – As Senate Democrats continue a year-long push on affordability and finding solutions that lower costs for American families, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Senate Democrats hosted a roundtable with organizations and advocates examining how President Trump’s chaotic trade war and deference to special interests and corporations has skyrocketed the prices of groceries and other household essentials for American families, while also devastating America’s farmers and ranchers and straining small businesses and rural communities.

In Trump’s America, families are being crushed from every direction, facing rising household costs while deep cuts to SNAP and other basic supports are making it harder to afford the things families need most. During the roundtable, the Senators highlighted President Trump’s broken promises to lower the cost of everyday items, including groceries. At the same time consumers are paying more, farmers and ranchers are being squeezed by corporate monopolies profiting from consolidation in agriculture and food, leaving rural communities and small businesses behind. Instead of picking up the bipartisan work begun under previous administrations to fight this decades-long trend, the Trump administration is siding with big corporate power over farmers, workers, and consumers—raising prices and leaving working families with fewer healthy options for their kids.

“Behind every statistic is a family, a senior, a veteran, or a working family struggling to make ends meet. While President Trump has personally profited more than $1.4 billion since taking office, grocery prices have continued to rise, and Republicans have pushed through the largest cuts to food assistance in our nation’s history,” said Senator Luján. “Families are being squeezed from every direction, and President Trump’s economy is simply not working for New Mexicans. Democrats are keeping affordability front and center as we fight to deliver for families.”

“Trump promised to bring prices down on ‘day one.’ But when American families go to the grocery store, they are confronted with the harsh reality that Trump has sold out consumers in fealty to special interests. Americans are feeling the pain of policy driven to support corporations, while leaving farmers, ranchers, and working families behind,” said Leader Schumer. “Senate Democrats know that affordability isn’t a ‘hoax’ – it’s something that every American feels when they pay their bills or make a trip to the grocery store. And Democrats are committed to finding solutions that address the root cause of these skyrocketing prices and work to sustainably lower food and household costs.”

“Donald Trump’s tariffs have put American farmers and ranchers under extreme financial strain. Costs are rising. Markets are closing,” said Senator Cantwell. “It’s time for our Republican Senate colleagues to stand up and do something about this. The President doesn’t care. But now, it’s time to find out if Republicans care about these farm communities that they represent.”

Additionally, Senate Democrats released a new “Broken Promises” analysis detailing how the Trump administration is raising costs, gutting markets, picking favorites, and siding with monopoly interests over working Americans – leaving farmers, ranchers, and consumers to suffer the consequences.

Read the one-pager on the report here. Read the full report here.

Below are quotes from roundtable participants:

Tim Wu, Julius Silver Professor of Law, Science and Technology, Columbia Law School: “‘There’s nothing to be done’ cannot be the answer to the affordability crisis.”

Mike Callicrate, Member of R-CALF, Farm Action Local Leader: “It’s past time to enforce anti-trust laws and break up the meat monopolies like Congress did in the 1920s. Otherwise, consumer prices will remain disconnected from prices paid to producers and will likely keep rising.”

Basel Musharbash, Managing Attorney, Antimonopoly Counsel: “Like today, in the 1930s, a failure to enforce the antitrust laws had allowed corporate power to metastasize, leading to massive inflation even in the midst of economic depression. In response, Democrats in Congress and the Executive took five that we can and should replicate today. This was how New Deal Democrats solved the affordability crisis of their era and, in the process, saved this country from snake-oil salesmen and would-be fascists. This is also how Democrats can address the affordability crisis and save the country today. In short, we know what we need to do. We just need to do it.”

Michael Kades, Partner-Antitrust Litigation, Nachawati Law Group: “For far too long, market power has spread through food markets like a weed—choking off competition, squeezing farmers and ranchers, and driving up prices for American families. Restoring competition is essential to any lasting solution to high food costs, and today’s roundtable is a necessary first step.”

Ademola Oyefeso, International Vice President, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW):“Whether helping customers in the grocery store or shopping for their own family, UFCW members know that grocery bills are still too high. The Trump Administration has failed to bring costs down as promised, and now, corporations are looking for new ways to squeeze the most out of their customers. Surveillance pricing, the practice of changing prices based on individual customers, has become a potential tool to hike prices with AI, mass data collection, and electronic shelf labels. We need the Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act to become law and ban these practices and technologies now. The UFCW will continue to fight to lower grocery prices for families and work to ban predatory pricing tactics before they take root.”

Lee Hepner, Senior Legal Counsel, American Economic Liberties Project: “If you want to understand why we have an affordability crisis, focus on concentrated markets and the sophisticated tools large corporations are using to replace beneficial competition with consumer deception. No one expects a fair price from pulling the lever of a slot machine, yet we seem to be okay with the real economy being run like a casino. This technology is incapable of self-regulation and Congress has a duty to deliver affordability through reliable and transparent prices.”

Vishwesh Bhatt, chef of Chai Pani in DC and member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition: “Rising food costs aren’t theoretical for independent restaurants — they show up on our invoices every single week. When produce, protein, coffee, and specialty ingredients jump 10 or 15 percent, we can’t simply pass those costs on without risking our customers or our survival. Independent restaurants are forced into impossible choices: raise prices and lose trust or absorb costs and watch already-thin margins disappear. These pressures don’t just affect menus — they affect jobs, wages, and whether a neighborhood restaurant can keep its doors open. We’re grateful to Leader Schumer, Senators Luján and Cantwelll for recognizing these realities and for engaging directly with independent restaurant owners about what it actually takes to keep our businesses and our teams afloat.”

Erika Polmar, Executive Director of the Independent Restaurant Coalition: “Independent restaurants operate on margins so thin that even modest food cost increases can be destabilizing. When inflation hits the ingredients operators rely on most — proteins, seafood, coffee, produce — it squeezes every part of the business, from payroll to pricing to long-term viability. These businesses employ more than 11 million people and anchor local economies nationwide. We’re grateful to Leader Schumer, Senators Luján and Cantwelll for their leadership and for taking the time to understand the real, on-the-ground economics facing independent restaurants and bars across the country.”

Ty Jones Cox, Vice President for Food Assistance, Center for Budget Policy and Priorities: “SNAP is our nation’s most effective tool to combat hunger. Instead of shoring up this vital program that helps families afford groceries, Republicans in Congress enacted the largest cuts in the program’s history, including a cost shift to states and localities that could end SNAP altogether in some states. Hundreds of thousands of low-income people have already lost their food assistance, and millions more will soon see their SNAP benefits cut or eliminated as the full brunt of these cuts take effect. Congress must act urgently to address this unfolding crisis.”

Rob Larew, President, National Farmers Union: “Unpredictable trade policies and corporate consolidation are squeezing family farmers on one end and consumers on the other. The farmer’s share of the food dollar is near historic lows, even as monopolies profit and grocery prices climb. Farmers and families deserve better—and that starts with restoring fairness to our food system.”

Joe Maxwell, President, Farm Action Fund: “I commend Senator Schumer for shining a light on how consolidation drives high food prices and squeezes farmers. One of the clearest examples is in meatpacking: when the same handful of firms dominate beef, pork, and chicken, competition breaks down, leaving farmers with too few buyers and families paying more. Concentration in seed, chemical, fertilizer, and grain processing markets makes the squeeze even worse, pushing farmers off the land. Today, we are losing 63 farmers a day to highly concentrated food and agriculture markets.”

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Luján, Schumer, Wyden, and Senate Democrats Demand Trump Return Money Stolen From Consumers Through Tariff Tax

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Senate Democrats in demanding that the Trump administration immediately begin to process refunds for tariffs and customs duties following the Supreme Court ruling that President Trump’s tariff regime is illegitimate. The Trump administration continues to reject and stonewall efforts to return this stolen tariff tax back to the people who were hurt the most – small businesses and American consumers. Senate Democrats will fight to make sure that those who were hurt the most by these tariffs get relief.

“The American people — small business owners, importers, manufacturers, and the consumers who ultimately bore the cost of these illegal taxes — deserve better than this stonewalling,” the Senators wrote. “This money does not belong to the federal government. It belongs to the businesses and individuals you illegally taxed.”

Specifically, the Senators are directing the administration to begin processing refunds automatically, instead of forcing small businesses to file suit to get their money back; ceasing any efforts to delay, condition, or deny refunds; and working to ensure relief flows to the consumers who ultimately bore the cost of the tariffs.

“The Supreme Court’s ruling was not, as you characterized it, ‘a loss for the American people.’ It was a reaffirmation that no president is above the law,” the Senators concluded. “The true loss for the American people would be an administration that collected over $130 billion in illegal taxes and then refused — with a smile and a shrug — to give it back. If this administration does not act, Congress will.”

In addition to Luján, Schumer and Wyden, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), , Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).

The full text of the letter can be seen here and below.

Secretary Bessent,

Your comments following the Supreme Court’s decision to correctly invalidate this administration’s illegal tariff regime are completely unacceptable, as is the administration’s apparent decision to deny automatic refunds of these illegally collected tariffs.

On Friday, after the Supreme Court’s ruling, you said “the American people won’t see” the billions of dollars in tariff revenue unlawfully collected from them. Then, on Sunday, you doubled down, dismissing questions about refunds as “bad framing,” repeatedly insisting the matter is “up to the lower court” rather than the administration, and refusing to answer whether small business owners who bore the cost of these illegal tariffs would ever get their money back.

These statements stand in direct contradiction to your own prior commitments and are a slap in the face to American businesses and families who you illegally taxed by well over $130 billion. In January, you said that issuing tariff refunds “won’t be a problem” for the Treasury, and that “if the court says it, we’d have to do it.” The Court has said it. In a 6-3 ruling, it found that the president exceeded his legal authority. You need to give the people their money back.

The American people — small business owners, importers, manufacturers, and the consumers who ultimately bore the cost of these illegal taxes — deserve better than this stonewalling. This money does not belong to the federal government. It belongs to the businesses and individuals you illegally taxed.

The administration must immediately:

Direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to begin processing automatic refunds for all tariffs and customs duties unlawfully collected under IEEPA since January 20, 2025;

Establish a transparent and expeditious refund process that prioritizes small businesses and ensures that funds are returned to those who bore the costs;

Provide a clear public timeline — no longer than 90 days — for the initiation of refund disbursements; and,

Cease any efforts to delay, condition, or deny refunds pending further litigation, in keeping with your prior assurances that refunds would be issued if the Court ruled.

The Supreme Court’s ruling was not, as you characterized it, “a loss for the American people.” It was a reaffirmation that no president is above the law. The true loss for the American people would be an administration that collected over $130 billion in illegal taxes and then refused — with a smile and a shrug — to give it back. If this administration does not act, Congress will.

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Van Hollen, Merkley Press Lutnick for Answers on Epstein Ties

Letter follows Lutnick admission to Senator Van Hollen in Appropriations hearing that he lied about the extent and nature of his relationship with Epstein

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a member of the Subcommittee and lead sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, are pressing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for answers on his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, following his admission, in response to questions from Senator Van Hollen, that he had visited Jeffrey Epstein’s island after previously claiming not to have a relationship with him.

“We are writing to follow up on your exchanges regarding your relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious child predator, with members of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies during its February 10, 2026 hearing. Specifically, Ranking Member Van Hollen made the point that you had previously lied about the extent and nature of your relationship with Mr. Epstein. Senator Merkley also raised the issue of your relationship with him. We are writing to request additional information on that violation of public trust,” write the Senators.

“The recently released Epstein files have revealed interactions between you and Mr. Epstein that directly contradict your prior public statements—including a visit to his private island in 2012, years after you previously claimed to have severed all contact and well after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The files also show that you and Mr. Epstein were each investors in a company called Adfin in 2012. These are glaring discrepancies, and they have understandably further undermined public trust and raised serious questions that only full transparency can address,” they continue.

“In response, Ranking Member Van Hollen asked whether you would share with Congress your own records relating to your interactions with Mr. Epstein in order to ensure that the public record is complete. You responded that you would give the request some thought and stated, ‘I have nothing to hide,’” they note.

The Senators go on to request answers to a series of questions “[in] order to demonstrate to the Committee, Congress, and the American public that you do, in fact, have nothing to hide regarding your relationship with Mr. Epstein.”

The Senators requests’ for information from Lutnick include that he:

Produce all records of meetings, phone calls, and correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein or his associates, covering the full duration of your acquaintance.

Provide a complete and accurate timeline of every interaction had with Mr. Epstein, including those that took place after his 2008 conviction.

Provide any information or evidence to support the claim that Mr. Epstein is the “greatest blackmailer ever” in your October 2025 interview.

Provide answers to questions regarding his nanny.

“The American people and the survivors of Mr. Epstein’s crimes deserve a full accounting from every public official whose statements on this matter have proven incomplete. If, as you say, you have nothing to hide, then producing these records should be a straightforward matter,” they conclude.

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Lutnick:

We are writing to follow up on your exchanges regarding your relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious child predator, with members of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies during its February 10, 2026 hearing. Specifically, Ranking Member Van Hollen made the point that you had previously lied about the extent and nature of your relationship with Mr. Epstein. Senator Merkley also raised the issue of your relationship with him. We are writing to request additional information on that violation of public trust.

During a public interview in October 2025, you stated that after being disturbed by a tour of Mr. Epstein’s home in 2005, you “decided I will never be in the room with that disgusting person again” and that you were “never in the room with him socially, for business, or even philanthropy.”

The recently released Epstein files have revealed interactions between you and Mr. Epstein that directly contradict your prior public statements—including a visit to his private island in 2012, years after you previously claimed to have severed all contact and well after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The files also show that you and Mr. Epstein were each investors in a company called Adfin in 2012. These are glaring discrepancies, and they have understandably further undermined public trust and raised serious questions that only full transparency can address.

In response, Ranking Member Van Hollen asked whether you would share with Congress your own records relating to your interactions with Mr. Epstein in order to ensure that the public record is complete. You responded that you would give the request some thought and stated, “I have nothing to hide.”

In order to demonstrate to the Committee, Congress, and the American public that you do, in fact, have nothing to hide regarding your relationship with Mr. Epstein, we ask that you:

Produce all records of your meetings, phone calls, and correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein or his associates, covering the full duration of your acquaintance. These records should include anything of a personal, business, or other nature and those of any intermediaries, including family members, employees, or other agents of you or Mr. Epstein who facilitated any communications or interactions between you and Mr. Epstein.

Provide a complete and accurate timeline of every interaction you had with Mr. Epstein, including those that took place after his 2008 conviction.

Provide any information or evidence you have to support your claim that Mr. Epstein is the “greatest blackmailer ever” in your October 2025 interview.

Provide answers to the following questions regarding the issue of your nanny. Ranking Member Van Hollen asked you if the nanny that accompanied you in your lunch visit to Mr. Epstein’s island was the same nanny that Mr. Epstein, in his emails, expressed interest in meeting, to which you replied, “no, I have no idea about that whole thing. I mean, I don’t recall it having anything to do with me.”

Were you aware that Mr. Epstein obtained the resume of your nanny as demonstrated in the Epstein files?

Are you aware of Mr. Epstein taking interest in any of your nannies or other employees or obtaining any of their resumes or other personal information about them?

Did you, any of your family members, employees, or anyone else acting on your behalf ever provide Mr. Epstein with a resume or other personal information of this nanny or any other individual in your employ?

What is the name and contact information for your nanny who accompanied you to Epstein’s private island? What are the names and contact information of your other nannies since the time you first met Mr. Epstein to the time he was incarcerated? The answers to these two questions should be provided in a confidential manner to the Subcommittee.

No later than March 13, 2026, submit these materials to the Subcommittee to be included in the public record of the February 10, 2026 hearing for the benefit of the full Congress and the American people.

The American people and the survivors of Mr. Epstein’s crimes deserve a full accounting from every public official whose statements on this matter have proven incomplete. If, as you say, you have nothing to hide, then producing these records should be a straightforward matter.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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Moreno Statement on Ohio EPA Data Center Wastewater Plan

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) released thefollowing statementcondemning the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s draft for a new permit that would allow data centers to release untreated wastewater and stormwater directly into rivers and streams.


Murphy, Blumenthal Join Senate Democrats To Introduce The American Homeownership Act To Stop Wall Street's Housing Grab And Get Homes Back Into The Hands Of Families

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, and a group of Democratic senators in introducing The American Homeownership Act to rein in corporate landlords and get housing back into the hands of the American people. The bill would end tax breaks and other housing benefits for Wall Street landlords and reinvest the savings to increase the supply of affordable housing, bring down housing costs, and support homeownership for real people. The bill will also empower antitrust enforcers to prevent the kind of corporate buy-ups that squeeze out families trying to buy their own homes or afford their rent.

“We have to build millions of new homes to fix the housing crisis - but we also need to stand up to the private equity billionaires who buy up homes and apartments just to jack up prices for working Americans,” said Murphy. “Our bill forces big corporate buyers to either stop squeezing out family homeowners or pay tax penalties that go towards building new affordable housing. We don’t have to allow greedy corporations to make it impossible for Connecticut families to make rent or buy a home, and I’m proud to support legislation that puts a stop to it.”

“This legislation helps combat the housing crisis plaguing our country by ending major tax breaks for Wall Street landlords and investing in affordable housing—putting power back in the hands of American families. Big corporations are buying up homes and subjecting individuals to skyrocketing housing prices, unaffordable rent, unfair fees, and cruel evictions. This bill ends major federal tax deductions and other benefits for Wall Street landlords and reinvests those tax savings to build more housing and lower costs, helping more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership. If President Trump is serious about prioritizing American families over corporate interests, this legislation is the answer,” said Blumenthal.

The American Homeownership Act is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

The American Homeownership Act is endorsed by American Economic Liberties Project, American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Financial Reform, Communications Workers of America, Consumer Action, Grounded Solutions Network, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, National Housing Law Project, National Low Income Housing Coalition, and Private Equity Stakeholder.

“Our government has the resources to ensure that everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. But Wall Street investors have bought up neighborhoods of single-family homes, apartment buildings, and manufactured housing communities. They extract profit at the expense of poor and working families by hiking rents, tacking on hidden fees, neglecting repairs, pursuing baseless evictions, and ignoring tenant concerns. Families should be in control of their homes, not faceless corporate landlords. Senator Warren’s American Homeownership Act is a first-of-its-kind effort, taking on corporate ownership of multifamily developments to shift power back to tenants and provide affordable opportunities for first-time homeowners. We’re committed to fighting alongside Sen. Warren to combat the corporate takeover of our housing system and beyond,” said Shamus Roller, Executive Director of the National Housing Law Project

“The Private Equity Stakeholder Project is proud to endorse Senator Warren's vital legislation,” said Chris Noble, Policy Director at PESP. “For too long, Wall Street landlords have been able to have their cake and eat it too: enjoying lucrative tax breaks for buying up rental properties then raking in profits by hiking rents and imposing junk fees on hard-working American tenants. The federal government shouldn't be giving handouts to Wall Street landlords or bailing out private equity firms while Americans everywhere struggle to pay rent. The American Homeownership Act is an essential step toward preventing private equity and other corporate landlords from profiting from the housing affordability crisis.”

"The American Homeownership Act seeks to limit the role speculative investment plays in shaping housing opportunity in this country,” said Renee Willis, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “This legislation is an important step toward ensuring that housing serves people, not speculative profit, and that people with the lowest incomes can secure quality, accessible, and affordable homes in communities of their choice. I applaud Senator Warren’s and her co-sponsors' leadership in putting forth legislation to establish a level playing field where low-income families aren’t overpowered by large investors with short-term goals.”

“Grounded Solutions Network greatly appreciates Ranking Member Warren's leadership in working to address the impact of large institutional investors on our housing market. Private equity firms and others often outmaneuver and outbid first-time homebuyers and the nonprofits seeking to keep housing affordable. This bill will make housing less profitable for these institutions and rebalance tax priorities to increase funding for more stable and affordable housing for American families. In particular, we look forward to working with Senator Warren to leverage the bill’s recognition of housing initiatives that ensure lasting affordability,” said Doug Ryan, VP of Housing Policy, Grounded Solutions Network.

“Wall Street shouldn’t be outbidding families for the keys to their own homes,” said NCRC President and CEO Jesse Van Tol. “This bill puts that money back into building affordable housing and helping first-time buyers. Let's help people own homes, not investors.”

"In the midst of a severe housing affordability crisis, the government wastes billions in taxpayer dollars subsidizing rich Wall Street landlords instead of boosting housing supply. This bill strips out those tax breaks, redirects the savings to building affordable housing, and gives antitrust enforcers better tools to prevent market concentration before it becomes entrenched,” said Laurel Kilgour, Research Manager at the American Economic Liberties Project. “Congress should send this legislation to the President's desk, and he must sign it immediately.”

“This legislation gets at the heart of the problem—lack of access to affordable homes,” said Ruth Susswein, Consumer Action’s Director of Consumer Protection. “This bill will tax those corporate investors who’ve been devouring the single-family housing market and turn those tax dollars into sorely needed new housing to help make owning a home achievable again.”


Senator Murray on the Latest Status of the Disaster Relief Fund

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on news that—after spending the last year holding up disaster aid and weakening FEMA— Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem is now taking some steps to release long-held up disaster relief from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF).

“These resources should have gone out the door many months ago, but Secretary Noem has personally prevented disaster aid from reaching Americans trying to rebuild and recover. What a transparent political ploy—are disaster relief funds only going to get out when DHS is shut down?

“It’s good that these funds are finally flowing, but communities nationwide have already paid an unacceptable toll because of Kristi Noem’s disastrous mismanagement of FEMA, and it is absolutely unacceptable that it appears this administration may well be holding up disaster relief to certain blue states as it continues its sick campaign of retribution. Donald Trump and Kristi Noem need to stop playing politics with disaster relief, and this administration needs to publicly release the full backlog of communities that are waiting on relief because of Secretary Noem—this is something my staff and I have been requesting for almost a year now, but still have not received.

“Democrats are fighting to fully fund FEMA and TSA and to rein in ICE and Border Patrol, and we remain at the table, ready to get it done. I am also ready to immediately pass a supplemental disaster funding bill to provide even more funding for the Disaster Relief Fund, if Republicans are willing to work with Democrats on a disaster supplemental to help our communities and states.”

Over the last year, Secretary Noem has grossly mismanaged FEMA—and even pushed to eliminate it—and she has personally prevented disaster relief from reaching communities in urgent need, including by requiring personal sign-off on all disbursements over $100,000. This has led to a massive backlog of communities waiting on disaster funds—and has prompted bipartisan fury. $17 billion in disaster funds have been held up because of Secretary Noem. For context:

From January 2021 to January 2025, an average of $4.1 billion was released from the Disaster Relief Fund each month.

From February 2025 to December 2025, an average of just $1.7 billion was released each month, despite an ever-growing backlog and urgent needs nationwide in the wake of devastating recent wildfires, hurricanes, and other disasters. In July of last year, for example, just $470 million was released from the DRF—at no point in the prior four years had spending from the DRF ever dipped that low.

As of late last week, the Disaster Relief Fund—which supports FEMA’s disaster response activities even in a broader lapse of annual appropriations—had a balance of $9.6 billion. FEMA also had access to over $20 billion more for the DRF under the continuing resolution that recently lapsed—but Secretary Noem chose not to make use of the resources that were, for months, available to clear the unacceptable, growing backlog she created.

On Sunday—before today’s release of long-held up Public Assistance funds—DHS announced that: “Public Assistance will not move forward for ongoing or legacy disasters. FEMA will only carry out Public Assistance activities for new or recent disasters requiring immediate emergency action to protect lives or prevent catastrophic damage.” This week, a FEMA spokesperson stated that the released funding included projects “dating back as far as 15 years.”

In addition to single-handedly holding up disaster relief, Secretary Noem has: pushed to “eliminate FEMA;” forced out the FEMA chief who said he believed that eliminating FEMA would be unwise; empowered a new FEMA chief who infamously said that he didn’t know the U.S. had a hurricane season and who resigned just months later; cancelled a key disaster preparedness program, prompting bipartisan backlash; taken steps to dismiss scores of disaster workers; politicized the distribution of aid; and hampered FEMA’s response when disasters have struck.

In the event balances in the DRF run low, any president, at any time, may request supplemental funding from Congress. While annual appropriations provide some base funding for the DRF, Congress often replenishes the DRF through supplemental appropriations, as it did most recently in December 2024.


Padilla Statement on IRS-ICE Taxpayer Privacy Data Sharing Violations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, issued the following statement after a U.S. district judge ruled that the data-sharing system between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resulted in almost 43,000 cases of the Trump Administration violating strict taxpayer privacy laws:

“The IRS’ mass handover of sensitive taxpayer data to ICE isn’t just outrageous — it is flatly illegal. This unprecedented breach of taxpayer privacy tramples the rights of immigrants and citizens alike. Because of the Administration’s reckless, error-prone data-sharing system, innocent, hardworking people who pay taxes and contribute to our economy are being put directly in harm’s way and may have been wrongfully targeted for immigration enforcement. This is exactly the kind of abuse our tax laws were carefully designed to prevent.

“I will not stop fighting to hold Kristi Noem, Scott Bessent, and all those responsible accountable for this unlawful scheme in Donald Trump’s cruel mass deportation campaign.”

Senator Padilla has led the charge against the IRS-ICE data-sharing agreement. Earlier this month, Padilla and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) demanded answers and accountability from the IRS after the agency admitted in a court filing that the flawed system it adopted to transfer people’s home addresses to ICE potentially led to thousands of records being shared improperly in violation of taxpayer privacy laws. Senators Padilla, Wyden, Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and additional Senate Democrats warned early last year that the data-sharing agreement between the IRS and ICE would result in serious errors and violate taxpayer privacy. They demanded details about the status and potential misuse of the data-sharing program as recently as January 30 of this year.

Last spring, Senators Padilla, Wyden, and Cortez Masto led a letter and statement condemning the IRS’ plan, raising the alarm on initial reports that the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Government Efficiency illegally requested sensitive taxpayer information from the IRS.

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Peters, Slotkin Lead Resolution Commemorating Historic Achievements of U.S. Ice Hockey Teams at 2026 Winter Olympics

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Elissa Slotkin (MI) led a resolution commemorating the historic achievements of the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Teams at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The resolution also recognizes the numerous Michiganders on Team USA’s Ice Hockey Teams whose contributions were critical to both teams’ gold medal wins.

“I’m proud to lead this resolution honoring Team USA’s Ice Hockey Teams for their gold medal wins at the Winter Olympics,” said Senator Peters. “Their historic achievements will be remembered for generations to come, and will no doubt inspire young athletes across our state and nation to pursue their dreams. I am especially proud of the Michiganders on each team who helped bring home these wins, with the final goals at both gold medal games scored by athletes who have called our state home.”

“Michigan is Hockey Town, USA! This resolution recognizes this year's Team USA Ice Hockey players, whose hard-earned victory against Canada showed the world what it means to be a proud Michigander and American,” said Senator Slotkin.

The resolution highlights that this is the first Winter Olympics where both U.S. Ice Hockey Teams have won the gold medal. It is also the first time the U.S. Men’s Ice Hockey Team has won the gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Team USA’s Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Teams both now have three gold medals in their Olympic history.

The resolution specifically recognizes Michiganders:

Megan Keller from Farmington Hills who scored the game winning goal in overtime of the gold medal game.

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck from Commerce who helped lead Team USA to victory with 41 saves.

Jack Hughes from Canton who scored the game winning goal in overtime of the gold medal game with assists from Zach Werenski from Grosse Pointe Woods and Connor Hellebuyck from Commerce.

Michigander Dylan Larkin from Waterford Township was also on the ice when the U.S. men's team won the gold medal, and Michiganders Kyle Connor from Shelby Township and Quinn Hughes from Canton also play on the team. Kirsten Simms from Plymouth played a key role for the U.S. women’s team throughout the tournament.

The resolution also recognizes the United States’ record number of 232 athletes participating in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Outside of ice hockey, Michiganders brought home 11 medals for Team USA at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the second highest number of medals from any state in the country. This includes gold and silver medals in ice dancing from Madison Chock and Evan Bates, and a bronze medal in two-woman bobsledding from Jasmine Jones. Other Michiganders competing for Team USA at the Milan-Cortina Olympics include snowboarders Nick Baumgartner and Jake Vedder, ice dancers Christina Carreira and Emilea Zingas, and freestyle skiers Winter Vinecki and Kaila Kuhn.

The U.S. Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) located in Plymouth, Michigan is the primary hub for elite U.S. hockey training, preparing top youth players for Olympic and National Hockey League (NHL) competition. The USA Hockey Arena in Wayne County hosts year-round ice training, acting as a hotbed for American hockey development.

Peters and Slotkin were joined by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Tina Smith (D-MN) in introducing the resolution.

To view the text of the resolution, click here.

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Reed & Kim Demand Public Disclosure of World Liberty Financials’ Beneficial Owners

WASHINGTON, DC – Who are the beneficial owners of World Liberty Financial (WLF) and who profits when investor cash is funneled to the firm?

It is a straightforward question and U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), two leading U.S. Senators on the Senate Banking Committee, say the American public deserves a straightforward answer.

In a move that could net the Trump family billions of dollars while dangerously blurring the line between presidential power and private profit, WLF, a cryptocurrency company founded and run by President Trump’s family in conjunction with Zach Witkoff, the son of Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, and business partners Zachary Folkman and Chase Herro, applied for a charter to become a national trust bank. The firm also has other stakeholders who have not been made public.

Now WLF is seeking federal approval to offer banking services tied to their digital token offerings. A national trust charter designation would allow WLF to offer custodial banking services to customers and to access national payment networks while under the supervision of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Noting that applications for charters from the OCC are supposed to be public, Senators Reed and Kim sent a letter to the head of the OCC requesting the names of the ultimate beneficial owners of World Liberty Trust Company N.A. The senators say the public has a right to know who the beneficial owners are. The letter notes: “Public reporting in the Wall Street Journal on January 31 indicates that companies owned by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, specifically the National Security Advisor of the UAE, purchased 49% of World Liberty from the families of the President Trump and Steve Witkoff, the President’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, just days before the 2025 inauguration.”

The letter continues: “According to its application, World Liberty intends to issue a stablecoin called USD1 and manage the required reserves—in other words, to create representations of the U.S. dollar in digital form. If an entity that is ultimately 49% owned by a foreign political and military official will be given the privilege of creating and handling the American people’s money, then we hope you will agree that the public has a right to know that fact.

“Making this information public will not cause any loss of competitive position or invasion of privacy for World Liberty. These interests are substantially diminished by extensive public touting of its ties to the Trump and Witkoff families to generate a competitive edge—a marketing campaign that appears to have generated hundreds of millions in profits already,” the senators wrote.

Indeed, serious questions have already been raised about the Trump family’s quid pro quo type business dealings. For instance, media reports have noted that President Trump pardoned former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, who had been convicted of violating anti-money laundering laws, after Binance bought $2 billion of the stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial and has been aggressively promoting the token to its customers. Binance allegedly holds 87% of the supply of USD1, an arrangement that nets the Trump and Witkoff families hundreds of millions of dollars each year. And under the Trump Administration, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) paused a federal investigation into a Chinese crypto entrepreneur after he bought $200 million worth of WLF crypto tokens.

Both WLF and the White House have insisted that the president plays no role in any company decision and reject concerns about conflicts of interest. All the more reason the company should disclose its beneficial owners and anchor investors.

Full text of the letter follows:

Dear Comptroller Gould:

We write to ask that you provide the names of the ultimate beneficial owners of World Liberty Trust Company N.A., a company with a pending application before your office to be a national trust company.

Applications for charters from the OCC are supposed to be public, with limited information entitled to confidential treatment. But the public volume of the application does not include any information about the ultimate beneficial owners of World Liberty Trust Company. The only information disclosed is that World Liberty Trust Company is 100% owned by an entity called WLTC Holdings, LLC. The full “upper tier” organizational chart of World Liberty Trust Company and a capitalization table for WLTC Holdings have been kept confidential. Public reporting in the Wall Street Journal on January 31 indicates that companies owned by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, specifically the National Security Advisor of the UAE, purchased 49% of World Liberty from the families of the President Trump and Steve Witkoff, the President’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, just days before the 2025 inauguration.

There is tremendous public interest in information regarding the ownership of World Liberty given the reporting referenced above. According to its application, World Liberty intends to issue a stablecoin called USD1 and manage the required reserves—in other words, to create representations of the U.S. dollar in digital form. If an entity that is ultimately 49% owned by a foreign political and military official will be given the privilege of creating and handling the American people’s money, then we hope you will agree that the public has a right to know that fact.

Making this information public will not cause any loss of competitive position or invasion of privacy for World Liberty. These interests are substantially diminished by extensive public touting of its ties to the Trump and Witkoff families to generate a competitive edge—a marketing campaign that appears to have generated hundreds of millions in profits already.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,


Reed Seeks to Close Alarming Loophole in GENIUS Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Last year, Congress passed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act to place the government’s stamp of approval on “stablecoins,” digital assets designed to maintain a stable value of $1. For every stablecoin in circulation, the company issuing the stablecoin must maintain an equivalent amount of real dollars or liquid assets in a reserve fund to meet investors’ requests to get their money back upon demand.

But due to a major loophole in the GENIUS Act, foreign stablecoin giants like Tether -- which is headquartered in El Salvador and handles about 60 percent of the more than $300 billion stablecoin market -- can operate without the fundamental verification requirement. If Tether were to fail it could have ripple effects extending into traditional financial systems and collapse crypto markets, costing U.S. consumers billions of dollars.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, introduced the Foreign Stablecoin Transparency Act (S.3907) to prevent foreign stablecoin companies from escaping audits and potentially putting American consumers and the U.S. economy at risk.

For years Tether has claimed it would submit to a formal audit but has never followed through. At a recent Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Reed was able to get Secretary Lutnick to agree: “I absolutely agree with you, Tether should be audited.”

Before becoming Commerce Secretary, Lutnick founded and ran the investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald which is now run by his adult children and has maintained significant business ties with Tether, including acting as the custodian of its assets and owning a 5 percent stake in Tether worth an estimated $600 million. At the 2024 World Economic Forum at Davos, when Lutnick was still chairman and CEO of Cantor, he noted that he had seen Tether’s books and maintained a close relationship with Tether, saying: “I manage many, many of their assets…” and “From what we’ve seen, and we did a lot of work, they have the money.”

Launched in 2014, Tether is the world’s largest stablecoin company. The secretive crypto giant issues the world's largest stablecoin called USDT and reportedly has over $187 billion worth of digital tokens in circulation and dominates the global market for dollar-pegged digital assets. USDT can be freely offered, sold, and used by Americans even though the GENIUS Act does not require Tether to provide a full accounting of the reserves backing Tether’s stablecoin.

“Right now foreign stablecoin issuers are able to operate on little more than a pinky promise. If foreign stablecoin issuers want the privilege of creating and handling the American people’s money, then they should open up their books for the American people to see,” said Senator Reed. “My bill sets up the same expectations for foreign stablecoin issuers that apply to large U.S. stablecoin companies, banks, and other payments companies.”

Senator Reed’s bill would require foreign stablecoins backed by the U.S. dollar to undergo an audit, no matter where the company is located. Reed’s proposal mirrors amendments he proposed during the Senate Banking Committee’s markup of the GENIUS Act that were defeated by Senate Republicans.

Unless stablecoin issuers are audited, there is no independent verification that the company has enough assets to cover all stablecoins in circulation. Instead, holders must take the word of the issuer. If the issuer does not have sufficient reserves or is found to be cooking the books, then a stablecoin company may experience a “run” on its assets and holders will not be able to get their money back despite being sold something that they are told is safe and redeemable on demand.

All kinds of companies that handle the American people’s money must undergo financial statement audits. U.S.-based dollar stablecoin issuers with $50 billion of stablecoins in circulation must get an audit. Banks of all sizes must get audits, even the smallest community banks. Many states require licensed money transmitters to submit audited financial statements to provide transparency and verify their financial health. Even private unregistered funds that are sponsored by U.S. investment advisers must get audits and all public companies must get audits.

Reed noted that Tether is not the only foreign stablecoin issuer, but given’s Tether’s size and growing footprint it is an urgent matter that must be addressed by Congress. Reed also said there are other loopholes in the GENIUS Act that must also be plugged because the current law fails to protect victims of fraud and doesn’t provide sufficient oversight to prevent crypto companies from profiting from fraud.

“Tether needs to be transparent and it shouldn’t be allowed to profit from fueling crime and corruption,” said Reed. “Right now foreign stablecoin issuers are operating without enough oversight. And as they continue to grow, the potential for an economic catastrophe grows right along with them unless they are properly regulated.”