Duckworth, Durbin Join Merkley to Demand Independent Probe of Funds to Carry Out Trump’s Cruel Mass Deportation Scheme

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in calling on the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to probe the cost of President Trump’s violent escalation of federal immigration enforcement. The Senators are requesting a comprehensive assessment and accounting of the supplemental funds, including the roughly $75 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and approximately $65 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), provided by President Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“Last summer, Congress provided extraordinary supplemental resources for immigration enforcement in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including roughly $75 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and approximately $65 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These sums represent a dramatic expansion of those agencies’ typical annual budgets. Yet there is no comprehensive public accounting of how funds provided for immigration enforcement in H.R. 1 are being obligated and/or spent,” wrote the Senators.

“This lack of transparency is part of a broader pattern in which the Trump Administration has expanded domestic security operations while withholding basic cost information from Congress. We have serious concerns that this pattern reflects an increasingly authoritarian and unchecked approach to executive power. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that federal agencies are not using taxpayer dollars in ways that vitiate Americans’ civil rights or expand executive overreach,” the Senators continued.

In addition to Duckworth, Durbin and Merkley, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of the Senators’ letter is available below and on the Senator’s website.

Dr. Swagel:

We are deeply concerned by the Trump administration’s reckless immigration enforcement surge—unfolding on our streets and undertaken with virtually no transparency or accountability. It represents one of the largest expansions of federal immigration enforcement in modern history, including unprecedented increases in detention capacity, personnel, transportation, surveillance systems, and tactical deployments.

Last summer, Congress provided extraordinary supplemental resources for immigration enforcement in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including roughly $75 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and approximately $65 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These sums represent a dramatic expansion of those agencies’ typical annual budgets. Yet there is no comprehensive public accounting of how funds provided for immigration enforcement in H.R. 1 are being obligated and/or spent.

This lack of transparency is part of a broader pattern in which the Trump administration has expanded domestic security operations while withholding basic cost information from Congress. We have serious concerns that this pattern reflects an increasingly authoritarian and unchecked approach to executive power. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that federal agencies are not using taxpayer dollars in ways that vitiate Americans’ civil rights or expand executive overreach.

To support constitutional and statutory oversight, we request that CBO provide an independent assessment of the costs, obligations, and spending patterns associated with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies—both at the border and throughout the interior of the United States. Specifically, we ask CBO to:

Determine how much of the $75 billion provided by H.R. 1 to ICE has been obligated and/or expended to date, broken out by major categories such as detention, transportation, enforcement operations, personnel, technology, and security contracting.

Determine how much of the $65 billion provided by H.R. 1 to CBP has been obligated and/or expended to date, including spending on personnel, facilities, surveillance systems, vehicles, and border infrastructure projects.

Determine how much of the $12 billion provided by H.R. 1 to the Department of Homeland Security (in sections 90007 and 100051) has been obligated and/or expended to date.

Determine the total amount of funds that ICE, CBP, and DHS have obligated and/or expended since January 2025 for expanded interior enforcement operations, including any funding sources in addition to the supplemental appropriations provided by H.R. 1.

Identify future costs associated with sustaining the administration’s expanded enforcement posture, including staffing, detention, transportation, and technology requirements.

Provide any additional information CBO believes is necessary to understand the budgetary implications of these activities.

This request follows an earlier inquiry seeking a cost assessment of the Trump administration’s National Guard deployments to American cities. CBO found that the administration’s National Guard domestic deployments have cost taxpayers over half a billion dollars—information that Congress and the public had no access to until CBO’s report. Congress and the American people deserve the same level of independent scrutiny for ICE, CBP, and DHS’s use of the extraordinary funds provided by H.R. 1.

We request this analysis as soon as practicable. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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Duckworth Leads Colleagues in Demanding Secretary Rubio Ramp Up Crisis Efforts to Safely Evacuate Americans Left Stranded by Trump’s War of Choice Against Iran

Senators admonish Trump Administration: “Americans deserve a government that steps up to help them through times of crisis, not turn their back on them to fend for themselves”

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – A day after Donald Trump admitted that there was no evacuation plan for Americans in the region when he launched his reckless, needless and unconstitutional war of choice against Iran, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is leading her Senate Democratic colleagues in demanding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately ramp up communication and efforts to safely evacuate American citizens who have been left stranded in a crisis of Trump’s own making in the Middle East. Following Secretary Rubio’s all-Member briefing yesterday where he continued to insist that the State Department is doing everything it can to help Americans abroad, there are growing reports of too many frustrated, confused and scared Americans who continue receiving conflicting guidance to both shelter in place and to immediately depart—all while airports and airspace remain closed. Along with Duckworth, the letter is co-signed by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Brian Schatz (D-HI).

“We urge you to immediately ramp up your efforts to communicate and coordinate with the Americans who are caught in this widening conflict by opening a crisis intake form to facilitate better, direct communication with Americans who are seeking to leave the region to get to safety. Although we have seen announcements from various administration officials that assisted departure plans are in progress, our constituents remain in the dark,” the Senators wrote. “Americans deserve a government that steps up to help them through times of crisis, not turn their back on them to fend for themselves.

In the letter, the Senators also note that the rapidly changing situation has created an increased risk to U.S. Embassy personnel and their families across the Middle East after the State Department has been forced to close Embassies and navigate possible departures.

The Senators underscored their outrage at this clear lack of planning and preparedness: “The rapidly changing Embassy statuses raises questions of your department’s ability to effectively enable our own people to depart to safety or whether diplomats remain at risk alongside their families, despite being directed to urgently leave.”

The Senators demand Secretary Rubio quickly take further action and provide a status update by March 6, 2025.

A copy of the letter can be found on the Senator’s website and below:

Dear Secretary Rubio:

We write to demand you urgently initiate appropriate crisis response and assisted departures to ensure the safety and protection of American citizens who are now caught against their will in the fallout of President Trump’s reckless war of choice against Iran that has triggered retaliatory attacks against military and civilian targets in multiple countries. As President Trump himself admitted in the Oval Office yesterday, there was no evacuation plan for Americans in the region because “it happened all very quickly.” As a result, American citizens across the Middle East have been left without adequate support or communications and without viable options to leave the region as your department provides conflicting guidance to both shelter in place and to immediately depart via commercial means—which appear to be largely out of reach for most of our impacted constituents.

We urge you to immediately ramp up your efforts to communicate and coordinate with the Americans who are caught in this widening conflict by opening a crisis intake form to facilitate better, direct communication with Americans who are seeking to leave the region to get to safety. Although we have seen announcements from various administration officials that assisted departure plans are in progress, our constituents remain in the dark. You must take more concrete steps to facilitate the departure of these citizens in danger. While we have seen our friends and allies facilitate charter flights and your department has made announcements about facilitating charter flights, our constituents have experienced conflicting information about how to access evacuation support and if that support is available. Americans deserve a government that steps up to help them through times of crisis, not turn their back on them to fend for themselves.

The rapidly changing situation has also created increased risk to our U.S. Embassy personnel and their families across the Middle East, as your department has been forced to close Embassies and abruptly shift between authorized and ordered departure statuses. Although these options can be standard responses to unpredictable crises, this crisis is of President Trump’s own making, and the regional reaction has appeared to spin outside your control and has compounded the risks to our people. The rapidly changing Embassy statuses raises questions of your department’s ability to effectively enable our own people to depart to safety or whether diplomats remain at risk alongside their families, despite being directed to urgently leave.

Accordingly, we request you not only quickly take these actions but also provide the following information for us no later than March 6, 2025.

Please confirm when you will open a crisis intake form and what decisions led to the delay between relying on STEP only and moving to crisis intake.

What is the status of planned charter flights to facilitate departure for American citizens across the region? How are you determining which countries in the region require assisted departures to evacuate private U.S. citizens?

Are you planning to facilitate assisted departure from all 14 of the countries and regions from which the Department has advised immediate evacuation?

What metrics are you using to evaluate use of charter flights versus military flights to support assisted departures?

Given frequent airspace closures, describe what other avenues, such as ground transport, you are considering for facilitating potential evacuation support for American citizens.

Describe what planning you did for Embassy personnel and their families to facilitate their timely evacuation in the lead up to being placed on authorized or ordered departure.

Provide the status of Missions on authorized and ordered departure and to what extent those personnel and families seeking to depart have been able to do so.

How many Americans are currently in the 14 countries and regions from which the Department has advised immediate departure? How many Americans in these locations have requested departure assistance from the Department?

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Duckworth Reacts to Trump Removing Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Donald Trump removed Kristi Noem from serving as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary:

“Kristi Noem should've been fired a long, long time ago. Next, the Trump Administration needs to work with Democrats to enact the commonsense DHS reforms that the American people are crying out for.

“Helping prevent more Americans from being executed by their own government is the very least they can do.”

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Durbin, Fischer Urge USDA To Swiftly Implement Their Bipartisan Protecting Children With Food Allergies Act

“Every parent should feel secure in knowing that their children are safe while they are at school,” the Senators wrote in their letter to Secretary Rollins to adopt food allergy training for school personnel

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today sent a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins urging her to swiftly implement their recently passed Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act. The bill, which was passed as an amendment to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, was signed into law in January.

“We write to urge your swift implementation of the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act, which we authored and added as part of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, which President Trump signed into law on January 14, 2026,” the Senators wrote.

The Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act requires food service staff at any school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) to receive critical training about food allergies, equipping school service staff in preventing, recognizing, and responding to food allergic reactions.

“For many years, USDA also has made trainings available to educate school food personnel to recognize and prevent food allergies in students, but these trainings are optional, rather than required. The provisions included in our bill, the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act, now make these food allergy training courses a requirement for all food personnel in schools participating in the NSLP and SBP,” the Senators wrote.

The Senators concluded their letter by urging Secretary Rollins to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) current partners to implement these new trainings for food service staff at schools participating in NSLP and SBP without delay.

“Since USDA already partners with the Institute on Child Nutrition in developing optional training courses and materials to recognize and prevent food allergies, we urge USDA to move forward with implementing these mandatory food allergy training requirements without delay,” the Senators concluded.

Food allergies are a growing public health concern. Over the past two decades, the number of children with food allergies in the U.S. has more than doubled. Approximately six million children are estimated to have food allergies, about two students per classroom. Further, 20 percent of all epinephrine shots administered in schools are given to children who have undiagnosed food allergies—which makes it even more important for school food personnel to understand how to recognize and respond to an allergic reaction.

Full text of the letter can be found here.

March 5, 2026

Secretary Rollins:

We write to urge your swift implementation of the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act, which we authored and added as part of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, which President Trump signed into law on January 14, 2026.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires school food personnel under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) to undergo annual trainings, which includes courses in nutrition, health, and food safety standards. For many years, USDA also has made trainings available to educate school food personnel to recognize and prevent food allergies in students, but these trainings are optional, rather than required. The provisions included in our bill, the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act, now make these food allergy training courses a requirement for all food personnel in schools participating in the NSLP and SBP.

Every child should have the opportunity to learn in a safe environment, and every parent should feel secure in knowing that their children are safe while they are at school. Yet, due to the presence of common food allergens—such as milk, eggs, and peanuts—we have seen too many tragic instances of students suffering fatal allergic reactions at school. In the past two decades, the rate of children with food allergies has more than doubled. In 1999, 3 percent of children had food allergies. Today, 8 percent of children, about two students per classroom, have food allergies.

Since USDA already partners with the Institute on Child Nutrition in developing optional training courses and materials to recognize and prevent food allergies, we urge USDA to move forward with implementing these mandatory food allergy training requirements without delay. We also request a staff briefing by USDA to provide our offices with an update on implementation of the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act by May 1, 2026.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you in creating a safer learning environment for all students.

Sincerely,

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Durbin Introduces Legislation To Bolster Public Health Efforts To Improve Dental Health

The Promoting Dental Health Act would extend funding for CDC’s Oral Health program for the next five years

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Promoting Dental Health Act to reauthorize funding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Oral Health program for the next five years. The CDC’s Oral Health program receives $20.25 million in annual funding for a range of public health activities to promote oral health. This includes funding 15 states to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other painful and serious conditions through dental education, data collection, school-based sealant care for low-income children, workforce development, and research into gaps in patient care.

Currently, Illinois is unfunded by the CDC’s program and has not received a grant in two decades because the Oral Health program, which has not been reauthorized in a decade, is not adequately funded to serve every state. However, 2.8 million Illinoisans live in communities with a shortage of dental providers, and only 37 percent of children covered by Medicaid have a dental visit in a given year. One study found that it is nearly six times easier for a child with private insurance to get an oral health care appointment than those who have Medicaid.

“Dental care, especially for our youngest Illinoisans, is a fundamental part of staying healthy. It’s critical that oral health care is easily accessible to Americans, regardless of where they live or their income,” said Durbin. “My legislation, the Promoting Dental Health Act, will ensure that the CDC Oral Health program has the resources necessary to serve more Americans and prevent serious dental disease.”

Good oral health is essential to overall health and well-being, helping to avoid pain and infections and reduce the risk of chronic diseases—including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. While most oral health conditions are preventable and can be treated in early stage, more than 50 percent of children and more than 25 percent of adults in the U.S. have cavities, according to CDC. Additionally, nearly 50 percent of children and adults have periodontitis.

Nearly 70 million Americans do not have dental insurance – more than twice the number of Americans who do not have medical insurance. Compounding the problem, 64 million Americans lack access to a dentist or other oral health professionals and live in a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area. Without access to insurance and preventative care, too many Americans are forced to visit the emergency room for dental emergencies, driving up health care costs.

Today’s new legislation is one part of Durbin’s comprehensive initiative to bolster access to comprehensive health care in rural communities and to address the nationwide shortage of dental and health care professionals. In May 2023, Durbin released his “Roadmap to Grow Illinois’ Rural Health Workforce,” which includes partnering with Illinois dentists to organize efforts to provide new funding to address health care workforce shortages and staffing crises in rural Illinois.

Durbin also authored a provision in the American Rescue Plan to invest $1 billion into the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), which funds scholarships and loan repayment for new doctors, nurses, dentists, and behavioral health clinicians who commit to serve in rural and urban areas of need. Medical professionals can graduate with student debt of more than $200,000, which can discourage them from pursuing these careers in the first place, or lead to them choosing to practice in high-paying specialties or in more affluent and urban areas. The NHSC program helps build the pipeline of new health providers and surge them to shortage areas. Today, Illinois has nearly 900 health professionals serving under the NHSC program.

The Promoting Dental Health Act has earned endorsements from the American Dental Association (ADA); American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP); American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD), and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).

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Durbin Statement On Trump Firing Kristi Noem

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump fired Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and announced U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as his preferred replacement:

“Kristi Noem was the face of an unpopular, illegal, and outright dangerous mass deportation campaign that claimed the lives of innocent Americans and terrorized many more. Our country expressed outrage, she repeatedly lied before Congress, and even the President finally conceded she was unfit for the job.

“Kristi Noem slipped on the outrages of ICE. Will this Oklahoma Senator be any better? We will find out as the Senate exercises its authority under the Constitution to provide advice and consent on this appointment.”

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Following DHS Oversight Hearing With Secretary Noem, Durbin Calls Out Her Lying Under Oath

During a Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting, Durbin also raised serious concerns about the nominees, including the ATF nominee, who were voted on today

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting condemning the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem for lying under oath during Tuesday’s oversight hearing. Secretary Noem lied about DHS following court orders, denied that DHS has detained U.S. citizens, and lied about Corey Lewandowski’s role at DHS.

Durbin also spoke about the nominees who were considered today including Robert Cekada, to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Anna St. John, to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; and Andrew Davis, to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Key Quotes:

“I have served on this Committee for more than 25 years… and I’ve never been through a hearing like our DHS oversight hearing with Secretary Noem [on] Tuesday. The Secretary took an oath to tell the truth. But instead, she repeatedly failed to do so.”

“When I asked her if [DHS] follows court orders, Secretary Noem responded, ‘We follow court orders when they are given to us.’ This is demonstrably false. Even the Trump DOJ admitted in [a] sworn declaration that ICE has violated over 50 court orders in the state of New Jersey alone.”

“Secretary Noem also denied that DHS has detained U.S. citizens. Americans around the country, including in my home state of Illinois, know this is false. One of my constituents, U.S. citizen Dayanne Figeroa, was detained for hours after federal agents rammed her car and forced her to the ground. During ‘Operation Midway Blitz,’ my staff documented the arrest and detention of at least 40 U.S. citizens in my state of Illinois alone.”

“Secretary Noem also lied about the role of her de facto chief of staff, Corey Lewandowski. When asked directly whether Mr. Lewandowski has any role in approving DHS contracts, she denied it with an unequivocal ‘no.’ [But] DHS records show Mr. Lewandowski personally approved a multimillion-dollar contract last year—and that he routinely signs off on large awards before they reach the Secretary’s desk.”

“Mr. Chairman, the Secretary’s testimony was not just evasive or troubling, she repeatedly made false statements under oath. This should concern every member of this Committee—Republican and Democrat alike. This Committee has an obligation to hold the Secretary accountable. I look forward to discussing this with you and other members of the Committee [about] what our recourse is.”

“Let me say on a more personal note: several questions were repeatedly asked of her… really got to the heart of who she is. The question of common decency. To call victims in Minnesota who died and a victim in Illinois who barely survived five shots from [Border Patrol] agents. She refused to say ‘I’m sorry, I said the wrong thing.’ She claimed they were domestic terrorists. There was no evidence of that. None. Imagine those families just having lost a daughter or a son, mourning their loss, and have a member of the President’s cabinet announce on public television… that their deceased child was a domestic terrorist. I know that the phrase ‘I'm sorry, I should have done a better job’ is just unacceptable in this Administration.”

“We also cannot ignore that Secretary Noem has seriously weakened our capacity to prevent cybersecurity and terrorist attacks… Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI had a dedicated team of agents dedicated to investigating Iran’s efforts to evade international sanctions, sell oil on the black market, and fund their military and outside allies. Those investigations are now stalled, as agents are too busy with immigration enforcement.”

“Last spring, the FBI was forced to recall dozens of agents who specialized in counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and cybersecurity from immigration duty because of possible Iranian retaliation after the strikes against its nuclear sites.”

“Last week, FBI Director Patel attempted to distract from his Olympics trip by firing at least a dozen personnel who worked on counterintelligence matters… we’re in the midst of the sixth day of a war and the counterintelligence agents in these agencies have been fired for political reasons.”

“As a result of the President’s misguided priorities—and the incompetent leadership of individuals like Secretary Noem and Director Patel—America is less safe in an increasingly dangerous world.”

Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

Durbin then spoke about the nominees considered in Committee today. He first voiced his concerns over Robert Cekada, nominated to be Director of ATF.

“While Mr. Cekada is a career professional who is committed to fighting crime, and I’m glad we had a chance to sit down together, his hearing testimony does not assure me that he would stand up [to the] Trump Administration to ensure this very controversial agency is not weaponized against the American people.”

Durbin then shared his deep concerns about Andrew Davis, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Durbin shared his concerns that Mr. Davis would not be able to put aside his partisan advocacy if he is confirmed to the bench.

“Mr. Davis has repeatedly argued that the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act, or FCA—a law the Chairman has championed for many years—violates the Constitution. Whistleblowers who bring qui tam actions play an important role in holding accountable those who defraud the federal government. Of $6.8 billion in FCA settlements and judgments last year, qui tam actions comprised $5.3 billion of that amount.”

[Mr. Davis] defended racist commentary from conservative pundit and former Republican official Bill Bennett, who said ‘I do know that it’s true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.’ Mr. Davis defended this statement as ‘essentially accurate.’”

“Mr. Davis’s failure to disavow his article is just plain unacceptable. How can people of color have faith that Mr. Davis will treat them fairly in his courtroom if he is confirmed?”

Durbin then spoke on Anna St. John, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Durbin raised concerns about Ms. St. John’s partisan ideology and serious questions about her ability to impartially administer justice if she is confirmed.

“Her practice largely consists of challenging class-action settlements—and she has also made time to file amicus briefs in politically charged cases… Ms. St. John’s public commentary is also troubling. She has criticized what she calls ‘woke ideology.’ She has challenged First Amendment protections guaranteed by [the Supreme Court more than 60 years ago in] New York Times v. Sullivan.”

“In November 2021, Ms. St. John testified against bipartisan legislation ending forced arbitration in cases of workplace sexual assault and harassment. The legislation enjoyed broad support among lawmakers from both parties, yet Ms. St. John argued in defense of forcing sexual assault victims into closed-door arbitration proceedings and claimed that ending forced arbitration ‘turns these women into unwilling pawns.’”

“The issue was brought before the Committee at the urging of former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson, one of the leading advocates for legislation following her harassment by Roger Ailes. She is speaking out publicly [against] Ms. St. John’s nomination.”

“Listen to what Gretchen Carlson said, ‘While women around the country bravely shared the urgency of eradicating forced arbitration, St. John used her power and influence to gaslight these women and the public. She downplayed their stories and minimized their pain.’”

“I remember when Grethen Carlson was in this room. So many of us went up to her afterward and praised her for her courage to speak out for the harassment she [experienced] in her own personal life… We voted unanimously for that bill—Democrats and Republicans. Now we have a nominee who is opposed to it and says it is wrong. I’m going to vote no.”

Video of Durbin’s statements about Mr. Cekada, Mr. Davis, and Ms. St. John are available here.

Audio of Durbin’s statements about Mr. Cekada, Mr. Davis, and Ms. St. John are available here.

Footage of Durbin’s statements about Mr. Cekada, Mr. Davis, and Ms. St. John are available here for TV Stations.

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ICYMI: Fischer Joins NewsNation to Discuss Operation Epic Fury, War Powers Resolution

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined NewsNation with Connell McShane to discuss military operations in Iran and the Democrat War Powers Resolution.

Click the image above to watch Fischer’s interview

Click here to download video

On President Trump’s Operation Epic Fury:

“First of all, I believe that the president really took decisive action and he did what was necessary. The opportunity presented itself to be able to strike at Iran, to take out their nuclear capabilities, their ballistic missile program, their navy. I'm glad that he has taken that action.”

“As you see from the vote, he has the support, and [bipartisan support], Senator Fetterman voted with Republicans on this. He does need to continue to reach out to Congress, keep Congress informed, and I believe that the administration will do that.”

“We had a really thorough briefing with administration officials yesterday, with Secretaries Rubio, Hegseth, General Caine, Director Ratcliffe… that's important that we continue to have those discussions so that Congress can understand what the administration is doing, the procedures that they're using to go through, but also to make sure that we are reaching the goals that were laid out in that classified briefing.”

On the threat of Iran:

“I believe that the administration has been very clear in saying that the people of Iran need to decide what their government is going to be going forward… we cannot continue to tolerate a state sponsor of terrorism, which is what the past regime has been for the last 47 years.”

“They have this ballistic missile program, either with short range or with medium range. They were in the process of developing ICBMs, which are intercontinental ballistic missiles… that cannot be allowed to happen.”

“We've seen what's happened with this regime over the last half century, and I think we're all very hopeful that the Iranian people are going to look at being better partners in that region and being a force in the world, again, one that is good, that is going to be more democratic, allow their people freedoms, to have more relationships with other countries.”

“That was the Iran before the Ayatollah took over, and it needs to be focused on becoming that again.”

On the Democrat War Powers Resolution:

“The president has the authority to do what he's doing. He has the legal authority to do that. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, they may not agree with this operation that's going on now, but as I said, the president—his administration—need to keep Congress informed.”

“We understand now what the objectives are here. You mentioned the Strait of Hormuz. Taking out the Iranian Navy is an important part of what the United States is doing. Destroying their ballistic missile program is what the United States needs to do.”

“The Iranians have thousands of short-range ballistic missiles, and we've seen the effect of those. They are quickly manufactured. So, if we would wait a year or two before Iran would feel so emboldened that they could blackmail and threaten not just the region, but with Europe… it would be harder. It would be too late.”

“This is an opportunity to take out the largest state sponsor of terrorists, not just in the region but around the world.”


Gallego Speaks on Economic Challenges Facing Latinos at UnidosUS Event

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) spoke about economic challenges facing Latino communities at UnidosUS’ “Prosperity Forward Convening.” The fireside chat was moderated by UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguia and focused on Senator Gallego’s legislative pushes to lower costs and increase the rate of homeownership in the Latino community.

Watch Senator Gallego’s conversation HERE and read excerpts below:

On hope in the Latino community: “I would say that one thing that is that is starting to be missed by our community now is hope. […] For the first time, Latino families feeling that, like, I am not going good – which is crazy to hear from Latino families, because we’ll work our tails off to do anything. We’ll add extra jobs, we’ll cut here, we’ll do whatever it is to make it happen. […] And you know, for us parents, hearing the worst was like, I don’t think my kids are being any better than me, and it’s hard for our community to hear that, because we sacrifice so much. Our families come over from really hard situations, and they work hard, and sometimes we know it’s not gonna get better for us, but it’s gonna get better for our kids at some point, and they’re not feeling that right now.”

On Latinos attaining homeownership: “When I say low interest mortgages and low interest down payments, it really matters. For example, I have way too much experience of this, but my mom’s first house was [from] a FHA loan house, right? We put 3.5% down. That’s what FHA demanded back in the day to avoid PMI. Now 3.5% down for FHA loan is not still not a bad deal, but the average house is through the roof. In Arizona, the average house in Maricopa County is running about $550,000 and 25% of $500,000 is nearly 20,000. How many people in the generation, in my generation or right below me, around the 30s, have $20,000 for a down payment?”

On the importance of the Latino community’s economic prosperity: “I do think it’s important, you know, if Latinos, as a growing population in this country, do not get into housing, we’re not going to build wealth. If we’re not going to build wealth, we’re going to end up being a poor, poorer community. And by the way, if the Latino community is poor, that means the country is poor.”

“[Latinos are] the youngest generation of all the demographics out there right now, and we need to have a larger conversation with America saying look, an investment in our community is really an investment in this country. Investments in security in our communities is an investment in this country. When we’re cutting education, you’re essentially cutting a pathway to success for Latinos, but you’re also cutting prosperity for this whole country. And I feel that there is a moment that’s going to come post this election, where we can have that opportunity and where we can really be part of, I think, the real acceptance of Latino and Latino-ism as part of this country.”


Gallego’s Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on ATM Crime Passes Out of Committee

WASHINGTON – Today, bipartisan legislation from Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to crack down on ATM crime unanimously passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Safe Access to Cash Act would ensure the same federal penalties for bank robberies apply to off-site ATM robberies.

“Families and small businesses in Arizona rely on ATMs in grocery stores and gas stations for nearby access to cash. As bank branches reduce their physical footprint, ATMs remain key in extending access to financial services. But criminals have figured out that standalone ATMs are easier targets than banks, and ATM robberies are increasing,” said Senator Gallego. “Under current law, these robberies aren’t treated the same as bank robberies, even though the crime is the same. This bipartisan bill closes that loophole, and I’m proud to see it move out of committee and one step closer to becoming law.”

Robbers and thieves are increasingly targeting ATMs, with theft rates rising dramatically each year since 2019. ATMs can be robbed in as little as three minutes and may hold as much as $250,000. However, The Federal Bank Robbery Act of 1934 currently only protects banks and financial institutions, not standalone ATMs in malls, convenience stores, and public locations. The Safe Access to Cash Act ensures that robberies involving off-site ATMs receive federal penalties equal to those imposed for on-site robberies of financial institutions.


Gillibrand Demands An End To Trump’s Reckless War With Iran

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference to discuss President Trump’s illegal and reckless war with Iran, which is endangering American troops, jeopardizing national security, and raising costs for New York families.

“The American people want lower costs, not forever wars. By refusing to seek congressional approval for his strikes on Iran, President Trump is breaking the law for a war that the American people don’t want,” said Senator Gillibrand. “President Trump must end this war immediately and instead focus on lowering costs here at home. I’m praying for the safety and well-being of our brave service members and American families in the region. I will not stop fighting until this reckless war has ended and until President Trump is held accountable for his actions.”

Senator Gillibrand made clear that she will not provide a blank check for President Trump’s reckless war. Yesterday, she voted yes on the Senate’s war powers resolution to reassert Congress’ responsibility, demand accountability, and send a clear message that military force must be debated, justified, and authorized before American lives are put at risk.

Additionally, President Trump admitted this week that his administration didn’t have a plan for how to evacuate Americans in the Middle East caught in the crossfire. That failure has left thousands of Americans stranded, fearing for their lives, with no support from their government. This week, Senator Gillibrand demanded that the Trump administration immediately develop and implement a plan to get these Americans home safely. Her letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio can be found here.

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Gillibrand Statement On Noem Firing

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, released the following statement after President Trump announced the firing of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem:

“It is unconscionable that Kristi Noem was nominated, let alone that she lasted this long. From the moment Kristi Noem was nominated, I made clear she was unfit and unqualified for the job.

“She has been a total and complete failure. Under her failed leadership, DHS has threatened public safety, wasted countless taxpayer dollars, and lied to the American people, and two Americans were tragically murdered. Her actions betrayed the public’s trust and made families across our nation feel less secure.

“Changing leadership without structural reform only means more of the same – an agency without accountability, without discipline, and without regard for the safety of the American people. DHS needs more than just new leadership; it needs fundamental reforms to truly protect public safety and restore public trust.”

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Gillibrand Statement On DOD’s Dangerous Designation Of Anthropic As A Supply-Chain Risk

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement on the Pentagon designating Anthropic as a supply-chain risk:

“The Defense Department’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk is a dangerous misuse of a tool meant to address adversary-controlled technology. Instead, DOD has turned it against a leading American technology company. This reckless action is shortsighted, self-destructive, and a gift to our adversaries.

This goes beyond simply not doing business with a company that won’t meet the administration’s terms. The government openly attacking an American company for refusing to compromise its own safety measures is something we expect from China, not the United States.

We cannot credibly compete with China on artificial intelligence while this administration simultaneously takes an axe to American innovation and sells advanced chips to Beijing.

I urge the administration to reverse course. We should be nurturing and encouraging American innovation — not threatening it into submission.

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Gillibrand Statement On Republicans Blocking Measure To Fund TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement after Senate Republicans’ move to block a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill that would fund the vast majority of DHS, with the exception of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Secretary of Homeland Security’s office:

“Republicans just blocked a commonsense effort to end the DHS shutdown. Today, Democrats put forth a bill that would fund most parts of the agency, allowing the hardworking federal employees at TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard to receive their paychecks and continue doing the important work they do promoting public safety.

“Republicans and the White House have refused to negotiate commonsense reforms to ICE and Border Patrol to strengthen public safety, protect American citizens’ rights, and bring much-needed oversight to the department. Until they do, I will continue to oppose funding to both ICE and CBP.”

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Gillibrand To Trump: Give Americans Tariff Refunds Now

Today, in response to a federal judge’s order that the Trump administration refund billions of dollars that it took from U.S. consumers and businesses in the form of illegal tariffs, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement:

“The president must follow the law and refund the billions of dollars that he owes to the American people. Working families and small businesses are struggling, and they need relief from President Trump’s reckless tariff tax policies immediately.”

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Judiciary Committee Advances ATF Director, Four District Judges, Three U.S. Marshals and Bipartisan Anti-Theft Legislation

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the following nominations:

Robert Cekada, to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, by a vote of 14-8;

Andrew B. Davis, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, by a vote of 12-10;

John Thomas Shepherd, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas, by a vote of 12-10;

Anna St. John, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, by a vote of 12-10;

Christopher R. Wolfe, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, by a vote of 12-10;

Robert Rotter, to be United States Marshal for the Northern District of Iowa, by a vote of 15-7;

Daniel Satterlee, to be United States Marshal for the District of South Dakota, by a vote of 13-9; and

David St. Pierre, to be United States Marshal for the District of Maine, by a vote of 20-2.

The committee also advanced by voice vote the bipartisan Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026, led by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), to combat ATM robberies.

Watch the executive business meeting HERE. Read Chairman Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) opening statement HERE.

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VIDEO/PHOTO: Grassley Welcomes Grow Cedar Valley to Washington

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) met with local leaders from Grow Cedar Valley this week during their annual trip to Washington. The group discussed several topics, including transportation, economic and educational development and workforce opportunities.

“I had a great meeting with Grow Cedar Valley, where we discussed the issues impacting Northeast Iowa,” Grassley said. “It’s important I hear directly from Iowans so I can represent their views at the policymaking tables in Washington. I appreciate Grow Cedar Valley coming to Washington to advocate on behalf of their local community, and we will keep working together to help Cedar Valley continue to grow and thrive.”

Download photos HERE.

Download video HERE.


Senators Hawley and Baldwin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Keep Workers Inspecting Train Tracks

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced the Secure Tracks Act, requiring railroads to use human workers for critically important track inspections, while also allowing railroads to slowly incorporate automated track inspection (ATI) technology. ATI technology would aid human inspectors by detecting track defects, but it fails to catch a variety of issues that can cause train derailments.

“Safety must be our top priority when it comes to our nation’s railroads,” Senator Hawley said. “Technology can help us monitor our railways but there is no substitute for in-person inspections conducted by railroad professionals. We can’t cut corners, especially when it comes to keeping our trains on the tracks. Technology must serve workers—not the other way around.”

“Wisconsin families and businesses depend on safe and reliable railroads to get them to work, to get their products to customers, and for things they buy at the store. Railroads run through their cities and towns, and they deserve to know that every track is up to snuff and safe,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am all for using technology to keep our trains on the tracks and communities safe from derailments, but what we have learned is that technology can’t do it all alone. It misses things that humans see and hear, and if we want to make sure our railroads are safe, we need both technology and real people who have the experience and knowledge.”

“I want to commend Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) as well as Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV, 1st District) for coming together to introduce the bipartisan Secure Tracks Act. Rail safety is not a contentious partisan issue. Americans trust the railroads to be safe. The men and women of the BMWED take that public confidence sincerely. Let’s pass the Secure Tracks Act into law so that every American can sleep soundly at night knowing that a professional human track inspector ensured that every inch of our country’s railroad is safe,” said Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) President Tony Cardwell.

Only 26 percent of all track-related defects can be detected by ATI while the other 74 percent can only be detected by a human. There’s an average of three reportable train derailments per day, with larger, more high-profile ones, like in East Palestine, Ohio, causing loss of life, negatively impacting the environment and the economy. Thorough in-person inspections, supplemented by ATI technology, can better prevent train derailments and keep our communities safe.

The Secure Tracks Act would:

Codify the requirement that major railroads be required to conduct at least 2 visual human track inspections per week.

Codify the requirement that railroads must immediately remediate track defects when an inspection fails.

Prohibit the Federal Railroad Administration from issuing waivers to major railroads that would allow the railroads to reduce human visual inspections in favor of an automated system that cannot detect the same scope of track defects.

Introduce a requirement that major railroads must perform a small number of regular automated inspections every year, depending on railroad size.

The legislation is endorsed by Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), Teamsters Rail Conference, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), National Conference of Fireman and Oilers (NCFO, SEIU), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical Division (SMART-MD), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD), and the Transportation Communications Union (TCU).


Heinrich and Whitehouse Joint Statement on Permitting Reform

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), issued the following statement on permitting reform:

“After discussions with our colleagues, we have decided to reopen negotiations on permitting reform. We are hopeful that recent developments are indicative of a positive direction from the Trump administration. As we move forward, we expect that there will be no further interference with already-permitted wind projects and that the initial movement we’ve seen on solar project permitting will accelerate, and other renewable projects will move forward as well. Seeing permits continuing to be approved by the administration is critical for ensuring that talks can continue. Further mischief will undo our willingness to resume negotiations.

“We look forward to working on a bipartisan bill that will speed infrastructure development, lower energy costs, and create good-paying jobs.”


Heinrich, Correa Introduce Legislation to Help Local Small Businesses Transition to Clean and Efficient Landscaping Equipment

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the co-founder and co-chair of the Bicameral Electrification Caucus, and U.S. Representative Lou Correa (D-Calif.) introduced bicameral legislation to establish a new federal tax credit to enable local small businesses, including landscaping and lawn care businesses, to transition to zero-emission equipment more easily and without financial burden.

Transitioning to zero-emission, electric landscaping equipment — such as mowers, leaf blowers, snow blowers, and hedgers — reduces noise pollution, protects landscape workers’ health, improves local air quality, and reduces landscaping companies’ reliance on gas and diesel fuels, which are subject to major price spikes.

According to a 2023 Environment America report, electric appliances save money over time due to their lower fuel and maintenance costs – usually paying back the initial investment in only one to three years. Electric lawn care equipment is also quieter and produces less vibration, making it safer and healthier to operate.

“Small businesses are the backbone of New Mexico’s economy. And they’re getting hit hard by Trump’s tariffs and skyrocketing costs,” said Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation to ease the financial burden on small businesses through a tax cut to purchase new zero-emission equipment. This will help New Mexico small businesses protect workers’ health, reduce pollution in our communities, and grow local economies.”

“As our economy shifts towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, we can’t let small businesses fall behind, especially when they provide services that our communities depend on,” said Correa. “This bill will help businesses that rely on gas- and diesel-powered equipment transition into leaders in the green economy, which would benefit consumers and workers, create a more innovative market, and ultimately save money.”

The Promoting Reduction of Emissions through Landscaping Equipment Act creates a federal tax credit to enable local small businesses, including landscaping and lawn care businesses of all sizes, to transition to zero-emission equipment more easily and without financial burden. Specifically, the bill will:

Provide an annual tax credit of 40% to businesses for the purchase of new qualifying zero-emission equipment (cord or cordless), as well as retrofitting of existing equipment.

The tax credit is capped at $25,000 annually, with a total cap of $100,000 over 10 consecutive years.

The effective date is for equipment purchased starting January 1, 2025. The tax credit expires five years after enactment.

The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (D-Fla), Sharice L. Davids (D-Kan.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

The bill is supported by the National Association of Landscape Professionals, Sierra Club, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, American Green Zone Alliance, and QuietGeorgia.

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Hickenlooper, Bennet, Curtis, Hurd Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Preserve Grand Junction Uranium Disposal Site, Avoid Spending Millions to Ship Waste

Without federal action, Colorado’s only long-term storage facility for uranium waste will begin to close this year, would cost millions to ship to next nearest site

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, and John Curtis and Representative Jeff Hurd introduced the bipartisan Responsible Containment Reauthorization Act to keep Colorado’s only long-term uranium disposal site open, avoid spending millions of taxpayer funds in additional costs, and keep the community safe. The Grand Junction disposal site would have to begin the process of closing their operations this year unless Congress acts.

“Closing the Grand Junction disposal site before it even reaches capacity would risk the health and safety of the surrounding area and waste millions of dollars in the process,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s common sense to make sure the disposal site continues to safely manage the uranium waste and protect the community.”

“The Responsible Containment Reauthorization Act will support Western Colorado as the region continues to clean up low-level radioactive materials,” said Bennet. “Currently, the Grand Junction Disposal cell is the only facility of its kind in Colorado, and this bill will allow this critical site to continue operating until it reaches capacity, protecting public health, lowering disposal costs, and limiting environmental risk.”

“Uranium has helped power Colorado’s economy and strengthen our national security, and we have a responsibility to manage legacy cleanup waste the right way,” said Hurd. “The Grand Junction disposal site is Colorado’s only long-term uranium disposal facility, and it’s a proven, safe place to store this material while keeping costs down for taxpayers. Reauthorizing the site allows Colorado to continue disposing of cleaned-up tailings here at home until the disposal cell reaches capacity. This bipartisan bill provides certainty for local governments and ensures this important work can continue without interruption.”

Beginning in the 1940s, sand-like uranium mill tailings were given away for free and used in construction across Western Colorado before it was understood that these tailings emit hazardous radon gas and gamma radiation. As properties in western Colorado continue to be cleaned up, a proper disposal site is needed for the radioactive waste.

Without the Grand Junction site, 6,000 cubic yards of waste would have to be shipped to a private site in Utah every 2-3 years, costing the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment more than $16 million.

The bipartisan bill would reauthorize the disposal site until the cell reaches full capacity. The site was most recently reauthorized with broad support in 2019 through legislation led by former Rep. Tipton.

The legislation is supported by Mesa County, La Plata County, the City of Grand Junction, the City of Durango, and the Town of Fruita, along with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Full text of the bill available HERE.

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Hickenlooper Statement on Trump Firing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

Hickenlooper voted against DHS funding again earlier today, will continue to reject DHS funding bill until ICE is overhauled

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement in response to the news that President Trump fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem:

“Under Secretary Noem, ICE separated families, arrested and killed U.S. citizens, and ignored the Constitution,” said Hickenlooper. “Good riddance. But make no mistake: ICE and Trump’s inhumane immigration agenda needs a complete overhaul.”

Hickenlooper previously called on Secretary Noem to resign following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. He has been outspoken in the face of ICE’s lawlessness and demanded a top-to-bottom overhaul of the agency to stop ICE from terrorizing our communities.

He has consistently pushed for more oversight and transparency for federal immigration enforcement efforts, and has worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE. Last month, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor to denounce the horrifying killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, condemn the reports that families in Eagle County found “Death cards” left in the cars of family members taken by ICE agents, and to demand the overhaul of ICE. He’s shown up at ICE facilities to conduct congressional oversight visits and raise concerns about ICE disregarding due process.

Hickenlooper helped launch an investigation into ICE’s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight and introduced bills to ban ICE from wearing masks, prevent immigration enforcement from targeting schools, hospitals, polling locations, and places of worship, and cut back the excessive funding that MAGA Republicans gave them. Hickenlooper also voted against the DHS funding bill because it failed to overhaul ICE.

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Hirono Questions Top Military Officials on Readiness, Impacts of Iran War, Women in Combat

~ Watch Senator Hirono’s Opening Remarks Here ~

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Ranking member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, questioned the vice chiefs of all five military services and the Director of Capabilities and Management from the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) in a Readiness Subcommittee hearing on the current readiness of the U.S. joint forces. During the hearing, Senator Hirono questioned the witnesses about the readiness of their respective forces in light of the ongoing war in Iran. Hirono also raised alarms about the Administration’s “review” of women in combat roles.

“I must begin by acknowledging the tragic loss of multiple U.S. servicemembers in the Middle East. Our thoughts are with them and their loved ones, along with the thousands of other Americans who are serving in harm’s way as we speak. We must also acknowledge how we got here. President Trump chose to launch airstrikes without so much as consulting with Congress,” said Senator Hirono.

Senator Hirono asked each witness how the war will impact the force readiness, “How are you supposed to determine impact on readiness if you don’t know the extent of this war, what it is going to take?”

The witnesses each responded it that was too early to determine the war in Iran’s impact on readiness. At Senator Hirono’s urging, each witness committed to providing critical readiness information via classified email once it was available.

Senator Hirono also raised concerns about a Pentagon decision to review the “effectiveness of women in combat jobs."

“This is extremely offensive and likely reflects an effort by the Secretary of Defense to lay the groundwork to reverse the policy allowing women to serve in combat arms positions,” Hirono said.

Senator Hirono asked each of the witnesses if they believed the presence of women in combat units lowers standards. Each witness agreed it does not.

Senator Hirono then asked, “Over the last decade since combat arms have been open to women, have you seen any instance where the standard your service established resulted in a degradation of combat effectiveness?”

Each witness answered, “no.”

Senator Hirono also highlighted several issues of importance to Hawaii, including how the Army intends to balance necessary training requirements while respectfully engaging with the Native Hawaiian community as they negotiate upcoming land lease renewals. She posed a similar question to the Navy and Air Force.

Senator Hirono concluded her questioning by expressing concerns about the use of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) resources to support the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) immigration agenda. She highlighted how Army bases and Navy contracts were being utilized to build ICE detention facilities, expressing concerns about how this allocation of resources impacts readiness.

“The Navy is enabling DHS to use a naval process to fast track these detention facilities, and I would like to know ASAP how many Navy personnel are working in that regard,” Senator Hirono said.

A video of Senator Hirono’s opening remarks is available here. To watch the full committee hearing click here. A transcript of her opening remarks is below.

Gentlemen, thank you for your dedicated service to our nation. Especially in these turbulent times, I thank the servicemembers in each of your respective branches. Ms. Maurer, I look forward to having you here every year. Thank you for the constant and effective work by you and your team at GAO.

I must begin by acknowledging the tragic loss of multiple U.S. servicemembers in the Middle East. Our thoughts are with them and their loved ones, along with the thousands of other Americans who are serving in harm’s way as we speak.

We must also acknowledge how we got here. President Trump chose to launch airstrikes without so much as consulting with Congress. What’s worse, he denies we are engaged in regime change, while taking out the current regime without articulating any plan for what comes next.

As Leader Schumer said, “When the rationale for war keeps shifting, the strategy is missing.” This lack of strategy directly increases the risk to our servicemembers, while negatively impacting military readiness.

Readiness is a fleeting commodity in the military. Even with well-executed training cycles, it must be managed ruthlessly to balance operational needs with force sustainment. Our witnesses have proven time and again that a well-trained, well-led military can execute a wide range of tasks effectively.

It is incumbent upon you all to lay out - without equivocation - your service’s current state of readiness and the impact to its readiness of missions it is tasked to perform.

This is particularly important when planned events like ship maintenance cycles, combined training exercises, and support to combatant command exercises are disrupted. It is also important to clearly articulate the cost and time to replace war stocks when they are employed.

Standards are a critical component of training. And this administration has employed the term “standard” with great vigor. No one is opposed to well-defined, task-based standards.

Personally, I have confidence that the uniformed leadership of the military invests itself consistently and over time to set and continuously review its training standards.

However, the Secretary is Defense is concealing – poorly – his personal attack on women in the military, more specifically women in close combat formations, by questioning “standards.” He is questioning your ability to man, train, and equip a ready force. He is questioning whether current physical fitness standards and unit effectiveness and cohesion are making your services less ready. I am very interested in your assessment in these areas.

Just yesterday, we heard from the Department of Defense about their National Defense Strategy (NDS). The number one stated priority was to do the job of another agency: the Department of Homeland Security.

And to that end, the DoD is delivering on that promise, handing over $2 billion to DHS in the last year alone. Not only does this drain readiness and resources, it also depletes morale and diverts units from training and executing the full range of their core missions.

Yet we are often told there are no adverse readiness impacts from deploying to the border with no end in sight. You can’t have it both ways.

In reality, readiness challenges will only be further exacerbated by the war in Iran, as ships will be deployed longer. We have sadly already lost three aircraft to what sounds like a friendly fire incident in Kuwait. And the joint force is burning through costly inventories of precision guided munitions, which are already in short supply. Moreover, these munitions take a long time to replenish and risk being unavailable for unforeseen contingencies elsewhere, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, where we face a peer adversary.

To the witnesses on today’s panel, I recognize you all are in a precarious position. Four-star generals have been fired without cause over the last year and we have repeatedly seen this administration blur lines, using the military in ways we haven’t seen before.

While only one of you is a repeat witness from this hearing a year ago, each of you have earned the four stars on your shoulders. We rely on your experience - as do the servicemembers you lead - to candidly speak truth to power and give us your best military advice.

Especially in these unprecedented times, decisions have consequences. And short-sighted decisions can have dangerous consequences. Launching another war in the Middle East, improperly using the military for DHS operations on a non-reimbursable basis - these misguided policy decisions have real, tangible costs on readiness, and our ability to deter major adversaries like China and Russia.

To my colleagues, we can and must do something to reassert our constitutional authority. And it begins by voting for Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution.

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DSU Receives Federal Funding for Ag Aviation Operations Career Pathway

The Daily Bullet - Thursday, March 5, 2026

Vol. 37 No. 64

Delta State University has announced new federal funding that will further strengthen its Agricultural Aviation Operations Career Pathway and expand aviation workforce training opportunities across Mississippi. The FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill, signed last month by President Donald J. Trump, includes $1.75 million for DSU’s Agricultural Aviation Operations Career Pathway program.

Delta State’s Agricultural Aviation Operations Career Pathway was created to address a growing national shortage of qualified agricultural pilots and to support the long-term needs of the agricultural industry. Established through earlier federal support, the program combines FAA commercial and instrument flight training with specialized instruction in aerial application operations, agricultural safety, turbine aircraft systems and precision application techniques. Delta State remains the only public university in Mississippi offering a comprehensive pathway focused specifically on agricultural aviation operations.

“This investment reinforces Delta State University’s commitment to workforce education that directly serves Mississippi’s economy,” said Dr. Daniel J. Ennis, President of Delta State University. “The Agricultural Aviation Operations Career Pathway is a powerful example of how targeted federal support can create real opportunities for students while addressing critical workforce shortages. We are grateful to Senator Hyde-Smith for her continued advocacy on behalf of Delta State and higher education across our state.”

Housed within Delta State’s College of Business and Aviation, the program builds on the university’s decades-long aviation tradition while responding to modern industry demands. Students gain hands-on flight experience, industry mentorship and specialized training that prepares them to enter the workforce immediately upon completion.


ICYMI: Kelly Warns Trump Is Sending Americans into Harm’s Way Without a Plan or Goal

“We have six dead Americans who paid the ultimate price, and we have a President… that I have serious concerns about whether he understands his role here.”

“There’s no strategic plan, there’s no timeline. And what this is likely to lead to is a long war with a lot of dead Americans and no rationale for how this is helping the American people.”

In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly joined MS NOW’s The Briefing with Jen Psaki to warn that the Trump administration has no clear strategy, goal, or timeline on the war with Iran. Drawing on his own experience as a Navy combat pilot, Kelly underscored the gravity of Trump’s shifting explanations as American servicemembers are being put in harm’s way.

Sen. Kelly speaks on The Briefing with Jen Psaki.

Watch the full interview here. See key excepts below:

On what real leadership looks like when lives are on the line…

“I started thinking back to 1991, when I was on an aircraft carrier heading across the Indian Ocean to get into the Persian Gulf. At the beginning of the first Gulf War, and I remember my commanding officer, I was in an A-6 intruder squadron. I was 25, 26 years old. And I remember my commander, one day before my first strike, talking to us about how they expect us to lose half of the airplanes. Now, that didn’t come to pass, but I just remember that leading up to that period of time, how stressful this was for him. He was our boss. He was the commander of the squadron. He was only 39 years old at the time. I remember when he turned 40. He was such a great guy, a great leader, and he was under so much pressure, and he wasn’t even the guy that made the decision to send us there. But you could just feel just in his core that he was he understood how significant of an issue this was that some of us might die. And he took it so seriously, and he wanted our airplanes to be ready. He wanted the entire team to be ready. And he wasn’t sure that was going to happen.

“And I watch this group of people who were supposed to be leading our country, not just the President, Secretary of Defense and others, the five people that were on the background on the slide here. And I’mthinking you could pick a random group of people off the street tonight here in Washington, D.C., just a random group, and they could probably do a better job than our government is doing right now with this. They don’t have a goal. There’s no strategic plan, there’s no timeline. And what this is likely to lead to is, again, a long war with a lot of dead Americans and no rationale for how this is helping the American people.”

Onthe administration’s shifting justifications for going to war with Iran…

“I’ve been keeping a list. The reasons we went to war with Iran. I’m up to nine. You just talked about five of them. I have four more. […] I’m keeping a running list because this is almost getting comical. But what isn’t funny about this? We have six dead Americans who paid the ultimate price, and we have a President, and I’m not going to go into things he said in the past about the military, but we have a president that I have serious concerns about whether he understands his role here.

“His ultimate job is to protect U.S. service members, protect U.S. citizens. He talked about it the night of the State of the Union. But why didn’t he talk more about this? I mean, he could have discussed this and tried to explain to the American people how is this going to help them with their cost of rent and groceries and health care, which by the way, he made much, much harder for millions of Americans.”

On the families who pay the price…

“When you think about the age of military service members. They have spouses, they have kids. There are kids at home. There are kids that are just going to hear who the sixth person is. They’re out there. They’re going to grow up without a mom or dad. And they’re going to be thinking their entire lives, well, what was that for? What did we get out of it? What did they get personally out of it? What did our country get out of this? A year ago, the president, well in 2024 when he was running, he said, ‘Well, we’re not going to go get into another war.’ And he has no explanation for why we are here. And this is not making Americans safer.”


Kelly, Boozman Champion Support for Maintenance and Security of Rural Water Systems

Senators introduce FLOWS Act to strengthen water infrastructure nationwide

Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026 to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity.

Rural water and wastewater systems are struggling with aging infrastructure, limited staffing and rising operational costs. Many of these systems serve fewer than 3,300 people and are under-resourced, making it harder to deploy modern tools that larger utilities rely on to detect leaks, manage pressure, monitor water quality and prevent service disruptions. These limitations drive higher costs for rural residents, reduce system reliability, and leave communities more vulnerable to cyber threats. The FLOWS Act authorizes $50 million annually for these improvements, targeted to the smallest and most economically challenged rural communities.

“Every family deserves safe drinking water. That requires up-to-date, reliable water infrastructure,” said Kelly. “Right now, rural communities are dealing with aging systems, tight budgets, and growing cyber threats. We’re helping local water providers upgrade their equipment, catch problems before they become costly emergencies, and protect their systems from attacks so families aren’t left footing the bill for breakdowns and disruptions.”

“Local water providers in The Natural State and across the country work hard every day to deliver reliable water services despite growing infrastructure demands and tight budgets,” said Boozman. “The FLOWS Act can offer targeted support to help modernize drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems with advanced technologies that improve efficiency, reliability and their capacity to safeguard against cyber vulnerabilities long-term. Helping expand access to these tools is a strong step forward to keep costs affordable for households and businesses while strengthening protections against service disruptions – all without creating bureaucratic red tape.”

“The Arkansas Rural Water Association supports the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems Act of 2026, or FLOWS Act. This legislation will strengthen and streamline day-to-day operations for small and rural water and wastewater systems statewide. By expanding access to critical information and modern operational technology, utilities will be better equipped to handle growing issues and have the technology to respond quicker to everyday emergencies,” said Arkansas Rural Water Association CEO Chris Harris.

“The FLOWS Act gives smaller, less‑resourced utilities the ability to adopt innovative technologies that improve water quality and protect long‑term affordability, a critical step forward for communities that often lack access to modern tools,” said NACWA CEO Adam Krantz. “We appreciate Senator Boozman’s leadership in ensuring rural clean water systems have the support they need to modernize and thrive.”

“The National Rural Water Association supports the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems Act of 2026, or FLOWS Act. This legislation will give small and rural water systems across the country access to information and operational technology, providing them the opportunity to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and continue protecting the public health of the communities they serve,” said National Rural Water Association Executive Director Matthew Holmes.

“The 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure found that to raise the grades for our nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems, we must be helping local utilities implement digital technologies that can improve system operations and efficiency,” said ASCE President Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D. “ASCE applauds the FLOWS Act as a practical, commonsense step to modernize how we plan, operate, and maintain our nation’s vital water infrastructure. By providing rural communities with access to the digital tools they need to provide safe water systems and opportunities to train their local workforce on these tools, the FLOWS Act is bringing technology solutions to the communities that need it most.”


WATCH: In SASC Hearing, Kelly Presses on AI-Enabled Drone Strikes and Human Oversight

Today, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Arizona Senator and Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly asked Pentagon officials about whether AI is being used in targeting decisions in Iran, and what level of human involvement exists before a strike is carried out.

His questioning comes as Kelly is raising concerns about the Trump administration’s move to cut off federal work with Anthropic after the company objected to the removal of safeguards preventing its models from being used for autonomous weapons and surveillance.

Sen. Kelly questions Major General Steven M. Marks at a SASC hearing.

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

Sen. Kelly:

So, General Marks, I want to ask you something I think that is going to define warfare, now for the rest of our lives, for generations, and that’s the role of artificial intelligence in what we’ve seen play out here over the last several days. But certainly, into the future, it’s going to be a new feature of combat operations in many different ways. But specifically, the LUCAS, the low-cost unmanned combat aircraft system, attack system, those drones deployed in Operation Epic Fury have documented autonomous anti-jamming and I believe also some swarming capability. So, my question is about what’s underneath all of that. Are AI systems being used to assist in targeting decisions during this operation?

Major General Steven M. Marks:

So, Senator, thank you for the question. I am familiar with the LUCAS system. At this level, open hearing, I’m not able to go into great depth on what is inside of the LUCAS system, but I would be willing to get on your calendar, on the Committee’s calendar, and provide you a classified briefing.

Kelly:

Okay, so my next question is kind of irrelevant there, because I was going to ask about who validated the systems, who safeguarded them, and what human oversight exists at the moment a drone selects or confirms a target. So, let’s do that in a closed session as well. But I also want to just state for the record here that companies like Anthropic and others in the AI industry have published their own safety frameworks of how advanced AI systems should be deployed. But Congress has not yet set any kind of clear statutory framework for how AI can be used in lethal military operations. There’s a DoD directive, directive 3000.09, which requires what is called, and I’m quoting from the directive, “appropriate levels of human judgment over the use of force.” But that language doesn’t necessarily mean a human is involved at the moment a target is selected or engaged. So, before we rapidly scale up production and field more of these systems that have AI incorporated into their capability, we need a clear answer on this. At the moment, a drone identifies and confirms a target, whether or not a human has to make the final decision to strike the target, or can a system execute the engagement autonomously once it’s been activated? These are questions we haven’t yet dealt with here in Congress, and we need to. So, General, I just want to get your thoughts on that, independent of what LUCAS or any other system can do.

Marks:

Thank you, Senator, for the question. Any system, any capability that the department procures has to comply and be compliant with the Law of Armed Conflict. I would say that any commander that deploys these systems, just like any weapon system, it has to comply with the Law of Armed Conflict.


King, Curtis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Attract the “Next Generation” of Rural Health Care Workers

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced bipartisan legislation to help address the physician shortage that is harming the quality-of-life in rural areas. The Community TEAMS Act would expand clinical training opportunities for medical students in medically underserved communities in Maine and across the country by creating new federal grants to support partnerships between medical schools and community-based health care providers, allowing medical students to complete clinical training in rural areas where physicians are needed most. This new Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant program would enable medical schools (MD and DO) to expand clinical rotations through partnerships with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Rural Health Clinics (RHC), and other healthcare facilities in medically underserved communities

“For many people in Maine, especially in rural parts of our state, accessing basic medical care can mean driving hours for an appointment,” said Senator King. “The Community TEAMS Act will help attract the next generation of health care workers from the ground up and improve access to care for families across Maine. That’s not just smart policy, that’s a people-first approach that will positively impact the health, safety, and economy of our state.”

“Too many rural communities in Utah and across the country struggle to recruit and retain physicians,” said Senator Curtis. “Our bipartisan legislation will help train the next generation of doctors while strengthening our rural health systems and improving families’ access to care.”

“The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) applauds Senators Curtis and King for their leadership in expanding clinical training opportunities where they are needed most,” said AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “Medical students who train in underserved communities are nearly three times more likely to remain there to practice. The Community TEAMS Act would strengthen the physician workforce while helping communities address persistent access-to-care challenges.”

More specifically the Community TEAMS Act would:

Establish grants to support community-based clinical rotations for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities.

Enable such grants to be available for consortiums that consisted of medical schools and one or more health facilities that included RHCs, FQHCs, or health facilities located in medically underserved communities.

Representing a state with a high percentage of both rural and senior Americans, Senator King has supported increasing Maine people’s access to affordable and accessible healthcare. Last year, he introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act to expand telehealth access in Maine and across the country. Additionally, Senator King introduced the bipartisan Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act, which a service that provides roughly 2.7 million veterans with access to free transportation services to VA-authorized health care appointments.

Representing a state with a high percentage of both rural and senior Americans, Senator King has supported increasing Maine people’s access to affordable and accessible healthcare. Last year, he introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act to expand telehealth access in Maine and across the country. Additionally, Senator King introduced the bipartisan Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act, which a service that provides roughly 2.7 million veterans with access to free transportation services to VA-authorized health care appointments.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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Klobuchar Meets with Veterans Groups from Minnesota

Sen. Klobuchar with Marissa LaCourt, American Legion and County Veteran Service Officer, Jon Haworth, Robert Finnerty, and William Gordon.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) met with the veterans groups from Minnesota, including the American Legion’s Department of Minnesota Legislative Delegation and the Minnesota VFW to discuss protecting and improving veterans' benefits and health care, streamlining VA claims processing, and key mental health, suicide and homelessness prevention efforts.

“I had the privilege of meeting with veterans from across Minnesota while they were in Washington,” said Klobuchar. “We discussed healthcare, housing, and veterans’ benefits.”

“We also reflected on the enormous loss of Sgt. Amor. It’s a tragic reminder of everything our veterans put on the line for our country. I will never stop fighting to ensure they have the support they need.”

Senator Klobuchar has been a leader in the fight to give veterans and their families quality health care.

In 2022, Klobuchar helped pass the Honoring our PACT Act, which expands VA health care eligibility to nearly 3.5 million veterans who were exposed to toxic substances and adds 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to the VA’s list of service presumptions, covering veterans who served from Vietnam to the present.

The legislation also included the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act, which Klobuchar co-led with Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH). Those provisions expanded the population of veterans who could receive eligibility for VA hospital care to include those who were exposed to toxic substances and radiation.

Before the PACT Act, Klobuchar led and passed several bills to help veterans with burn pits, including the Toxic Exposure Training Act, which will improve the training of VA health care and benefits personnel so they can better treat veterans exposed to burn pits and accurately process their claims. This legislation was also included in the PACT Act.

Sen. Klobuchar with Barry Henriksen, National and State Legislative Chair of the Department of Minnesota, VFW, and members of the Minnesota VFW.


Klobuchar Statement on Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement on the removal of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“Under the leadership of Secretary Noem, the constitutional rights of people across our state were violated and two Minnesotans were killed. Alex Pretti and Renee Good should be alive today.

“At this week’s oversight hearing in the Senate, I pressed Secretary Noem on the lies she spread by calling Alex and Renee domestic terrorists and the wrongful stops and arrests of American citizens.

“Secretary Noem’s overdue removal from the Department of Homeland Security is a step toward accountability, but it is only the beginning.”

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Lee Introduces 21st Century Worker Act to Deregulate Independent Contract Work

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced the 21st Century Worker Act to deregulate employment processes and provide flexibility for independent contractors and employees. The bill will simplify employee classifications to cut red tape around hiring independent contractors and flexible work arrangements.

“Gig workers and independent contractors face too much red tape when starting a job,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Employers are so scared of misclassifying their employees that they often give up altogether, leaving workers out of a job and our economy worse off. The 21st Century Worker Act cuts through the red tape to give workers and employers flexibility instead of a bureaucratic headache.”

The 21st Century Worker Act is endorsed by Heritage Action, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, and the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

“SBE Council applauds Senator Mike Lee for introducing S. 2159, the 21st Century Worker Act, a critical piece of legislation that promises to restore clarity and balance to federal worker classification policy. Independent contracting is a vital source of income mobility, flexibility and entrepreneurial opportunity. For many individuals, it serves as a bridge to full business ownership, allowing them to test ideas and build client networks. Small businesses likewise depend on independent contractors for projects or niche work and to scale responsibly. For years, SBE Council has raised concerns about inconsistent and expansive federal interpretations that create confusion and expose small businesses and independent contractors to legal risk. These heavy-handed classification standards discourage legitimate contracting relationships and threaten the flexibility and autonomy that millions of Americans actively choose. S.2159 replaces ambiguity with certainty by establishing a clear and consistent bright-line framework across federal labor and tax law. It creates a structure that allows workers and businesses to mutually elect classification when traditional categories do not squarely apply. The modernization of the independent contractor framework will reduce misclassification risk, protect choice, strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and sustain economic growth. SBE Council urges Congress to take swift action on S. 2159 to ensure federal policy supports, rather than undermines, flexible work and small business growth in the 21st century.” – Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

“The 21st Century Worker Act addresses a real problem faced by workers and employers alike: the current patchwork of workplace laws and regulations (The Fair Labor Standards Act, National Labor Relations Act, Internal Revenue Code, etc.) creates uncertainty over whether a worker is a traditional employee or a freelancer in business for themselves. "Worker classification" standards should be clear, easy to apply and not inherently hostile to innovative workplace arrangements. The 21st Century Worker Act would create a common-sense, bright-line test across federal labor and tax statutes to settle this issue while preserving the rights of workers to seek out these new types of arrangements if they so choose. The Labor Department is currently on its fourth revising of this worker classification rule in as many presidential administrations. There is no reason to believe that the rule won't continue to be rewritten with each partisan swing of the executive branch. This volatile situation benefits neither workers nor management. Congress should take up legislation like the 21st Century Worker Act that resolves the matter once and for all.” – Sean Higgins, Research Fellow, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Background

Current federal labor policy is complex and openly hostile to flexible work arrangements. This confusion arises because different laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the U.S. tax codes, and the National Labor Relations Act, apply varying tests to evaluate whether an individual is an employee or an independent contractor. As a result, businesses frequently avoid hiring independent contractors due to potential misclassification risks and liability.

In 2025, independent professionals comprised 4.1% of the U.S. labor force, with an estimated 6.9 million skilled independent workers generating a combined $319 billion in revenue. As more individuals turn to flexible work arrangements instead of traditional nine-to-five jobs, the growing demand for such options requires updated regulations that reflect current workforce preferences.

In October 2022, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that created a six-factor “economic realities” test under the FLSA. This test emphasized economic dependence and favored employee status in gig economy and flexible work scenarios. The proposal failed to recognize that workers often prefer alternative work arrangements. Luckily, under the current administration, the DOL issued guidance in May 2025 stating they would no longer enforce the DOL ruling from the Biden administration. However, Congress must enact a permanent solution to ensure clarity and stability.

Senator Lee’s 21st Century Worker Act establishes a clear and consistent bright line test for federal labor and tax law. By outlining the most common factors for classifying workers as independent contractors or employees, this test eliminates ambiguity and empowers businesses and workers to pursue flexible arrangements confidently.

The 21st Century Worker Act:

Creates a bright line test by outlining the most common factors that make a worker an independent contractor and the most common factors that make a worker an employee.

Creates a third category for workers who do not cleanly meet the definition of an independent contractor or employee. It is impossible for the government to conceive of every possible work arrangement. This bill outlines a process for workers and businesses to mutually elect worker status in instances when a worker cannot be cleanly classified as either an independent contractor or an employee.

If the business and its employee cannot agree on status, the worker will be classified as an independent contractor by default.

Commissions a GAO study to identify how harmonizing other laws with this bright-line test would impact workers and payors.


Lee Introduces National Constitutional Carry Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced the National Constitutional Carry Act to protect the right to carry legally purchased firearms without a permit nationwide. The House version of this bill was introduced by U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY-04).

“The Founders established a national right to keep and bear arms, not to ask for permission from hostile local officials, or risk imprisonment for crossing the wrong state line,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Many states already protect the right to carry without a permit, and it’s time to reaffirm this right for all law-abiding Americans. The National Constitutional Carry Act will establish nationwide permitless carry to keep America safe and her people free.”

The National Constitutional Carry Act is endorsed by Gun Owners of America and the National Association for Gun Rights.

“In a time of war, Americans cannot afford to have the right to bear arms delayed by arbitrary state permitting processes. Public safety is threatened not only by ordinary criminals, but also bad actors working for foreign adversaries, and Americans need to be armed for the security of our free state. That’s why Gun Owners of America is proud to endorse Senator Mike Lee’s National Constitutional Carry Act. Under this GOA-backed legislation, the right to carry a firearm without a government permission slip will be fully restored, and unconstitutional states regulations on firearms, ammunition, and magazine size will be preempted.” – Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President, Gun Owners of America

"Senator Mike Lee’s Real Constitutional Carry bill is the only legislation that will restore the right of all law-abiding Americans to carry a firearm in every state without having to beg for government permission. Twenty-nine states already have Constitutional Carry, but this should be law regardless of which state you live in. The Second Amendment is not a second-class right. The National Association for Gun Rights thanks Senator Lee for introducing this bill and urges its swift passage." – National Association for Gun Rights

Read exclusive coverage by Fox News here.

Access the full text of the bill here.

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