Senator Schmitt Calls on Trump Administration to Investigate Teachers Union’s Woke Investment Practices

U.S. SENATE — Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) wrote to the Department of Labor (DOL) requesting that the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) initiate an investigation into whether the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) coordinated with any Employee Retirement Income Security Act(ERISA)-covered plans, fiduciaries, investment managers, or proxy-voting to use plan assets or shareholder rights for political or ideological environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-based objectives.

“AFT operates through affiliated state and local unions that form constituent parts of the AFT national organization structure. AFT and its affiliates’ membership includes not only public-school teachers, but also private-sector healthcare workers, private higher-education employees, other non-governmental employees, and AFT’s own employees.

“Accordingly, many dues-paying AFT members participate in ERISA-covered retirement or employee-benefit plans. So to the extent AFT-affiliated ERISA plans maintain invested assets, those responsible for managing the plans’ assets are subject to ERISA’s duties of prudence and loyalty. Federal law thus prohibits AFT-affiliated plan fiduciaries from violating those duties of loyalty and prudence by subordinating participants’ financial interests to collateral political, social, or ideological objectives.

“Yet AFT leadership’s repeated claims that it will leverage plan assets for political purposes suggest it may be coordinating with plan fiduciaries to engage in precisely the type of political and ideological investment activities prohibited by ERISA’s duty of loyalty. For example, AFT’s President Randi Weingarten recently sent a letter to Target Corporation threatening to leverage members’ retirement-fund and benefit-plan holdings to pressure the company into adopting specific political stances. Additionally, members of AFT’s leadership also appear to serve as fiduciaries of ERISA-covered plans, raising concern that AFT leadership has the means to effectuate its stated desire for politicized investment activities.

“This potential political weaponization of plan assets puts workers’ retirements and benefits funds at risk and distorts capital markets. And if AFT and plan managers coordinated to take investment activities based on politics and ideology rather than financial considerations, then they may have violated ERISA’s duties of prudence and loyalty.

“A Department and EBSA investigation into whether plan managers violated their fiduciary duties to plan beneficiaries by engaging in impermissible political and ideological activism with plan funds is therefore necessary.

“I thank both the Department and EBSA for continued engagement on this issue. In accordance with that prior work, I encourage the Department and EBSA to investigate whether plan fiduciaries have breached their duties by coordinating with AFT to subordinate plan beneficiaries’ financial well-being to unrelated political or ideological objectives in their shareholder and investment activities.” wrote Senator Schmitt.

Read the full letterHERE.

Background:

AFT’s President Randi Weingarten sent a letter to Target threatening to leverage the union members’ pension and benefits funds, worth billions and representing over 1.8 million members, to coerce Target into publicly opposing ICE enforcement operations and re-adopting DEI initiatives.

ERISA’s fiduciary duty of loyalty requires retirement-and benefits-plan managers to take investment actions solely based on financial and pecuniary considerations to maximize the value of plan assets and secure Americans’ retirements and benefits. Fiduciaries violate that duty of loyalty when they allow non-pecuniary interests, such as political or ideological objectives, to influence their investment activities.

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SCHUMER ANNOUNCES ROCHESTER’S L3HARRIS AWARDED $84 MILLION U.S. ARMY PURCHASE ORDER TO MAKE NEW RADIOS

Senator Fought So L3Harris Could Compete For Major Military Contracts And Army Has Since Then Been Able To Purchase Thousands Of Cutting-Edge Radios From Rochester Company

Schumer: Contract Is A Win For Our National Security, L3Harris, And Rochester’s Economy

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced L3Harris Technologies in Rochester has been selected by the U.S. Army to manufacture Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) manpack Falcon® systems under an $84 million purchase order.

“Once again, the U.S. Army has turned to the right frequency and chosen Rochester’s top-notch workforce to help maintain American military excellence and keep our troops safe. The U.S. Army’s $84 million award shows that it recognizes what I have long known: L3Harris radios are leading in cutting-edge radio technology innovation and essential to providing our warfighters a key tactical advantage on the battlefield,” said Senator Schumer. “I have fought for years to make companies like L3Harris competitive for government contracts so we can create good-paying local jobs. I will continue fighting for investments that protect our national security while boosting Rochester’s local manufacturers and economy.”

“Our high-volume, Rochester-based production lines continue to deliver critical capability into the hands of our armed forces to meet the demands of their vital missions,” said Chris Aebli, President of L3Harris’ Mission Critical Communications business. “We employ more than 3,600 residents of Monroe County and surrounding areas, all of whom are committed to innovating and providing leading-edge technology for the American warfighter. We are grateful for Senator Schumer’s continued support of our workforce and the critical technology we are delivering to soldiers.”

Schumer has a long history of prolonged pushes for an even playing field to give companies like L3Harris, previously Harris Corporation, a fair shot at competing for these defense contracts and bringing innovative work to Rochester, which culminated in the Army selecting Harris in 2015 for the Army’s multi-year $3.9 billion IDIQ handheld Leader radio contract (formerly named the “Rifleman radio”) and in 2016 for the Army’s $12.7 billion IDIQ Manpack radio contract. L3Harris’ win to manufacture radios for the Army under these two multi-billion-dollar contracts followed years of work by Schumer to reverse the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) then-proposed plan to award these contracts to just one company through a sole-source, single-vendor procurement process. Schumer said the single-vendor selection process would have created an unfair playing field for all vendors, including Harris, to compete, and fought to ensure that a fully open, multi-year, multi-vendor, and competitive acquisition process was instituted, so all manufacturers, including L3Harris, would have a level playing field to compete to win these contracts. Schumer argued that the competition from a fully competitive, multi-vendor process would ensure taxpayers get the best-priced radios and the military gets the most secure, capable, and technologically advanced radios. Since Schumer launched his tireless efforts to even the playing field for L3Harris and other companies, L3Harris has gone on to win not only several contracts for the Army, but several multi-billion dollar awards to also manufacture radios and tactical communications systems for the Marine Corps, SOCOM, and our partners and allies such as Ukraine.

L3Harris was selected by the U.S. Army to manufacture thousands of Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Fit (HMS) radios under a contract worth $300 million last year and an additional 4,000+ radios under a contract worth $196 million in 2023. In 2022, L3Harris was selected by the Marine Corps to manufacture Falcon IV® Multi-Channel Hand Held (MCHH) radios under a contract worth up to $750 million. In 2021, L3Harris was selected by the Army to produce more than 4,000 Leader Radios and Manpack Radios under a $345 million contract that was also part of the multi-vendor Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts Schumer announced in 2016.

In 2020, Schumer announced that L3Harris had been awarded $95 million, in addition to the $50 million he announced in 2019, to manufacture Manpack radios for the U.S. Army. In addition, Schumer in 2019 fought for major boosts in the bipartisan omnibus spending package that included $510.7 million for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to help continue building the agency’s next flagship telescope, the Nancy Grace Roman Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), that is being constructed in part by L3Harris in Rochester, with the company building key components like the Telescope and two Aft Optics Assemblies. In November of 2018, Schumer visited Rochester to advocate for this crucial funding for the Roman Space Telescope, and one month later announced that Harris Corp., now L3Harris, had been awarded a $195.9 million contract from NASA to continue the project. L3Harris completed the telescope and delivered it to NASA in November 2024. The telescope is now being integrated and tested at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and is scheduled to launch the telescope into space by May 2027.

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SCHUMER CELEBRATES MICRON’S FIRST CONCRETE POUR AS ANOTHER MAJOR STEP FORWARD—AHEAD OF SCHEDULE—FOR THIS HISTORIC CENTRAL NEW YORK INVESTMENT THAT WILL BE THE LARGEST CHIP MANUFACTURING SITE IN U.S....

Micron Is Also Increasing Its U.S. Investment To $250 Billion—Up From $200 Billion—Schumer Is Pushing For That Additional $50 Billion Work To Happen In New York

Schumer Worked To Convince Micron To Invest In Upstate NY, And Passage Of Schumer’s CHIPS & Science Law Sealed The Deal For Micron To Invest In America And Select Syracuse Area To Make Largest Private Sector Investment Ever In New York, Creating Upwards of 50,000 Jobs

Schumer: First Concrete Pour Marks Concrete Progress Towards Bringing Micron In CNY To Life!

After years of work to rebuild semiconductor manufacturing in America through his CHIPS & Science Law, and working relentlessly to attract Micron to New York, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today celebrated Micron’s first concrete pour, which is happening ahead of schedule, laying the foundation for its first of four planned manufacturing plants at what will be the largest and most advanced memory chip facility in America. Schumer also applauded Micron’s decision to invest an additional $50 billion in the U.S., pledging to work with the company to steer as much of that new investment as possible to the company’s major New York project.

“Micron’s first concrete pour marks concrete progress towards bringing America’s largest semiconductor manufacturing facility to life right here in Central New York! Micron’s chips are in demand more than ever, and their Central New York project and the 50,000 jobs it’ll create put New York on the global map for advanced chip production,” said Senator Schumer. “Micron’s total $250 billion U.S. investment is transformative for manufacturing in America and New York. I delivered a $6.1 billion CHIPS grant and billions more in Investment Tax Credit assistance from my CHIPS & Science Law to make this historic project possible. Today, we celebrate a new chapter for American chip manufacturing with Upstate New York leading the way.”

Micron today at its “Concrete Progress” event, marking the first concrete pour laying the foundation for the first of four planned manufacturing plants, announced it will invest an additional $50 billion in the U.S., bringing its overall investment to $250 billion through 2035. Micron is also announcing up to $3 billion in new investment to develop the domestic semiconductor supply chain, including in New York. This comes after the company has already spent close to $700 million with local contractors and suppliers in the early site development work in Clay. The Central New York project, which is the largest private sector investment in New York history, will create upwards of 50,000 jobs across the supply chain in Upstate NY, including thousands of union construction jobs and 9,000 direct Micron jobs at the mega-fab site.

After Schumer successfully passed the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law, which created the federal programs needed to spur semiconductor industry investment in America, Micron selected Central New York for its new advanced memory chip fab complex. Schumer’s CHIPS & Science Law delivered over $6.1 billion in funding for Micron, along with billions more in incentives through the federal semiconductor Investment Tax Credit, to help the U.S. grow its share of advanced memory manufacturing from less than 2% today to approximately 10% by 2035. This funding will support the construction of Micron’s first two fabs in Central NY and an expansion in Idaho to help meet soaring demand for the chips Micron makes.

Over the next few years, Micron plans to build a colossal complex of memory chip plants in Central New York, constructing up to four manufacturing plants at White Pine Commerce Park in Clay, NY. The company’s plans call for building a cleanroom space that will cover about 2.4 million square feet, the size of almost 40 football fields. Micron is one of the largest producers of semiconductors in the world and makes memory chips that are essential to the technology people use every day, from cellphones to cars, and to critical technologies like AI, as well as technologies that are used by our military.

Micron is one of several agreements in New York for federal CHIPS incentives funded by Schumer’s bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law that are spurring major private sector investment and bringing manufacturing back to America. Thanks to Schumer’s efforts and new investments spurred by his CHIPS & Science Law, Upstate NY has become a central hub for America’s semiconductor research and manufacturing. In addition to more than $1.5 billion in CHIPS funding for GlobalFoundries to construct a second, state-of-the-art fab and create a first-of-its-kind advanced chip packaging facility, GlobalFoundries was also recently awarded $375 million in CHIPS R&D funding to launch Quantum Technology Solutions, a new quantum business within GlobalFoundries that will position America at the forefront of technology innovation. IBM has finalized an agreement with the Commerce Department for $1 billion in federal CHIPS R&D funding, combined with an additional $1 billion in investment from IBM, to form a new entity to operate a secure 300mm quantum wafer fab at Albany NanoTech. Corning Incorporated has finalized a $32 million agreement to make a $315 million investment that would increase production at its Canton facility of specialized glass vital for the semiconductor industry. Edwards Vacuum is nearing completion of a new first-of-its-kind-in-the-country $300+ million dry pump manufacturing facility, supported by an $18 million CHIPS funding award. TTM Technologies, a printed circuit board manufacturer, just cut the ribbon on a new facility in Onondaga County, creating 400 good-paying jobs, made possible by $30 million in federal investment that Schumer delivered. Menlo Micro will invest $150 million to build its microchip switch manufacturing facility in Tompkins County, creating over 100 new, good-paying jobs.

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Sen. Tim Scott applauds $23.5 million BUILD grant to repair South Carolina bridges

CHARLESTON, S.C. — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) today released the following statement applauding the $23.5 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant awarded to replace up to 18 bridges across nine counties in rural South Carolina.

“South Carolina’s rural communities deserve infrastructure that’s safe and built to last,” said Sen. Scott. “Replacing structurally deficient bridges across nine counties will strengthen local economies, improve safety, and ensure our roads keep pace with South Carolina’s growth. I’m grateful to see federal resources delivering real results for the communities that need them most.”

The project is estimated to cost more than $116 million, replacing structurally deficient bridges with modern bridges that meet current design standards, include safety upgrades, incorporate geometric improvements, and provide multimodal accommodations where needed.

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Shaheen Joins Colleagues to Protect Integrity of Scientific Research, Demand OMB Director Vought Rescind Politicized Regulation

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined 11 of her Senate colleagues in submitting public comment to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought to demand OMB rescind a proposed rule, broadly titled “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance”, that could alter how nearly all federal agencies administer grants and financial agreements. The proposed change would give the White House more political control over these awards, which could enable corruption, undermine U.S. scientific investments and competitiveness and block funding for critical life-saving research and collaboration.

The Senators wrote, in part: "The proposed changes solidify federal grant-making as an unprecedented partisan power-grab that eliminates transparency of how taxpayer dollars are spent. This rule would derail American innovation and competitiveness at the local and national levels, kill good-paying American jobs, drive up costs for families, and halt essential projects in local communities.”

They continued: “Instead of supporting data-driven investments that pay dividends for the American people, this guidance facilitates partisan ideals and cronyism, leaving Americans in the dark.”

The Senators concluded: “We share the goals of improved transparency, accountability, and oversight; clarification of regulatory structure; and reducing recipient burden–all in pursuit of continuing America’s global leadership in science and innovation. However, these regulations would act in opposition to these goals. They would undermine our country’s competitiveness, erode our scientific ecosystem, increase unwanted bureaucracy, enable corruption, and perpetuate uncertainty across our local communities. We strongly urge you to withdraw this proposed rule.”

OMB has proposed sweeping changes to the rules governing how federal agencies award and administer grants and cooperative agreements. These are the primary mechanisms through which the country funds basic research, applied science and scientific workforce development. These agencies also fund a wide array of grants for local projects, including but not limited to, infrastructure, public health, resource conservation and rural development. The proposed rules formalize an August 7, 2025, Executive Order that directed OMB to expand political oversight over all federal awards.

Shaheen was joined by U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

Nonpartisan, unbiased federal funding for research is critical to scientific advancement, technological growth and medical breakthroughs—ensuring the United States remains on the cutting-edge of innovation. Amid the Trump Administration’s efforts to politicize federal funding and undermine scientific integrity, Senator Shaheen has continued to fight back. In May, Shaheen helped lead the Scientific Integrity Act to protect scientific research from being politicized or unduly influenced by special interests.

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Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Warner, Kaine Press Administration for Answers on Trump’s Takeover of DC Golf Courses

Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), pressed the Trump Administration for detailed answers to a series of questions on the Department of the Interior’s plans for East Potomac Park redevelopment, citing concerns about impacts on public access and affordability, historic preservation, misuse of taxpayer funds, and environmental and public health. The Senator’s letter comes after public reporting and the Administration’s social media announcements of new plans for the park – which have yet to be detailed to the public – and follows up on a previous unanswered letter from the Senators earlier this year.

“We write to follow up on our letter from January 26, 2026 that raised serious concerns regarding the Administration’s termination of the lease held by the National Links Trust (NLT) for operation of East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course, and Rock Creek Park Golf Course. More than five months have passed since this letter was sent to you, and we have yet to receive a response. At an April Senate Appropriations hearing, Secretary Burgum acknowledged that he had not seen the letter, but assured Senator Van Hollen that the Department would respond. In the interim, the Administration has continued to advance plans for these courses, including Secretary Burgum's announcement on social media of a renovation design by Fazio Design for East Potomac Golf Links, without any disclosure to the public or to Congress of the scope, cost, or basis on which that engagement was awarded. The absence of any reply is itself troubling, and recent developments have made our concerns considerably more urgent,” the Senators begin.

On the National Park Service’s plans for East Potomac redevelopment and the lack of transparency, the Senators wrote, “the only detail provided was a low-resolution image of the proposed course, leaving the public and Congress entirely in the dark about the scope of the redevelopment, including to what extent redevelopment will ensure continued public access to the waterfront, address existing infrastructure issues on Hains Point, and protect important artifacts such as the historic cherry trees on the White Course – the oldest grove of Japanese cherry trees in D.C..”

On Trump’s visit to East Potomac Golf Links on June 28, 2026, the Senators wrote, “Following that visit, the President announced on social media that work on East Potomac would begin on September 1, 2026, described the course as severely neglected, and stated that the redesigned course could host major professional golf tournaments. These photos and statements seem to illustrate the Administration’s plans for East Potomac Park, yet the Department has still not provided Congress or the public with basic details about the scope of the project, the funding source, the expected period of closure or disruption, the effect on current users, or how such an accelerated timeline can be reconciled with applicable environmental, historic-preservation, procurement, and public-engagement requirements.”

The Senators go on to request answers to the following questions:

How will the Department ensure that course fees and access at East Potomac Golf Links remain genuinely affordable for the communities that have depended on these public courses for nearly a century? Does the Department anticipate that course fees will increase or that the annual number of publicly available rounds of golf will decrease, as compared to when the course was managed by National Links Trust? If so, please provide estimates of the expected changes in cost and availability.

How will the Department ensure continued access for the bikers, walkers, runners, and recreational fishermen that utilize the popular waterfront Hains Point Loop Trail at East Potomac Park?

What assessment has been made of potential health risks to golfers, course employees, youth program participants, and the surrounding environment at East Potomac Park, including the Potomac River?

What plans are in place to remediate hazardous substances identified in the debris pile, what is the expected timeline for remediation actions, and who will bear the cost of these cleanup efforts?

How does the Department intend to ensure compliance with all applicable federal environmental and public health laws, including any requirements for environmental assessment?

Does the Department intend to rebuild the seawall before starting broader redevelopment at East Potomac Golf Links? How does the Department intend to fund the full scope of redevelopment, including seawall reconstruction? Will this be financed through federal appropriations, private donations, or some combination thereof, and has Congress been consulted about any use of taxpayer funds?

What steps is the Department taking to protect the historic cherry trees on the White Course at East Potomac Golf Links, reportedly among the last surviving trees from the original 1910 gift from Japan, from any planned redevelopment or restoration work? How will the Department protect cherry trees along the waterfront at East Potomac Park?

East Potomac Park serves a wide range of users beyond golfers, including runners, cyclists, tennis players, fishermen, and families who rely on its open spaces and waterfront access. What assurances can the Department provide that the planned redevelopment will preserve access to these public spaces?

“The municipal golf courses of Washington, D.C. are public assets with deep historical, recreational, and community value. Decisions affecting their future, and the health and safety of those who use them, must be guided by law, transparency, and fidelity to the public trust. The Administration’s failure to respond to the questions posed in the January letter, combined with the significant new developments outlined above, compels us to seek answers with greater urgency,” the lawmakers concluded.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Director Bowron,

We write to follow up on our letter from January 26, 2026 that raised serious concerns regarding the Administration’s termination of the lease held by the National Links Trust (NLT) for operation of East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course, and Rock Creek Park Golf Course. More than five months have passed since this letter was sent to you, and we have yet to receive a response. At an April Senate Appropriations hearing, Secretary Burgum acknowledged that he had not seen the letter, but assured Senator Van Hollen that the Department would respond. In the interim, the Administration has continued to advance plans for these courses, including Secretary Burgum's announcement on social media of a renovation design by Fazio Design for East Potomac Golf Links, without any disclosure to the public or to Congress of the scope, cost, or basis on which that engagement was awarded. The absence of any reply is itself troubling, and recent developments have made our concerns considerably more urgent.

On May 8, 2026, the Department of the Interior announced an agreement under which the National Links Trust will receive a new long-term lease for Langston Golf Course and Rock Creek Park Golf, while continuing to operate East Potomac Golf Links until the National Park Service is prepared to begin a restoration project there. Public statements accompanying the agreement referenced future restoration and redevelopment concepts at the courses, including expanded facilities and community programming, as well as continued partnerships with organizations including First Tee of Greater Washington, D.C., the Western Golf Association, and the Evans Scholars Foundation. While we welcome commitments to keep the courses open, accessible, and affordable, the announcement raises important questions about the scope of any future work contemplated for East Potomac and the extent to which plans have already been developed. Secretary Burgum publicized the agreement on social media, posting that he was excited to unveil a renovation design from Fazio Design. However, the only detail provided was a low-resolution image of the proposed course, leaving the public and Congress entirely in the dark about the scope of the redevelopment, including to what extent redevelopment will ensure continued public access to the waterfront, address existing infrastructure issues on Hains Point, and protect important artifacts such as the historic cherry trees on the White Course – the oldest grove of Japanese cherry trees in D.C..

Those concerns were further heightened by President Trump’s unannounced visit to East Potomac Golf Links on June 28, 2026, with Secretary Burgum, representatives of Fazio Design, and White House staff. Photos captured during that visit show President Trump holding designs with a substantially increased project scope as compared to the initial design shared by Secretary Burgum. This new golf course design appears to encompass the entire peninsula stretching down to the southern end of Hains Point. The design also appears to jeopardize some of East Potomac Park’s most popular features including the Hains Point bicycle trail, the miniature golf course, and historic cherry trees. Following that visit, the President announced on social media that work on East Potomac would begin on September 1, 2026, described the course as severely neglected, and stated that the redesigned course could host major professional golf tournaments. These photos and statements seem to illustrate the Administration’s plans for East Potomac Park, yet the Department has still not provided Congress or the public with basic details about the scope of the project, the funding source, the expected period of closure or disruption, the effect on current users, or how such an accelerated timeline can be reconciled with applicable environmental, historic-preservation, procurement, and public-engagement requirements. A public commitment to preserve access is welcome, but it is not a substitute for a transparent plan that ensures East Potomac Park remains a genuinely affordable municipal golf course and public parkland for residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

The environmental and public health concerns stemming from the Administration’s decision to dump dirt and debris from the White House East Wing project on the White Course at East Potomac, raised in our original letter, have also grown more serious. A recent analysis of the debris provided by Jacobs Engineering Group detected many toxic compounds in the dirt pile including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and pesticides. Several of these compounds, including arsenic and lead, were detected at levels that could pose a risk to human health. The public deserves a full account of what has been deposited there and what risks, if any, it poses.

The questions posed in the original letter remain unanswered. We respectfully request responses to all of the following:

How will the Department ensure that course fees and access at East Potomac Golf Links remain genuinely affordable for the communities that have depended on these public courses for nearly a century? Does the Department anticipate that course fees will increase or that the annual number of publicly available rounds of golf will decrease, as compared to when the course was managed by National Links Trust? If so, please provide estimates of the expected changes in cost and availability.

How will the Department ensure continued access for the bikers, walkers, runners, and recreational fishermen that utilize the popular waterfront Hains Point Loop Trail at East Potomac Park?

What assessment has been made of potential health risks to golfers, course employees, youth program participants, and the surrounding environment at East Potomac Park, including the Potomac River?

What plans are in place to remediate hazardous substances identified in the debris pile, what is the expected timeline for remediation actions, and who will bear the cost of these cleanup efforts?

How does the Department intend to ensure compliance with all applicable federal environmental and public health laws, including any requirements for environmental assessment?

Does the Department intend to rebuild the seawall before starting broader redevelopment at East Potomac Golf Links? How does the Department intend to fund the full scope of redevelopment, including seawall reconstruction? Will this be financed through federal appropriations, private donations, or some combination thereof, and has Congress been consulted about any use of taxpayer funds?

What steps is the Department taking to protect the historic cherry trees on the White Course at East Potomac Golf Links, reportedly among the last surviving trees from the original 1910 gift from Japan, from any planned redevelopment or restoration work? How will the Department protect cherry trees along the waterfront at East Potomac Park?

East Potomac Park serves a wide range of users beyond golfers, including runners, cyclists, tennis players, fishermen, and families who rely on its open spaces and waterfront access. What assurances can the Department provide that the planned redevelopment will preserve access to these public spaces?

The municipal golf courses of Washington, D.C. are public assets with deep historical, recreational, and community value. Decisions affecting their future, and the health and safety of those who use them, must be guided by law, transparency, and fidelity to the public trust. The Administration’s failure to respond to the questions posed in the January letter, combined with the significant new developments outlined above, compels us to seek answers with greater urgency.

We look forward to a response by July 20, 2026.


Warner, Kaine, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Press Administration for Answers on Trump’s Takeover of DC Golf Courses

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD) pressed the Trump Administration for detailed answers to a series of questions on the Department of the Interior’s plans for East Potomac Park redevelopment, citing concerns about impacts on public access and affordability, historic preservation, misuse of taxpayer funds, and environmental and public health. The senator’s letter comes after public reporting and the Administration’s social media announcements of new plans for the park – which have yet to be detailed to the public – and follows up on a previous unanswered letter from the senators earlier this year.

“We write to follow up on our letter from January 26, 2026 that raised serious concerns regarding the Administration’s termination of the lease held by the National Links Trust (NLT) for operation of East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course, and Rock Creek Park Golf Course. More than five months have passed since this letter was sent to you, and we have yet to receive a response. At an April Senate Appropriations hearing, Secretary Burgum acknowledged that he had not seen the letter, but assured Senator Van Hollen that the Department would respond. In the interim, the Administration has continued to advance plans for these courses, including Secretary Burgum’s announcement on social media of a renovation design by Fazio Design for East Potomac Golf Links, without any disclosure to the public or to Congress of the scope, cost, or basis on which that engagement was awarded. The absence of any reply is itself troubling, and recent developments have made our concerns considerably more urgent,” the senators begin.

On the National Park Service’s plans for East Potomac redevelopment and the lack of transparency, the senators wrote, “the only detail provided was a low-resolution image of the proposed course, leaving the public and Congress entirely in the dark about the scope of the redevelopment, including to what extent redevelopment will ensure continued public access to the waterfront, address existing infrastructure issues on Hains Point, and protect important artifacts such as the historic cherry trees on the White Course – the oldest grove of Japanese cherry trees in D.C..”

On Trump’s visit to East Potomac Golf Links on June 28, 2026, the senators wrote, “Following that visit, the President announced on social media that work on East Potomac would begin on September 1, 2026, described the course as severely neglected, and stated that the redesigned course could host major professional golf tournaments. These photos and statements seem to illustrate the Administration’s plans for East Potomac Park, yet the Department has still not provided Congress or the public with basic details about the scope of the project, the funding source, the expected period of closure or disruption, the effect on current users, or how such an accelerated timeline can be reconciled with applicable environmental, historic-preservation, procurement, and public-engagement requirements.”

The senators go on to request answers to the following questions:

How will the Department ensure that course fees and access at East Potomac Golf Links remain genuinely affordable for the communities that have depended on these public courses for nearly a century? Does the Department anticipate that course fees will increase or that the annual number of publicly available rounds of golf will decrease, as compared to when the course was managed by National Links Trust? If so, please provide estimates of the expected changes in cost and availability.

How will the Department ensure continued access for the bikers, walkers, runners, and recreational fishermen that utilize the popular waterfront Hains Point Loop Trail at East Potomac Park?

What assessment has been made of potential health risks to golfers, course employees, youth program participants, and the surrounding environment at East Potomac Park, including the Potomac River?

What plans are in place to remediate hazardous substances identified in the debris pile, what is the expected timeline for remediation actions, and who will bear the cost of these cleanup efforts?

How does the Department intend to ensure compliance with all applicable federal environmental and public health laws, including any requirements for environmental assessment?

Does the Department intend to rebuild the seawall before starting broader redevelopment at East Potomac Golf Links? How does the Department intend to fund the full scope of redevelopment, including seawall reconstruction? Will this be financed through federal appropriations, private donations, or some combination thereof, and has Congress been consulted about any use of taxpayer funds?

What steps is the Department taking to protect the historic cherry trees on the White Course at East Potomac Golf Links, reportedly among the last surviving trees from the original 1910 gift from Japan, from any planned redevelopment or restoration work? How will the Department protect cherry trees along the waterfront at East Potomac Park?

East Potomac Park serves a wide range of users beyond golfers, including runners, cyclists, tennis players, fishermen, and families who rely on its open spaces and waterfront access. What assurances can the Department provide that the planned redevelopment will preserve access to these public spaces?

“The municipal golf courses of Washington, D.C. are public assets with deep historical, recreational, and community value. Decisions affecting their future, and the health and safety of those who use them, must be guided by law, transparency, and fidelity to the public trust. The Administration’s failure to respond to the questions posed in the January letter, combined with the significant new developments outlined above, compels us to seek answers with greater urgency,” the lawmakers concluded.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Director Bowron,

We write to follow up on our letter from January 26, 2026 that raised serious concerns regarding the Administration’s termination of the lease held by the National Links Trust (NLT) for operation of East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course, and Rock Creek Park Golf Course. More than five months have passed since this letter was sent to you, and we have yet to receive a response. At an April Senate Appropriations hearing, Secretary Burgum acknowledged that he had not seen the letter, but assured Senator Van Hollen that the Department would respond. In the interim, the Administration has continued to advance plans for these courses, including Secretary Burgum’s announcement on social media of a renovation design by Fazio Design for East Potomac Golf Links, without any disclosure to the public or to Congress of the scope, cost, or basis on which that engagement was awarded. The absence of any reply is itself troubling, and recent developments have made our concerns considerably more urgent.

On May 8, 2026, the Department of the Interior announced an agreement under which the National Links Trust will receive a new long-term lease for Langston Golf Course and Rock Creek Park Golf, while continuing to operate East Potomac Golf Links until the National Park Service is prepared to begin a restoration project there. Public statements accompanying the agreement referenced future restoration and redevelopment concepts at the courses, including expanded facilities and community programming, as well as continued partnerships with organizations including First Tee of Greater Washington, D.C., the Western Golf Association, and the Evans Scholars Foundation. While we welcome commitments to keep the courses open, accessible, and affordable, the announcement raises important questions about the scope of any future work contemplated for East Potomac and the extent to which plans have already been developed. Secretary Burgum publicized the agreement on social media, posting that he was excited to unveil a renovation design from Fazio Design. However, the only detail provided was a low-resolution image of the proposed course, leaving the public and Congress entirely in the dark about the scope of the redevelopment, including to what extent redevelopment will ensure continued public access to the waterfront, address existing infrastructure issues on Hains Point, and protect important artifacts such as the historic cherry trees on the White Course – the oldest grove of Japanese cherry trees in D.C..

Those concerns were further heightened by President Trump’s unannounced visit to East Potomac Golf Links on June 28, 2026, with Secretary Burgum, representatives of Fazio Design, and White House staff. Photos captured during that visit show President Trump holding designs with a substantially increased project scope as compared to the initial design shared by Secretary Burgum. This new golf course design appears to encompass the entire peninsula stretching down to the southern end of Hains Point. The design also appears to jeopardize some of East Potomac Park’s most popular features including the Hains Point bicycle trail, the miniature golf course, and historic cherry trees. Following that visit, the President announced on social media that work on East Potomac would begin on September 1, 2026, described the course as severely neglected, and stated that the redesigned course could host major professional golf tournaments. These photos and statements seem to illustrate the Administration’s plans for East Potomac Park, yet the Department has still not provided Congress or the public with basic details about the scope of the project, the funding source, the expected period of closure or disruption, the effect on current users, or how such an accelerated timeline can be reconciled with applicable environmental, historic-preservation, procurement, and public-engagement requirements. A public commitment to preserve access is welcome, but it is not a substitute for a transparent plan that ensures East Potomac Park remains a genuinely affordable municipal golf course and public parkland for residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

The environmental and public health concerns stemming from the Administration’s decision to dump dirt and debris from the White House East Wing project on the White Course at East Potomac, raised in our original letter, have also grown more serious. A recent analysis of the debris provided by Jacobs Engineering Group detected many toxic compounds in the dirt pile including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and pesticides. Several of these compounds, including arsenic and lead, were detected at levels that could pose a risk to human health. The public deserves a full account of what has been deposited there and what risks, if any, it poses.

The questions posed in the original letter remain unanswered. We respectfully request responses to all of the following:

How will the Department ensure that course fees and access at East Potomac Golf Links remain genuinely affordable for the communities that have depended on these public courses for nearly a century? Does the Department anticipate that course fees will increase or that the annual number of publicly available rounds of golf will decrease, as compared to when the course was managed by National Links Trust? If so, please provide estimates of the expected changes in cost and availability.

How will the Department ensure continued access for the bikers, walkers, runners, and recreational fishermen that utilize the popular waterfront Hains Point Loop Trail at East Potomac Park?

What assessment has been made of potential health risks to golfers, course employees, youth program participants, and the surrounding environment at East Potomac Park, including the Potomac River?

What plans are in place to remediate hazardous substances identified in the debris pile, what is the expected timeline for remediation actions, and who will bear the cost of these cleanup efforts?

How does the Department intend to ensure compliance with all applicable federal environmental and public health laws, including any requirements for environmental assessment?

Does the Department intend to rebuild the seawall before starting broader redevelopment at East Potomac Golf Links? How does the Department intend to fund the full scope of redevelopment, including seawall reconstruction? Will this be financed through federal appropriations, private donations, or some combination thereof, and has Congress been consulted about any use of taxpayer funds?

What steps is the Department taking to protect the historic cherry trees on the White Course at East Potomac Golf Links, reportedly among the last surviving trees from the original 1910 gift from Japan, from any planned redevelopment or restoration work? How will the Department protect cherry trees along the waterfront at East Potomac Park?

East Potomac Park serves a wide range of users beyond golfers, including runners, cyclists, tennis players, fishermen, and families who rely on its open spaces and waterfront access. What assurances can the Department provide that the planned redevelopment will preserve access to these public spaces?

The municipal golf courses of Washington, D.C. are public assets with deep historical, recreational, and community value. Decisions affecting their future, and the health and safety of those who use them, must be guided by law, transparency, and fidelity to the public trust. The Administration’s failure to respond to the questions posed in the January letter, combined with the significant new developments outlined above, compels us to seek answers with greater urgency.

We look forward to a response by July 20, 2026.

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Warner Raises Alarm on FBI Diverting Critical Resources to Investigate Debunked Accusations Surrounding 2020 Presidential Election in Georgia

WASHINGTON – Just a few months away from the 2026 midterm elections, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, is demanding answers from reports surrounding the Trump administration diverting personnel and resources to further perpetuate and re-investigate the debunked lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

In a letter sent to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, Sen. Warner wrote, “I write to express great concern regarding reportsthat you are diverting critical Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) resources to re-investigate the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. The 2020 election has been extensively audited, investigated, and litigated. Multiple courts and state officials have found that there is no evidence to support allegations of substantial fraud that would have changed the election outcome. The Trump administration’s own Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) called the 2020 election the ‘most secure in American history’ and President Trump’s own Cabinet members at the DOJand FBIrejected the idea there was widespread fraud that impacted the outcome of the election.”

Sen. Warner explained that Georgia’s election officials and state investigators have already conducted multiple investigations into specific allegations of fraud. Additionally, a full hand recount, followed by a machine recount reaffirmed the original result. A signature match audit of absentee ballots conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation also confirmed “that the election was secure and fair, and that the result was accurate.”

Sen. Warner continued, “Nonetheless, months before the 2026 midterm election, two years before the next general election, and well after the statute of limitations would have run, you designated Georgia’s 2020 election as a ‘priority investigation’ and are diverting 260 investigators from their assigned duties to conduct this inquiry. This misuse of taxpayer dollars and investigative resources for the sole purpose of a partisan investigation intended to soothe the President’s personal grievances about the 2020 election and its systems – the same systems that securely, fairly, and freely declared him as the winner of the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections – is negligence and abuse of power of the highest order.”

“The FBI’s core mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution. Dedicated FBI special agents and intelligence analysts work tirelessly to identify legitimate threats and conduct investigations into complex issues involving terrorism, counterintelligence and espionage, cyberattacks, and violent crime,” Sen. Warner wrote. “Their work is crucial to safeguarding Americans from harm, crime, corruption, and terrorism. Unlike those serious threats to the country, this fool’s errand of an “investigation” will serve to erode trust in the FBI, the DOJ, and America’s elections. It is alarming that you have chosen to divert these crucial national security resources and personnel to an investigation driven by the personal, political interests of the President.”

The letter concludes by requesting a staff briefing and asking a series of questions regarding the scope and legal basis for the investigation and data on the personnel re-assigned and the impact of the diversion to ongoing FBI investigations.

Sen. Warner is committed to making sure elections are fair, safe, and secure. Earlier this year, Sen. Warner demanded answers from former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on election security after she joined the FBI in raiding Fulton County, Georgia’s elections office. He also previously pushed DNI Gabbard and ODNI to coordinate an intelligence community (IC) briefing on foreign election threats and requested a plan for defensive cybersecurity measures ahead of upcoming election cycles. In May, Sen. Warner sent a letter to DHS Secretary Mullin raising concerns on reports that CISA is not providing critical election security support to states and localities.

Read the full letter here and below.

Dear Acting Attorney General Blanche and Director Patel,

I write to express great concern regarding reports that you are diverting critical Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) resources to re-investigate the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

The 2020 election has been extensively audited, investigated, and litigated. Multiple courts and state officials have found that there is no evidence to support allegations of substantial fraud that would have changed the election outcome. The Trump administration’s own Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) called the 2020 election the “most secure in American history” and President Trump’s own Cabinet members at the DOJ and FBI rejected the idea there was widespread fraud that impacted the outcome of the election.

Additionally, Georgia’s election officials and state investigators conducted multiple investigations into specific allegations of fraud and election irregularities. Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State, Brad Raffensberger, oversaw a full hand recount of all the 2020 presidential ballots, followed by a machine recount, both of which upheld and reaffirmed the original result. Subsequently, a signature match audit of absentee ballots conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation similarly confirmed the outcomes of all the other investigations – that the election was secure and fair, and that the result was accurate.

Nonetheless, months before the 2026 midterm election, two years before the next general election, and well after the statute of limitations would have run, you designated Georgia’s 2020 election as a “priority investigation” and are diverting 260 investigators from their assigned duties to conduct this inquiry. This misuse of taxpayer dollars and investigative resources for the sole purpose of a partisan investigation intended to soothe the President’s personal grievances about the 2020 election and its systems – the same systems that securely, fairly, and freely declared him as the winner of the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections – is negligence and abuse of power of the highest order.

The FBI’s core mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution. Dedicated FBI special agents and intelligence analysts work tirelessly to identify legitimate threats and conduct investigations into complex issues involving terrorism, counterintelligence and espionage, cyberattacks, and violent crime. Their work is crucial to safeguarding Americans from harm, crime, corruption, and terrorism. Unlike those serious threats to the country, this fool’s errand of an “investigation” will serve to erode trust in the FBI, the DOJ, and America’s elections. It is alarming that you have chosen to divert these crucial national security resources and personnel to an investigation driven by the personal, political interests of the President.

I request a staff briefing and answers to the following questions no later than two weeks from the date of this letter.

What is the scope, nature, and purpose of the FBI’s investigation? What division is leading the investigation? Does the FBI believe a criminal offense has been committed, and if so, what is the basis for that belief?

What legal or factual development prompted the FBI to designate the Georgia 2020 election investigation as a “priority investigation,” and how does that evidence differ from information previously reviewed by state investigators, federal investigators, courts, election officials, and other government entities? How does the FBI justify reinvestigating allegations that have already been debunked through multiple recounts, audits, state investigations, and judicial proceedings, including Georgia’s statewide hand tally, machine recount, and absentee ballot signature audits?

Is the investigation limited to Georgia, or is it part of a broader effort reexamining the 2020 election in multiple states? If so, what states and why?

What criteria did the FBI use to determine that 260 intelligence analysts and other personnel should be reassigned to this investigation, and what analysis was conducted regarding the impact of those reassignments on the Bureau’s other priorities? List the offices that the agents and analysts were pulled from and the duration of their assignment on this investigation.

What is the total projected cost of the investigation, including personnel, overtime, travel, and record review, and how does that expenditure compare with other current FBI priority investigations? For the briefing, come prepared to discuss the cost of the investigation to date and the burn rate.

Will the FBI commit to providing Congress with a classified or public briefing explaining the scope of this investigation, legal basis, factual predicate, and resource allocation?

Please provide all communications directing agencies, field offices, or other entities to provide personnel and resources for investigations relating to the 2020 election since January 20, 2025.

Please provide a full accounting of all FBI personnel working on the 2020 election since January 20, 2025, including the number of personnel, assignment duration, and mission details.

Please provide a list of all investigations paused, terminated, or reassigned as a result of, in whole or in part, investigations and efforts related to the 2020 election since January 20, 2025.

As the nation’s principal law enforcement and domestic intelligence agency, the FBI should direct its resources towards investigations that protect public safety and address urgent threats – not partisan political wild goose chases. This diversion of significant FBI resources towards a political investigation threatens the purpose of its mission and endangers Americans. I strongly urge the Department and Bureau to reconsider this decision and put the FBI back to work preventing and investigating real crimes.

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Welch Joins Climate Action Campaign for Hearing on the Impacts of Climate Change and Extreme Weather

Welch, Balint, and State and Community Leaders Heard from Flood-Impacted Vermonters in Barre, Vermont

BARRE – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), Vermont State Senators Anne Watson and Andrew Perchlik, alongside the Climate Action Campaign (CAC) and its Vermont partners, at the Old Labor Hall in Barre for an Extreme Weather People’s Hearing.

The event, through first person testimony, highlighted how climate change is fueling more dangerous and deadly extreme weather, and threatening the lives and livelihoods of Vermonters. Small business owners, public health experts, farmers, and community members testified about how their lives have been disrupted by climate change-fueled extreme weather, including the catastrophic flooding in July of 2023 and 2024.

“Vermonters know firsthand the pain caused by climate-driven extreme weather. This week, we’re remembering the floods of 2023 and 2024, which caused brutal damage to homes, farms, small businesses, and entire communities. Many folks are still recovering, and they need support from the federal government. I’m fighting in Washington to get disaster recovery funding back to Vermont and improve disaster assistance programs to better support rural states,” said Senator Welch. “Climate change and extreme weather events can hit any community. This is a red state issue just as much as it is a blue state issue; We need bipartisan solutions and action—and we need it now.”

Photo Credit: Climate Action Campaign

Senator Welch has advocated for disaster aid funding throughout Vermont’s catastrophic back-to-back flooding in July 2023 and July 2024. On the anniversaries of Vermont’s catastrophic floods, Senator Welch introduced the Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act, which would cut red tape and support hazard mitigation efforts, make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide technical assistance to small towns and communities impacted by natural disasters, and block the White House from withholding funding for disaster response. The bill was inspired and shaped by the disaster recovery experience of communities across Vermont.

The Senator also introduced the Rural Recovery Act, which would create a new program at USDA Rural Development (RD) to provide RD state offices with automatic funding for emergency recovery technical assistance after disasters take place in their jurisdiction.

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Whitehouse & Reed Strongly Oppose Trump-OMB’s Plan to Politicize Federal Grantmaking

Trump Admin’s proposed rule would place all federal grants under constant threat of penalty or termination, subject to hyper-partisan coercion

Washington, D.C. — The Trump Administration’s latest attack on America’s scientific and educational research as well as health, transportation, and education programs could be its most damaging yet: injecting hyper-partisanship into how federal agencies assess, select, and oversee federal grants and cooperative agreements. If enacted, a merit-based, largely independent, peer review process for grantmaking decisions would be tossed out and political appointees at federal agencies would effectively get to decide who gets grant funding and whose grants may be cancelled mid-project without justification.

As the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities notes: “Federal grantmaking processes are designed to be open, fair, reliable, and free of political influence, favoritism, or retaliation. But since the first days following President Trump’s inauguration, his Administration has upended every stage of the federal grantmaking process. That effort began with an unprecedented (albeit short-lived) government-wide grant freeze, followed by a set of presidential directives, ad hoc cancellations, and delays seeking to politicize the grantmaking process.

“Then on May 29, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a proposed rule that seeks to modify government-wide grants guidance to operationalize and enforce the Administration’s approach to grantmaking across federal agencies. The proposed rule would radically transform how grant award decisions are made, allowing them to be based on purely political calculations — including who receives funds, what is required of grantees, and when grants can be cancelled — introducing an enormous risk of capriciousness, abuse, and corruption.”

U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jack Reed (D-RI) issued a joint statement of opposition: “We strongly oppose the Trump Administration’s attempt to circumvent Constitutional checks and balances in order to seize more power for President Trump and use federal grants as a hyper-partisan tool to reward supporters and punish critics. That is illegal and immoral and puts American innovation, research, patients, and infrastructure at risk. We will continue working to prevent the abuse of power and hold the president and his administration accountable.”

Whitehouse and Reed say the stakes for Rhode Island are massive: In 2024, the federal government sent $1.1 trillion in federal grants to state and local governments nationwide to support a wide range of programs, including healthcare, infrastructure, education, nutrition assistance, and housing and economic development, according to data from the Congressional Research Service.

Given that the Trump Administration’s proposed rule could stunt scientific progress and weaken America’s global competitiveness and national security, Whitehouse and Reed teamed up with their Democratic colleagues in demanding that Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought immediately rescind OMB’s proposed regulation on federal financial assistance.

The U.S. Senators warned the Trump Administration’s misguided proposal exceeds OMB’s statutory authority, undermines Congress’s constitutional power of the purse, and would allow President Trump and all future presidents to weaponize federal grants for political purposes.

“Your proposal exceeds OMB’s authority, will make it impossible for grant recipients to faithfully carry out the funding priorities that Congress establishes in statute, and would turn federal grants into a new cudgel for the President to unilaterally advance his partisan agenda and punish political rivals,” the 47 U.S. Senators wrote. “Ultimately, these changes will make it harder for grant recipients to apply for and manage federal funds – undermining public safety, public health, economic competitiveness, and the government’s ability to address rising costs.”

The proposed rule would dramatically expand agencies’ authority to terminate federal grants at any time and without notice. It would also require political appointees to make funding decisions without deferring to expert peer review. The Senators warn this would inject partisan politics into grantmaking, threaten America’s leadership in scientific and medical innovation and create chaos for communities and organizations that rely on federal funding to deliver critical services.

“Rather than focusing on fulfilling the statutory purposes of a grant program, applicants and recipients will be forced to play an endless guessing game, trying to determine which of their activities may or may not run afoul of OMB’s ambiguous regulations or the president’s whims,” the Senators wrote.

The Senators also argue that OMB’s proposal would force grant recipients to comply with vague, undefined and political grant conditions that conflict with existing statutes. At the same time, it would weaken transparency and accountability requirements intended to safeguard taxpayer dollars. These changes could discourage qualified organizations from applying for federal grants and increase the risk of waste, fraud and abuse.

The Senators concluded: “Article I of the Constitution vests the power of the purse in Congress, which Congress has historically exercised by appropriating taxpayer dollars through federal grants to fund critical programs, including to protect public safety, advance scientific research, and support health and nutrition initiatives. OMB’s proposal unlawfully seeks to substitute Congress’s role in directing federal spending with the President’s preferred priorities, and in doing so, makes it harder for every community and organization in the United States to fairly access federal funding. We call on you to rescind this proposal.”

Along with Whitehouse and Reed, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Rhode Islanders who wish to submit comments to OMB on their proposed rule must do so before the public comment closes on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT.

Full text of the letter follows:

Dear Director Vought:

We write to express our strong opposition to your proposed regulation on federal financial assistance (Fed. Reg. Vol. 91, No. 103, Friday May 29, 2026) and to insist you rescind it immediately. Your proposal exceeds OMB’s authority, will make it impossible for grant recipients to faithfully carry out the funding priorities that Congress establishes in statute, and would turn federal grants into a new cudgel for the President to unilaterally advance his partisan agenda and punish political rivals. Ultimately, these changes will make it harder for grant recipients to apply for and manage federal funds – undermining public safety, public health, economic competitiveness, and the government’s ability to address rising costs. And contrary to the regulation’s justification of fiscal transparency, the changes also weaken the oversight and effective stewardship of taxpayer funds.

The proposed rule undermines federal agencies’ and grant recipients’ ability to faithfully carry out the programs enacted by Congress. When Congress authorizes and appropriates money for federal grants, it does so with the understanding that all Administrations will distribute those grants consistent with Congressional intent and the funding instructions articulated in law. The type of discretion the President intends to bestow upon himself through this proposed rule is counter to all past precedent and ignores the reality of how appropriations and authorizing laws are drafted.

This proposal dramatically expands agencies’ authority to the point where the President could terminate or suspend any grant at any time for any reason and without any notice. The Trump administration’s actions over the last year and a half have already shown how these types of arbitrary cancellations create chaos and new costs, making it harder for grant recipients to provide the intended public benefit. In one instance, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency cancelled over $2 billion of grants to mental health and addiction programs without notice, only to reinstate those grants within 24 hours.

In another instance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency unilaterally cancelled nearly $4.5 billion of natural disaster mitigation funding without notice, only to claim in court that they had never really cancelled those grants at all.

This boundless power to terminate federal funding creates whiplash and erodes grant recipients’ trust in the grant agreements they sign. Ultimately, it makes it less likely that deserving and capable organizations and communities would apply for federal grants and risk tying their work to grants that could be upended with no rhyme, reason, or even advance notice.

The proposed rule would also require and empower political appointees to decide which grants do and do not get funded, explicitly directing them to not defer to expert peer review. This would have far reaching consequences, including but not limited to scientific research. For example, over decades the United States has built a biomedical research enterprise, led by investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), that is the envy of the world and makes us the world leader in medical innovation. It has led to new cures and treatments for devastating diseases that decades ago would have been considered miracles. This was built on the foundation that investments in biomedical research would be allocated based on a strictly non-partisan, rigorous, scientific review process to determine which specific research projects to fund. This proposed rule would fundamentally undermine that, and direct political appointees to substitute their own independent opinions over those of panels of experts.

OMB’s proposal also transforms federal grants from policy tools that Congress uses to promote the public good into a political cudgel that the President plans to use to punish his perceived political foes while rewarding himself and his friends. President Trump’s administration has already begun to do this. Although multiple requests for information have gone unanswered, we estimate that at the Department of Transportation alone, at least 45 grants totaling $5.3 billion have been terminated, withdrawn, or cancelled by the Trump Administration. This includes nearly $109 million in five grants slated for Colorado, $679 million in 12 port related grants, and $54 million in transportation research conducted by universities. Meanwhile grantees in California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota continue to wait in limbo as OMB instructed DOT to cancel more than $943 million in grants in early February. With the threat of termination hanging over every grant recipient, presidents will be able to substitute their personal and partisan policy positions for federal spending directives, undermining Congress’s constitutional power of the purse.

The proposal also injects vague, burdensome, and potentially unlawful terms and conditions that give the president pretext to pick winners and losers among grant recipients. Contrary to OMB claims that the proposal will bring “regulatory clarity” to the administration of federal grants, the proposal would create limits on funding based on undefined terms, making it impossible for grant recipients to comply. In the proposal OMB explains that these undefined terms will ensure that federal funds are “not diverted to . . . radical political ideologies,” without further elaboration. Grant recipients must instead “demonstrably advance the President’s policy priorities,” whatever they happen to be. Terms like “anti-American values,” “gold-standard science,” and “diversity, equity, and inclusion” are not defined and, in some cases, are the subject of ongoing litigation. Further, Congress has passed specific statutes requiring agencies like the NIH to conduct health disparities research, including research on maternal mortality, cardiovascular disease in minority populations, and cancer screening equity. This rule’s prohibition on “diversity, equity, and inclusion” research would complicate compliance with those statutes. Rather than focusing on fulfilling the statutory purposes of a grant program, applicants and recipients will be forced to play an endless guessing game, trying to determine which of their activities may or may not run afoul of OMB’s ambiguous regulations or the president’s whims. Ultimately, many grant recipients will decide it is too costly and confusing to try to keep up with shifting priorities of each new administration and give up on seeking federal grants altogether, frustrating Congress’s purpose to help the intended beneficiaries of the program.

As OMB seeks to consolidate power over federal funds, it also seeks to undermine transparency and accountability of the use of taxpayer dollars. The proposal removes the requirement that grant recipients follow financial internal control standards established by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). However, Congress required that GAO issue standards for financial internal controls and that agencies follow these standards in the Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 1982.Allowing recipients to disregard independent financial risk management standards required by statute jeopardizes the faithful stewardship of taxpayer dollars and increases the risk of fraud or abuse.

OMB’s grantmaking power grab is not only bad policy; it is also unlawful. OMB lacks the legal authority to issue binding regulations about how to cancel federal grants for each agency. In its proposal, OMB points to the Chief Financial Officers Act (CFO Act) for its sweeping assertion of power.15 However, the CFO Act in no way delegates to OMB the power to tell federal agencies that they can cancel grants at any time for any reason. Courts in Rhode Island and the District of Columbia have already rejected OMB’s claim that it can indiscriminately pause or terminate grants, holding that the CFO Act does not give OMB “the power to halt all finances, full-stop, on a moment’s notice.”16 By dictating policy for grant recipients, OMB is attempting to supplant Congress’s primary role in appropriating funds and directing their purpose.

Article I of the Constitution vests the power of the purse in Congress, which Congress has historically exercised by appropriating taxpayer dollars through federal grants to fund critical programs, including to protect public safety, advance scientific research, and support health and nutrition initiatives. OMB’s proposal unlawfully seeks to substitute Congress’s role in directing federal spending with the President’s preferred priorities, and in doing so, makes it harder for every community and organization in the United States to fairly access federal funding. We call on you to rescind this proposal.

Sincerely,


Press Releases

Rep. Aguilar Announces Over $1 Million for CSUSB to Expand Medical Research and Promote Public Health Outcomes

The funding will create opportunities for CSUSB faculty and students to improve medical care in the Inland Empire and utilize innovative tools to strengthen research

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced $1,164,085 in grant funding for California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) to expand student research opportunities studying better health outcomes for aging, obesity, kidney disease and improving patient care.

These grant awards will enable CSUSB students and researchers to explore innovative approaches to understanding diabetes and kidney diseases and the factors that support healthy aging. It will also help researchers to identify ways to strengthen adult day care health services to best support older adults and their caregivers. Additionally, this funding will go toward the U-RISE program, which creates opportunities for students pursuing biomedical research careers, helping to train the next generation of scientists.

“By investing in medical studies and giving students access to transformative research opportunities, we are training the next generation for careers of the future while also developing the healthcare solutions of tomorrow,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I am proud to announce this grant funding for CSUSB to expand research opportunities for students and faculty and pioneer innovative healthcare solutions here in the Inland Empire.”

“These federal investments advance CSUSB’s mission to expand opportunity, drive innovation, and improve lives,” said CSUSB President Tomás Morales. “By supporting research in nutrition, healthy aging, adult health services, and biomedical workforce development, these awards create transformative opportunities for our students, faculty, and communities across the Inland Empire and beyond.”

The funding comes as part of four grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Included in the funding is $549,602 for Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research; $280,845 in Biomedical Research and Research Training; $186,638 in Aging Research and $140,420 in Pharmacology, Physiology and Biological Chemistry Research.


Bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, Including Congressman Al Green’s Reforming Disaster Recovery Act, Will Become Law at Midnight if President Trump Does Not Sign or Veto the Legislation

(Washington, DC) — On Friday, July 10, 2026, Congressman Al Green, a member

of the House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, stated, “Tonight, the bipartisan H.R. 6644 – the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act – will become law at midnight if President Trump does not sign or veto the legislation. While President Trump should have signed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act into law as soon as Congress passed it, I am grateful that my H.R. 8291 – the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act – was included in the legislation and will be enacted when it becomes law.

The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act would authorize and reform the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and provide flexible funding to help low-and moderate-income communities recover from major disasters. Among other things, this bill would:

Require states to prioritize activities that help extremely low-, low-, and moderate-income disaster survivors recover, address pre- and post-disaster housing needs, and prepare for future disasters.

Allow all federal agencies involved in recovery efforts to access the full breadth of data needed to make informed public policy decisions, allow greater public participation in disaster recovery efforts, and help public and private entities better recognize gaps in services and identify reforms needed for future disaster recovery efforts.

Require states to include detailed plans outlining how they will use CDBG-DR funds to serve low- and moderate-income households and how these dollars will address relief, resiliency, long-term recovery, and the restoration of housing and infrastructure in the most impacted and distressed areas.

Help protect fundamental civil rights and fair housing rights and ensure that all communities and community members, regardless of race, disability, sex, age, color, religion, familial status, national origin, or other protected class, receive full access to disaster recovery resources, free from discrimination.

Following the destruction caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Michael, and Maria; the wildfires in California and the West; and numerous other natural disasters across America, families and communities continue to struggle in their efforts to recover. I am thankful to the leadership of the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs for their work in advancing this landmark housing bill, including House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill, Ranking Member Maxine Waters, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren.”


Balint, Welch, Sanders Lead Reintroduction of Bill to Help Protect Vermont Farmland from Flooding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), reintroduced the Building Up Farmland Frontiers for Ecological Resilience (BUFFER) Act. This bicameral legislation would ensure all states can access the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) funding to implement buffer zones, agricultural tools used by farmers to protect farmland from flooding, erosion, and water pollution.

“As climate change brings more frequent and severe extreme weather events, it’s critical that farmers in Vermont and across the country have the tools they need to protect their land and livelihoods,” said Rep. Balint. “Ahead of the anniversary of the catastrophic 2023 and 2024 floods, I’m proud to be reintroducing the BUFFER Act alongside our Senators. Our delegation stands united in support of Vermonters as folks continue to rebuild.”

“Our farmers deserve access to the tools and resources they need to fight climate change and make farmland more flood resilient. An essential part of that has to be cutting through red tape that forces Vermont farmers to jump through more hoops to receive compensation for their work than farmers in other states,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Sanders and Rep. Balint on this legislation to help Vermont farmers better mitigate flooding risk and protect our state’s farmland from natural disasters.”

“Vermont farmers are still recovering from multiple years of flooding. They want to ensure their fields are better protected from future storms, especially in the face of climate change. This important legislation will cut through bureaucracy and ensure our farmers are compensated for their work to improve our state’s water quality and protect their land from the kind of damage we saw over the past few years,” said Senator Sanders.

The delegation first introduced the legislation in direct response to Vermont’s catastrophic July 2023 floods.

Buffer zones are agricultural tools used by farmers to protect farmland from flooding, erosion, and water pollution, and provide a habitat for pollinators. Like many states, Vermont requires farmers to implement buffer systems. As such, farmers in Vermont have sought to use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CREP) to implement buffers in their fields. However, because the State of Vermont has a buffer mandate, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has required Vermont to follow an arduous process to access CREP buffer funding. These bureaucratic barriers have hampered Vermonters’ ability to use this vital conservation tool and receive compensation for their preventative work.

The bicameral BUFFER Act aims to ensure that Vermont farmers are compensated for their efforts to improve water quality and protect their fields from flooding. The bill would ensure that all states can access USDA’s Conservation CREP funding to implement buffer zones, even if state law already requires farmers to maintain buffer zones.

Learn more about the BUFFER Act.

Read and download the full text of the legislation.

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Delegation Welcomes Corps Permit for King Cove Road

Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) approval of a permit to facilitate construction of a life-saving road between the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska and nearby Cold Bay. The one-lane gravel connector will provide reliable transportation access from King Cove to Cold Bay, which is home to an all-weather airport.

“This is more good news for King Cove and all who care about the health, safety, and wellbeing of the hundreds of people who live there,” Murkowski said. “After decades of relentlessly making the case and pushing with everything we have, this life-saving road is finally almost a reality. A combination of careful analysis and common sense from the Trump administration—the Department of the Interior and now the Army Corps—have brought us to this point. I thank them for their continued commitment to protecting and improving these Alaskans’ lives.”

“For Alaskans, the decades-long King Cove Road impasse has been a symbol of an uncaring, out-of-touch, faraway federal government that prioritizes the lives of birds over people,” said Sullivan. “The great residents of King Cove time and again have kept hope alive, despite setbacks, most recently when the Biden administration disregarded the voices of the community and withdrew the previously approved land exchange. The permit issued by the Corps of Engineers today is vindication for King Cove, putting us closer than ever before to delivering a lifesaving, 11-mile, single-lane gravel road to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay. I want to thank the Administration, especially Secretary Burgum and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Telle, for listening to Alaskans, for caring about their safety and well-being, and for putting us on the cusp of a historic breakthrough for safe and reliable access for King Cove.”

“This permit approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a critical milestone in a decades-long effort to provide the people of King Cove with the infrastructure they need to build an essential life-saving road,” said Begich. “For nearly 50 years, the community has advocated for a road connecting King Cove to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay. This project addresses an obvious public safety need and will provide a reliable route for emergency access in adverse weather conditions. I commend everyone who helped move this project forward, from residents who never stopped advocating, to Secretary Burgum, the Army Corps of Engineers, Governor Dunleavy, and Alaska’s congressional delegation over many years.”

King Cove is located between two volcanic peaks near the end of the Alaska Peninsula, and its small gravel airstrip is typically closed by bad weather for more than 100 days each year. Many flights not canceled are delayed by wind, turbulence, fog, rain, or snow squalls; travel by boat is often impacted by waves that can top 12 feet and the lack of suitable dock infrastructure in Cold Bay. By comparison, Cold Bay, which is less than 30 miles from King Cove, has one of the longest runways in the state and it is closed an average of just 10 days per year.

At present, there are roads leading out of both King Cove and Cold Bay but no connection between them. The lack of dependable transportation access to Cold Bay routinely forces emergency medevacs from King Cove that risk the lives of patients and responders alike. It also creates significant quality-of-life issues, ranging from King Cove residents’ inability to regularly receive mail to week-long travel delays for students returning home from various activities.

King Cove residents have sought this life-saving connector road for decades. In late 2025, a major breakthrough occurred when the Trump administration conveyed 490 federal acres to the King Cove Corporation in exchange for 1,739 acres of KCC-owned land near the Kinzarof Lagoon and the relinquishment of selection rights to more than 5,430 acres still owed to KCC under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

The Corps permit issued this week is valid for five years and allows for dredge and fill activities to occur on just over five acres of land. For perspective, the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge spans 315,000 acres and there are at least 130 million acres of wetlands across Alaska.


Congressman Thompson Statement on the Death of Nolan Wells

Washington, D.C. – Today, United States Representative Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) released the following statement:

“I join civil rights attorney Ben Crump and the Rev. Al Sharpton in their efforts to get all the information surrounding the circumstances of Nolan Wells' death.

“Rumors continue to abound, and comments from local authorities have caused concern for many of us.

“I encourage local authorities to cooperate fully with the family of Nolan Wells so that no stone is left unturned in determining the facts and circumstances surrounding his death. Social media is full of videos that require local authorities to thoroughly investigate this situation. That is why a full and transparent investigation is so important.

“The family of Nolan Wells deserves nothing less than the truth.”


Beyer Introduces Bill To Help Modernize American Air Travel

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) introduced the Modernizing Aeronautical Standards Act to study our current aeronautical standards to ensure aircraft are designed to meet present day operating conditions.

“The United States Standard Atmosphere is a foundational tool across American aviation, informing everything from aircraft design to runway performance and flight operations,” said Congressman Beyer. “However, this standard has not been comprehensively reevaluated in nearly 50 years. It is past overdue to reevaluate whether we need to update this standard to ensure that our aircrafts are built for today’s airspace conditions.”

The Modernizing Aeronautical Standards Act would direct NASA and related agencies to conduct a study to:

Assess our current airspace conditions, those from 50 years ago when the U.S. Standard Atmosphere was last modified, and predictions for conditions in the next 50 years;

Assess any impacts on aircraft and airport operations, infrastructure, cost, or performance that resulted from any changes in atmospheric conditions; and

Propose any recommendations for modifications to aircraft design or the standards used to inform aircraft design as a result of any changes in atmospheric conditions, and recommendations for the criteria under which such standards should be updated in the future.

This study would determine whether the standards for aircraft designs are up to date with modern airspace conditions and would recommend any ensuing modifications to ensure our aircrafts are best suited to today’s airspace.


Budzinski Hosts Third Workforce Summit, Highlighting Careers in Agriculture

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Yesterday, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) hosted her third annual workforce development summit bringing together educators, employers, and community leaders to discuss how career and technical education (CTE) can strengthen the agricultural workforce.

The event welcomed over 100 attendees and featured four panels of educators, stakeholders, and business leaders with conversations centered around Career & Technical Education (CTE), workforce training and TechHub initiatives, learning more about agribusiness opportunities and hearing perspectives from young farmers across the region.

“When I came to Congress, I made it my mission to inspire the next generation of workers, innovators, and leaders — and to make sure every young person knows there are real, meaningful pathways to success that don’t always require a four-year degree,” said Budzinski. “Events like this bring that mission to life by creating productive conversations about the challenges facing our workforce, the opportunities available in our communities, and the pathways that can help the next generation build successful careers right here at home.”


Congresswoman Bynum Introduces Legislation to Improve Electricity Price Transparency

Yesterday, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) introduced the bipartisan Better Information through Line-item Labeling Drivers (BILL Drivers) Act alongside Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07). This legislation directs the Energy Information Administration, in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to study and publicly report on what is driving electricity bill increases for residential and small business customers in every state over the past seven years.

In the West, household electricity costs increased by 26 percent between 2022 and 2025, according to the US Energy Information Administration, far outpacing inflation. The Bill Drivers Act would give consumers the opportunity to better understand how factors, including data centers, input costs, and production challenges, are impacting energy bills for communities across Oregon.

"In Oregon and across the country, families and small businesses have seen sharp increases in their electricity bills, yet the factors driving those increases are not clearly spelled out,” Congresswoman Janelle Bynum said. “This legislation would bring transparency for consumers by requiring a detailed breakdown of what is contributing to increased electricity expenses so we can bring down costs and so that Americans know exactly where their money is going."

“The people of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos deserve clear answers and transparency when it comes to electricity costs,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “The bipartisan BILL Drivers Act will give ratepayers a window into the causes of electricity rate increases and give lawmakers a better understanding of how to tackle the problem. It’s time to deliver the bipartisan solutions that will give the American people real transparency and long-term relief when it comes to electricity costs.”

Read the full bill text HERE.


South China Morning Post article on Smith-Moolenaar letter to DOJ'US lawmakers urge justice agency to fully investigate Tiananmen display break-in'

By Mark Magnier

Published July 10, 2026 at 11:16 AM

The heads of a US Congressional committee and a commission focused on China have called on the Justice Department to fully investigate a break-in and reported vandalism at a California museum commemorating the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

“The Justice Department and FBI should investigate vandalism at the [June 4th Memorial Museum] to protect the inalienable rights of the Chinese diaspora seeking freedom in the United States,” said a three-page letter delivered to the agency on Thursday.

The note was signed by John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan and chairman of the House Select Committee on China, and Christopher Smith, a Republican from New Jersey and co-chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

The June 4th Memorial Museum in El Monte, California. Photo: Google

According to a statement on the museum website, unknown individuals broke into the hall in El Monte, California on May 31, a few days before the anniversary, and spray-painted walls and exhibits, damaged property and interfered with the museum’s surveillance system, “causing serious damage to the museum’s assets”.

“The museum strongly condemns the perpetrators and those instigating the incident and will definitely pursue relevant legal responsibilities,” it said, referring questions to the El Monte police.

“We hope the public can rest assured that although this incident clearly contained elements of intimidation and threats, we will not succumb to pressure.”

Michigan Republican John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select committee on China. Photo: AFP

The museum, launched in 2023, was originally located in New York but moved to Los Angeles to save on expenses. Images posted online showed single lines of orange paint drawn across framed newspaper and related displays.

The museum website added the El Monte police had opened a case and launched an investigation. It added that it “obtained certain clues and points of doubt and will actively cooperate with the police to clarify the case as soon as possible”, adding that it suspected this was a case of “transnational repression”, without providing details.

The museum, a non-profit entity under the US tax code, has primarily been funded by independent fundraising, crowdsourced donations and civil society contributions. Art Dealer Street, an online artist collective, said in 2023 that the group had raised US$500,000 towards an ultimate goal of US$2 million.

The El Monte police and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for information about an investigation.

“We urge DOJ, including the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and the National Security Division, to work closely with local authorities to determine whether this attack was planned, encouraged, supported, or carried out by individuals acting on behalf of, at the direction of, or in sympathy with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or the [Communist Party],” Moolenaar and Smith said in their letter.

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Beijing has frequently condemned the bodies as “political tools with zero credibility” driven by a “Cold War mentality” and “ideological bias”.

The bipartisan House Select Committee was established in January 2023 and is focused on US economic and security competition with China.

The Congressional-Executive Commission, an independent US agency, was created in 2000 to monitor human rights and rule of law issues when Beijing joined the World Trade Organization.