Van Hollen, Warner, Colleagues Press Trump Administration to Reverse Course on Rule Restricting Federal Whistleblowers, Congressional Oversight

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) along with more than 15 of their colleagues are pushing back on the Trump Administration’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposed rule on government-wide nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) for all federal employees. The Senators noted concerns that the proposed rule would prohibit the discussion of nearly all non-public government information despite existing regulations that already protect confidential information – creating uncertainty regarding federal employees’ rights under federal whistleblower laws and their obligations to provide information to Congressional oversight entities. The Senators stressed that the proposed NDAs are especially dangerous as employees already fear retaliation for reporting wrongdoing amid the Trump Administration’s attacks on the federal workforce.

“The proposal defines "Confidential Government Information" expansively to include virtually any non-public information relating to agency operations, personnel matters, procurement activities, or deliberative processes. This definition is considerably broader than categories of information traditionally subject to specific statutory protections. The breadth and ambiguity of the definition may leave employees uncertain about what information can be discussed, shared with oversight entities and Congress, or disclosed through lawful whistleblower channels,” the lawmakers began.

“The proposed NDA arrives during a period of significant concern among federal employees regarding retaliation for reporting misconduct. According to 2025 survey data from the Partnership for Public Service, when federal employees were asked, ‘How confident are you that you can report a suspected violation of a law, rule or regulation without experiencing retaliation?’ less than a quarter of respondents reported feeling confident, representing a dramatic decrease from recent years. By contrast, in OPM's 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, nearly 75 percent of respondents agreed with the statement, ‘I can disclose a suspected violation of any rule, law, or regulation without fear of reprisal,’” the Senators wrote.

“Additionally, federal employees are already subject to extensive legal and ethical obligations governing the handling of nonpublic information. Existing statutes, regulations, and ethics requirements already prohibit the improper disclosure of protected information, including the Privacy Act of 1974, the Federal Records Act of 1950, the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, and additional agency-specific policies,” they continued.

The lawmakers concluded, “At a time when many federal employees already fear retaliation for reporting wrongdoing, the proposed NDA risks further chilling lawful disclosures and undermining the transparency and accountability that Congress depends upon. For these reasons, we respectfully urge OPM to withdraw the proposed NDA and instead focus on strengthening existing confidentiality requirements and whistleblower protections.”

In addition to Senators Van Hollen and Warner, the letter was signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).

Full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Director Kupor:

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Office of Personnel Management's proposed "Confidential Government Information Nondisclosure Agreement." We respectfully oppose the proposal and urge OPM to withdraw it.

The proposal defines "Confidential Government Information" expansively to include virtually any non-public information relating to agency operations, personnel matters, procurement activities, or deliberative processes. This definition is considerably broader than categories of information traditionally subject to specific statutory protections. The breadth and ambiguity of the definition may leave employees uncertain about what information can be discussed, shared with oversight entities and Congress, or disclosed through lawful whistleblower channels.

Although OPM states that the proposed nondisclosure agreement (NDA) for federal employees does not create new confidentiality obligations beyond those already imposed by law, regulation, ethics requirements, and agency policies, the practical effect of implementing a government-wide NDA would be to further discourage federal employees from reporting wrongdoing and to create confusion regarding their rights and obligations under federal whistleblower laws.

The proposal is particularly troubling when considered alongside OPM's recent efforts to revise federal suitability and fitness regulations. The notice explicitly links the NDA to existing suitability standards, determinations, and appeals. Employees may reasonably perceive that alleged violations of the NDA or even disagreements regarding its interpretation could have consequences affecting employment eligibility, suitability determinations, or future federal service.

These concerns are amplified by ongoing proposals to modify suitability procedures and appeals processes including the push to strip federal employees of their civil service protections via Schedule Policy Career. Taken together, these initiatives risk creating an environment in which employees believe that raising concerns, challenging agency actions, or refusing to sign a broadly worded NDA could jeopardize their careers in federal service.

At a time when confidence in whistleblower protections is declining,[1] OPM should be focused on strengthening employees' understanding of their rights and reinforcing a culture of lawful disclosure and accountability not introducing broad new agreements that risks chilling protected activity.

The proposed NDA arrives during a period of significant concern among federal employees regarding retaliation for reporting misconduct. According to 2025 survey data from the Partnership for Public Service, when federal employees were asked, "How confident are you that you can report a suspected violation of a law, rule or regulation without experiencing retaliation?" less than a quarter of respondents reported feeling confident, representing a dramatic decrease from recent years. By contrast, in OPM's 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, nearly 75 percent of respondents agreed with the statement, "I can disclose a suspected violation of any rule, law, or regulation without fear of reprisal."

OPM should be deeply concerned by any indication that employees increasingly fear retaliation for reporting wrongdoing. Congress has long relied on federal whistleblowers to expose waste, fraud, and abuse. Any diminished ability of federal employees to report misconduct and mismanagement directly impacts Congress’ oversight efforts and can have a grave impact on everything from government efficiency to dangerous or illegal activity going unaddressed.

Additionally, federal employees are already subject to extensive legal and ethical obligations governing the handling of nonpublic information. Existing statutes, regulations, and ethics requirements already prohibit the improper disclosure of protected information, including the Privacy Act of 1974, the Federal Records Act of 1950, the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, and additional agency-specific policies.

Federal employees receive ethics training and are routinely instructed regarding their responsibilities to safeguard sensitive information. OPM has not demonstrated that existing authorities are insufficient or identified a systemic problem that necessitates a government-wide NDA applicable to all federal employees.

In conclusion, federal employees already operate under extensive legal obligations governing confidential information. OPM has not demonstrated a need for a government-wide NDA, nor has it adequately addressed the substantial concerns regarding whistleblower protections, employee confidence, suitability implications, post-employment restrictions, and enforcement mechanisms.

At a time when many federal employees already fear retaliation for reporting wrongdoing, the proposed NDA risks further chilling lawful disclosures and undermining the transparency and accountability that Congress depends upon. For these reasons, we respectfully urge OPM to withdraw the proposed NDA and instead focus on strengthening existing confidentiality requirements and whistleblower protections.


Warner, Kaine Announce More Than $32 Million in Federal Funding to Upgrade 8 Virginia Airports

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $32,463,128 in federal grant funding to modernize infrastructure at eight airports across Virginia. This funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program for Fiscal Year 2026, which is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that the senators helped negotiate and pass.

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Virginia’s airports continue to receive the investments they need to improve safety, accommodate growing demand, and better serve the travelers that pass through them,” said the senators. “We’re proud to announce more than $32 million to modernize our Commonwealth’s airports, strengthen our transportation infrastructure, and support our economy.”

The grant awards include:

$22,121,621 for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to construct a new concourse at Washington Dulles International Airport to increase gate capacity and accommodate passenger growth;

$7,922,479 for the Norfolk Airport Authority to construct a new taxilane serving the airport’s cargo area and reconstruct an existing terminal entrance access road that has reached the end of its useful life at Norfolk International Airport;

$856,000 for the Dinwiddie County Airport and Industrial Authority to expand existing terminal apron at Tri Cities Executive/Dinwiddie County Airport;

$538,028 for the Mecklenburg-Brunswick Airport Commission to construct two new aircraft storage hangars at Mecklenburg-Brunswick Regional Airport;

$500,000 for the Cumberland Airport Commission to construct a new snow removal equipment building at Lonesome Pine Airport to bring the airport into conformity with current standards;

$376,000 for the town of Farmville to reconstruct the precision approach path indicator systems for a runway and at both runway thresholds that have reached the end of their useful lives at Farmville Regional Airport;

$114,000 for the county of Accomack to carry out design work to rehabilitate a taxilane that has reached the end of its useful life at Accomack County Airport;

$35,000 for the city of Franklin to carry out design work to reseal existing runway pavement and extend its useful life at Franklin Regional Airport.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long championed efforts to modernize and improve Virginia’s airports. Since Fiscal Year 2022, the senators have secured nearly $173 million for Virginia airports. In May, the senators announced more than $73 million in federal funding to improve three Virginia airports, $21 million to upgrade eight Virginia airports, and more than $5 million to modernize four Virginia airports. Last year, the senators announced almost $106 million in federal funding for airports across the Commonwealth. Many of these grants were made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that has secured billions in federal funding for airport infrastructure since 2021.

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Warner, Van Hollen, Colleagues Press Trump Administration to Reverse Course on Rule Restricting Federal Whistleblowers, Congressional Oversight

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with more than 15 of their colleagues are pushing back on the Trump administration’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposed rule on government-wide nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) for all federal employees. The senators noted concerns that the proposed rule would prohibit the discussion of nearly all non-public government information despite existing regulations that already protect confidential information – creating uncertainty regarding federal employees’ rights under federal whistleblower laws and their obligations to provide information to Congressional oversight entities. The senators stressed that the proposed NDAs are especially dangerous as employees already fear retaliation for reporting wrongdoing amid the Trump administration’s attacks on the federal workforce.

“The proposal defines “Confidential Government Information” expansively to include virtually any non-public information relating to agency operations, personnel matters, procurement activities, or deliberative processes. This definition is considerably broader than categories of information traditionally subject to specific statutory protections. The breadth and ambiguity of the definition may leave employees uncertain about what information can be discussed, shared with oversight entities and Congress, or disclosed through lawful whistleblower channels,” the lawmakers began.

“The proposed NDA arrives during a period of significant concern among federal employees regarding retaliation for reporting misconduct. According to 2025 survey data from the Partnership for Public Service, when federal employees were asked, ‘How confident are you that you can report a suspected violation of a law, rule or regulation without experiencing retaliation?’ less than a quarter of respondents reported feeling confident, representing a dramatic decrease from recent years. By contrast, in OPM’s 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, nearly 75 percent of respondents agreed with the statement, ‘I can disclose a suspected violation of any rule, law, or regulation without fear of reprisal,’” the senators wrote.

“Additionally, federal employees are already subject to extensive legal and ethical obligations governing the handling of nonpublic information. Existing statutes, regulations, and ethics requirements already prohibit the improper disclosure of protected information, including the Privacy Act of 1974, the Federal Records Act of 1950, the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, and additional agency-specific policies,” they continued.

The lawmakers concluded, “At a time when many federal employees already fear retaliation for reporting wrongdoing, the proposed NDA risks further chilling lawful disclosures and undermining the transparency and accountability that Congress depends upon. For these reasons, we respectfully urge OPM to withdraw the proposed NDA and instead focus on strengthening existing confidentiality requirements and whistleblower protections.”

In addition to Sens. Warner and Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).

Read the full letter here and below.

Dear Director Kupor:

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Office of Personnel Management’s proposed “Confidential Government Information Nondisclosure Agreement.” We respectfully oppose the proposal and urge OPM to withdraw it.

The proposal defines “Confidential Government Information” expansively to include virtually any non-public information relating to agency operations, personnel matters, procurement activities, or deliberative processes. This definition is considerably broader than categories of information traditionally subject to specific statutory protections. The breadth and ambiguity of the definition may leave employees uncertain about what information can be discussed, shared with oversight entities and Congress, or disclosed through lawful whistleblower channels.

Although OPM states that the proposed nondisclosure agreement (NDA) for federal employees does not create new confidentiality obligations beyond those already imposed by law, regulation, ethics requirements, and agency policies, the practical effect of implementing a government-wide NDA would be to further discourage federal employees from reporting wrongdoing and to create confusion regarding their rights and obligations under federal whistleblower laws.

The proposal is particularly troubling when considered alongside OPM’s recent efforts to revise federal suitability and fitness regulations. The notice explicitly links the NDA to existing suitability standards, determinations, and appeals. Employees may reasonably perceive that alleged violations of the NDA or even disagreements regarding its interpretation could have consequences affecting employment eligibility, suitability determinations, or future federal service.

These concerns are amplified by ongoing proposals to modify suitability procedures and appeals processes including the push to strip federal employees of their civil service protections via Schedule Policy Career. Taken together, these initiatives risk creating an environment in which employees believe that raising concerns, challenging agency actions, or refusing to sign a broadly worded NDA could jeopardize their careers in federal service.

At a time when confidence in whistleblower protections is declining,[1] OPM should be focused on strengthening employees’ understanding of their rights and reinforcing a culture of lawful disclosure and accountability not introducing broad new agreements that risks chilling protected activity.

The proposed NDA arrives during a period of significant concern among federal employees regarding retaliation for reporting misconduct. According to 2025 survey data from the Partnership for Public Service, when federal employees were asked, “How confident are you that you can report a suspected violation of a law, rule or regulation without experiencing retaliation?” less than a quarter of respondents reported feeling confident, representing a dramatic decrease from recent years. By contrast, in OPM’s 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, nearly 75 percent of respondents agreed with the statement, “I can disclose a suspected violation of any rule, law, or regulation without fear of reprisal.”

OPM should be deeply concerned by any indication that employees increasingly fear retaliation for reporting wrongdoing. Congress has long relied on federal whistleblowers to expose waste, fraud, and abuse. Any diminished ability of federal employees to report misconduct and mismanagement directly impacts Congress’ oversight efforts and can have a grave impact on everything from government efficiency to dangerous or illegal activity going unaddressed.

Additionally, federal employees are already subject to extensive legal and ethical obligations governing the handling of nonpublic information. Existing statutes, regulations, and ethics requirements already prohibit the improper disclosure of protected information, including the Privacy Act of 1974, the Federal Records Act of 1950, the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, and additional agency-specific policies.

Federal employees receive ethics training and are routinely instructed regarding their responsibilities to safeguard sensitive information. OPM has not demonstrated that existing authorities are insufficient or identified a systemic problem that necessitates a government-wide NDA applicable to all federal employees.

In conclusion, federal employees already operate under extensive legal obligations governing confidential information. OPM has not demonstrated a need for a government-wide NDA, nor has it adequately addressed the substantial concerns regarding whistleblower protections, employee confidence, suitability implications, post-employment restrictions, and enforcement mechanisms.

At a time when many federal employees already fear retaliation for reporting wrongdoing, the proposed NDA risks further chilling lawful disclosures and undermining the transparency and accountability that Congress depends upon. For these reasons, we respectfully urge OPM to withdraw the proposed NDA and instead focus on strengthening existing confidentiality requirements and whistleblower protections.

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Welch Meets with Health Care Leaders in Bennington to Discuss Future of Rural Health Care, Improving Access to Affordable Care Statewide

BENNINGTON, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, this week hosted a roundtable on rural health care innovation, featuring local health care leaders, medical experts, and community members. The Senator discussed challenges faced by health care providers and patients in Vermont.

While at the Bennington Firehouse, he highlighted the Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-scene Care and Support (EMS ROCS) Act, his legislation that would require the government to pay for vital EMS services provided to individuals on Medicare.

“The state of health care in rural America is more than concerning: communities lack access to critical services they need, insurance costs are skyrocketing, and people are suffering. President Trump’s reckless tax bill, which was signed one year ago this week, made it even more expensive to live in rural America and pushed affordable care further out of reach through cuts to Medicaid funding and our state’s rural hospitals and clinics,” said Senator Welch. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to sit down with Bennington’s leading health care experts to hear about innovative changes that will improve and expand access to health care services in our rural communities. I’ll take their insight to Washington and continue to fight to improve access to care in rural America.”

Senator Welch is a champion for rural health care, and has worked across the aisle to lead legislation to improve access to care, including the Rural Hospital Support Act, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act, Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act, Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act, Multigenerational Home Caregiver Credit Act, and the CONNECT for Health Act.

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Whitehouse Renews Probe into Cop-Beaters Slush Fund and Trump Family Tax Fraud Amnesty Deal

Whitehouse demands answers ahead of nomination hearing for Todd Blanche, who greenlighted the purported settlement and whose DOJ is being scrutinized for potentially committing a “fraud on the court” in Florida

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), the Ranking Member of Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, sent a letter yesterday to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and IRS CEO Frank Bisignano seeking outstanding answers on President Trump and the Department of Justice’s attempted creation of a massive taxpayer-funded slush fund to reward the President’s political allies and the related tax amnesty and legal immunity agreement for the Trump family and their business associates.

“Although Acting AG Blanche subsequently told a House subcommittee that DOJ would not move forward with the Fund, DOJ lawyers recently refused to submit a sworn declaration providing that assurance to a federal court. Acting AG Blanche also said during the House hearing that the Trump family tax amnesty and legal immunity addendum will remain in effect even if DOJ is not moving forward with the Fund,” wrote Whitehouse.

The Senator added, “DOJ may have deliberately disregarded defenses readily available to the IRS in order to orchestrate the purported ‘Settlement Agreement,’ and potentially—as alleged by thirty-five former federal judges in their motion to reopen the [Trump v. IRS] case—‘the parties used the proceedings before [the] Court as a legal pretext,’ constituting a fraud on the court. Despite the seriousness of these allegations, DOJ has chosen not to respond to the court’s inquiry regarding the matter.”

In May, the MAGA Department of Justice announced that President Trump had agreed to drop a $10 billion lawsuit he initiated against his own Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax information in exchange for the creation of an unprecedented $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The commission overseeing the fund would have the authority to dole out the nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer funds to settle claims brought by anyone who believed they were harmed by the “weaponization” of the justice system, including participants convicted of assaulting law enforcement and other crimes related to the January 6 insurrection.

One day after the settlement agreement was announced, the Department of Justice announced an addendum that would purportedly prohibit the IRS from pursuing audits against Trump, his family, and their business associates for any previous tax offenses, and shield them from any other “lawfare and/or weaponization” as part of a bizarre side deal to the Department’s compensation fund agreement.

A federal judge in Florida opened an inquiry into whether DOJ and Trump’s personal lawyers committed “fraud on the court,” an allegation unprecedented in DOJ history, in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service. Thirty-five former federal judges signed a filing saying that “corruption of the judicial process is exactly what happened here” and describing the purported settlement as an “unprecedentedly fraudulent scheme.” The judge called the allegations “grievous” and invited a response, which DOJ subsequently failed to provide.

Senators Whitehouse and Dick Durbin, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in late May requesting that the Department of Justice preserve all records related to the proposed “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and the purported “Settlement Agreement” in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service.

In the most recent letter, Whitehouse requested answers to the following questions by July 14, 2026:

Please provide a copy of all memoranda prepared by the IRS discussing defenses against the plaintiffs’ claims in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 1:26-cv-20609 (S.D. Fla.).

Please provide a copy of IRS’s referral policy regarding referral of cases and legal defense to DOJ.

Please provide all correspondence between DOJ and IRS personnel regarding Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 1:26-cv-20609 (S.D. Fla.).

Please provide all memoranda prepared in response to the ongoing inquiry regarding whether there was “fraud on the court” in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 1:26-cv-20609 (S.D. Fla.).

Which DOJ personnel negotiated the tax amnesty and legal immunity provisions in the May 19, 2026, addendum? Please name all DOJ personnel involved in these negotiations.

Full text of the letter is below and a PDF is available here.

July 1, 2026

The Honorable Todd Blanche

Acting Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

The Honorable Scott Bessent

SecretaryU.S. Department of the Treasury

1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20220

Frank Bisignano

Chief Executive Officer

Internal Revenue Service

1111 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20224

Dear Acting Attorney General Blanche, Secretary Bessent, and IRS Chief Executive Officer Bisignano:

I write to request that the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service provide documents and responses regarding outstanding questions about the proposed $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” (the “Fund”) and the purported “Settlement Agreement” in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 1:26-cv-20609 (S.D. Fla.).

On May 18, 2026, DOJ announced the creation of the Fund “to provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare.”[1] Additionally, on May 19, 2026, DOJ released an addendum to the purported “Settlement Agreement” stating that the U.S. government would be “forever barred” from pursuing “examinations” of President Trump, his family, “related or affiliated individuals,” and related trusts and businesses, for any matter involving previously filed tax returns or “Lawfare and/or Weaponization.”[2] Although Acting AG Blanche subsequently told a House subcommittee that DOJ would not move forward with the Fund, DOJ lawyers recently refused to submit a sworn declaration providing that assurance to a federal court.[3] Acting AG Blanche also said during the House hearing that the Trump family tax amnesty and legal immunity addendum will remain in effect even if DOJ is not moving forward with the Fund.[4]

As the court noted in its May 29, 2026, order in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service,[5] the Internal Revenue Service reportedly prepared a memorandum outlining ways to challenge President Trump’s claims in that case.[6] The reporting further indicated that the twenty-five-page IRS memorandum advised DOJ to move to dismiss the lawsuit.[7] The existence of the memorandum indicates that DOJ may have deliberately disregarded defenses readily available to the IRS in order to orchestrate the purported “Settlement Agreement,” and potentially—as alleged by thirty-five former federal judges in their motion to reopen the case—“the parties used the proceedings before [the] Court as a legal pretext,” constituting a fraud on the court.[8] Despite the seriousness of these allegations, DOJ has chosen not to respond to the court’s inquiry regarding the matter.

Given the grave concerns raised by these facts, I request timely responses to the following questions:

Please provide a copy of all memoranda prepared by the IRS discussing defenses against the plaintiffs’ claims in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 1:26-cv-20609 (S.D. Fla.).

Please provide a copy of IRS’s referral policy regarding referral of cases and legal defense to DOJ.

Please provide all correspondence between DOJ and IRS personnel regarding Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 1:26-cv-20609 (S.D. Fla.).

Please provide all memoranda prepared in response to the ongoing inquiry regarding whether there was “fraud on the court” in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 1:26-cv-20609 (S.D. Fla.).

Which DOJ personnel negotiated the tax amnesty and legal immunity provisions in the May 19, 2026, addendum? Please name all DOJ personnel involved in these negotiations.

Please provide a response by July 14, 2026. I look forward to your prompt response.

[1] Dep’t of Justice, Press Release, Justice Department Announces Anti-Weaponization Fund (May 18, 2026), https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-anti-weaponization-fund.

[2] Office of the Attorney General, Addendum (May 19, 2026), https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1441216/dl.

[3] Tierney Sneed, DOJ rebuffs judge’s request for Blanche to declare in court that anti-weaponization fund is dead, CNN (June 19, 2026), https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/19/politics/doj-anti-weaponization-fund-judge-request.

[4] Hannah Rabinowitz & Holmes Lybrand, Takeaways from Blanche’s House testimony: ‘Anti-weaponization’ fund is over, ban on Trump tax audits remains, CNN (June 3, 2026), https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/02/politics/blanche-house-testimony-trump-fund-takeaways.

[5] Order 3 n.3, Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 1:26-cv-20609 (S.D. Fla. May 29, 2026), ECF No. 65.

[6] Andrew Duehren, The I.R.S. Thought It Could Fight Trump’s Lawsuit, but It Struck a Deal Anyway, N.Y. Times(May 19, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/admin/irs-trump-lawsuit-deal.html.

[7] Id.


Merkley, Oregon Delegation Decry Sudden Loss of Columbia River Hatchery Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and the Oregon Congressional Delegation members Senator Ron Wyden, and Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) decried the decision of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to abruptly end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, and provides reliable stocks of hatchery raised fish including Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries in the Lower Columbia River Basin.

“The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries. The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region's world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike,” write the lawmakers.

BPA’s decision to end SAFE, that has provided hatchery funding for over 30 years, came with minimal notice and will create a nearly $2.4 million shortfall to be shared by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County. According to ODFW, more than 7 million hatchery salmon currently in production are at immediate risk. Without this funding, ODFW may be forced to close SAFE funded hatcheries and potentially cull the millions of salmon and eggs the agency will no longer be able to support.

“When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year’s stock of hatchery fish has already begun,” emphasized the Oregon Congressional Delegation.

The lawmakers concluded, “We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won’t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President’s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.”

Full text of the letter sent by the Oregon Congressional delegation can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Administrator Kavulla:

We write to express our significant concern with the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) recent decision to end its participation in the Select Area Fisheries Management (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, providing reliable stocks of Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries. We strongly urge BPA to reconsider its actions and commit to renewing its SAFE program contracts to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County.

The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries.[1] The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region's world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike.

When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year’s stock of hatchery fish has already begun. BPA’s decision to no longer support the SAFE program will jeopardize seven million fish that are currently being raised to be released into rivers next spring and will no longer be able to be supported by current funding schemes. It is likely that the hatchery will have to be closed and fish may be culled.

Further, the Northwest Power & Conservation Council, the organization that provides advice to BPA on its activities to mitigate the loss of fish populations, has long supported the SAFE program. In its most recent recommendations to BPA, the Council recommended that BPA renew its contracts for the program to continue to address the loss of salmon populations in the Columbia Basin.[2] It is disappointing that BPA cannot heed the advice of the organization designed to work with partners on this regional issue.

We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won’t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President’s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.

[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2024, August 15). Federal Columbia River Power System Mitigation Actions. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/endangered-species-conservation/federal-columbia-river-power-system-mitigation-actions

[2] Independent Scientific Review Panel for the Northwest Power & Conservation Council. (2022, February 10). Final Report: Review of Anadromous Fish Habitat and Hatchery. P.88-91.

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Wyden, Merkley Ask State Data Center Advisory Committee to Consider Multiple Issues Raised by Oregonians

Oregon senators: “Several issues have been raised by constituents regarding responsible data center development with our offices, ranging from local to state to federal jurisdiction.”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today wrote Gov. Tina Kotek’s data center advisory committee to convey concerns both senators have heard from Oregonians as the state panel works on solutions that balance data centers’ economic benefits with their financial impacts on utility consumers and environmental impacts on entire communities.

“Thank you for coming together to tackle the challenges posed by the rapid expansion of data centers in Oregon,” Wyden and Merkley wrote committee members. While we acknowledge that data centers are critical to American national security, can help ensure technological advancement, and create good union jobs, your work to strike a balance between pursuing economic development opportunities in alignment with sustainable utility costs and environmental impacts is critical for Oregon and the Northwest. Several issues have been raised by constituents regarding responsible data center development with our offices, ranging from local to state to federal jurisdiction.”

The Oregon senators asked the state data center advisory committee to consider the following concerns that accompany the growth of data centers around the state:

Increasing energy demand to power and cool equipment.

Increasing electricity costs for consumers because of increased demand.

Water quality and quantity issues because of data centers’ use of large water volumes from surface, ground, municipal or reclaimed water sources to cool servers and prevent overheating.

Visibility issues from steam, and noise pollution from cooling systems and fans.

Land use decisions dealing with the rezoning of productive agricultural land.

Tribal rights and consultation that respect treaty rights, including rights to hunt, fish, and gather food and medicine.

Transparency and public accountability that reflect community concerns about environmental and infrastructure impacts that data centers can present for future energy and water needs, as well as impacts to utilities and municipal services.

Wyden is a cosponsor of the AI Environmental Impacts Act and has pressed Google, Apple, Meta, and Amazon for answers about the impact of their data centers on water usage. He is also developing legislation to ensure that data centers pay their fair share in taxes to address the various stresses they create on local infrastructure.

“We are grateful for your work to embody the ‘Oregon way’ to hear from all perspectives and chart a path forward,” Wyden and Merkley wrote the data center advisory committee. “We stand ready to partner with you on data center policies best for Oregon.”

The entire letter is here.

Related Files


Rep. Young Kim Introduces Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act to Strengthen U.S. Leadership, Support American Jobs, and Help Families Globally

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) introduced the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act to deploy proven, American-made interventions that reduce maternal and child mortality around the globe while supporting U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.

Each year, nearly 260,000 women die from preventable pregnancy-related complications. Evidence-based solutions like Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) prenatal vitamins, skilled birth attendants, and basic infection treatment can dramatically reduce these deaths, yet too often they remain out of reach for women in the world’s most vulnerable communities. The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act directs targeted U.S. global health assistance to scale these interventions in select partner countries, prioritizing results, accountability, and American-made solutions.

“As a mom and grandma, I know nothing matters more than the health of our children,” said Rep. Young Kim. “The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act is a smart, targeted, and cost-effective approach that saves lives while strengthening America’s leadership abroad. By scaling proven interventions, supporting American manufacturing, and partnering with countries committed to better outcomes, we are advancing U.S. interests and building a more stable world.”

MMS prenatal vitamins and other interventions supported by the bill are powered by American innovation and manufacturing, putting U.S. innovation to work while reinforcing supply chains at home. By reducing maternal and child mortality, the United States can help foster more stable, prosperous partner nations, strengthen diplomatic ties, and counter global instability.


ICYMI: The Politico article below, titled “Trump cashed in big on crypto. Trump-loving crypto traders are still struggling."

The Politico article below, titled “Trump cashed in big on crypto. Trump-loving crypto traders are still struggling,” speaks for itself.

You can access the article by clicking the link here.


One Year of Putting Working Families First

Celebrating the anniversary of ‘The Working Families Tax Cuts’ – delivering results for Washington’s 5th District.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05) commemorates the one-year anniversary of ‘The Working Families Tax Cuts’ becoming law. On the eve of our nation’s 250th anniversary, we reflect on the results Congress has delivered for hard working Americans.

“One year ago, we delivered historic tax relief for working families, seniors, and small businesses,” said Congressman Baumgartner. “By lowering taxes, we helped families keep more of what they earn, encouraged businesses to invest and create jobs, invested in rural healthcare, and border security. While there’s still more work to do, this was an important step toward making life more affordable and expanding economic opportunity. I’ll keep fighting to lower costs, protect family farms, and make sure families in Eastern Washington keep more of what they earn,” he said.

What the law has done to help Eastern Washington:


Eagle Scout Connor Pribula honored at Exeter Boro 250 celebration

EXETER — Town residents and officials, as well as local political leaders, gathered at Exeter Town Hall on Thursday afternoon to not only honor America’s 250th birthday but also to congratulate Eagle Scout Connor Pribula for completing his Eagle Scout project of purchasing and installing 54 American Flags on Wyoming Avenue in the borough.

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The main event was to honor Pribula for his effort to raise money, install hardware, and American flags on telephone poles on Rt. 11 in the borough.

U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, State Sen. Lisa Baker, and State Reps. Brenda Pugh and Jim Haddock were all present to comment on Pribula’s accomplishment and to offer proclamations from the U.S. House of Representatives, the state Senate, and the state House of Representatives.

“As our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, communities across Pennsylvania are finding meaningful ways to reflect on the values that have shaped the United States,” Bresnahan commented on Pribula’s accomplishment. “Today, Exeter joins that effort by celebrating the borough’s new American flag installation in celebration of our nation.”

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Eagle Scout Pribula was humbled and overwhelmed on the response from community leaders as well as local residents.

“I knew there would be a good amount of people here, but I didn’t expect to be as many people,” Pribula said. “It’s pretty exciting.”

With the completed Eagle Scout project, Pribula said he would look forward to the Scout board to review is paperwork to apply for his Eagle Scout award.

The program ended with Cassidy Graham singing “God Bless America.”


LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP: $226M headed to 376,000 Pennsylvanians through Property Tax/Rent Rebate program

WILKES-BARRE — The Shapiro Administration has announced the expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program will deliver $226.4 million to nearly 376,000 Pennsylvanians starting this week.

This initial round of rebates began being distributed on Wednesday, July 1, to seniors, widows and widowers, and residents with disabilities who applied for a rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2025.

The expansion increased the maximum standard rebate to $1,000 (up from the prior $650 max), raised income eligibility limits for homeowners and renters, and tied the income limits to cost-of-living adjustments. Thanks to this change, the income limit for rebate applicants is now $48,110 — up more than $1,500 from last year.

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U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, introduced legislation this week to strengthen coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Through this coordination, Bresnahan said the Protect Seniors and Veterans from Healthcare Fraud Act would prevent duplicative billing, reduce waste, and better protect taxpayer dollars.

Bresnahan first spoke about his legislation during a House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Hearing this week.

“Veterans who have served our country deserve a healthcare system that works for them, not bad-faith providers taking advantage of the system,” said Bresnahan. “This legislation protects taxpayer dollars and makes sure healthcare resources are being used the way they were intended to.”

Many veterans receive healthcare through the VA while also being enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid. Although the federal government currently shares limited information to help prevent duplicate payments under traditional Medicare, Bresnahan said gaps remain for Medicare Advantage and Medicaid, leaving taxpayer dollars vulnerable to improper payments.

Bresnahan said the Protect Seniors and Veterans from Healthcare Fraud Act would require the VA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a two-year data-sharing agreement that expands coordination across Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid. He said the legislation would direct the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and CMS to share relevant enrollment, billing, and diagnostic information to identify instances of duplicate or improper payments and submit a report to Congress evaluating the effectiveness of the partnership.

Bresnahan said the Protect Seniors and Veterans from Healthcare Fraud Act supports ongoing efforts to modernize the VA, strengthen accountability, and ensure federal health care programs operate more efficiently for veterans, seniors, and taxpayers alike.

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Carbajal Statement Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary

Today, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) issued the statement below ahead of the United States Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.

“This Fourth of July marks our nation’s 250th birthday. It is a milestone worthy of celebration and a moment that calls for reflection.

“For over two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have worked to build the more perfect Union envisioned by our Founders. That work has never been simple or straightforward, but the American people have always persisted.

“Today, some of us might feel like our country is sliding backwards, and I believe it is important to acknowledge the seriousness of the challenges in front of us. Yet our history reminds us of something important: America has faced difficult periods before. We have endured civil war, economic crises, terror attacks, natural disasters, and other defining struggles. Each time, we have met the moment and emerged stronger — together.

“We do so because in difficult times the American people have always united to defend our core values of freedom, equality, and opportunity. As we gather with friends and loved ones this week, let’s celebrate the Fourth of July by recommitting ourselves to the values that have guided our nation toward a more perfect Union for 250 years.”


Elfreth's Reflections on Celebrating Our Nation's 250th Anniversary in Philadelphia, Our Community, and Across the Nation

"Yesterday I had one of the most profound experiences in 18 months as your Representative in Congress: traveling to Philadelphia with a bipartisan group of colleagues to be in the “room where it happened” 250 years to the day of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A day of reflection later, and I still struggle to put into words what it means to have stood in the very room in Independence Hall where the Continental Congress gathered and officially declared independence from Great Britain. But here is my most earnest attempt:

While we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, the document pledging "our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor" of the 56 signers – the very members of the body that was the precursor to the Congress I now serve in – was signed on July 2nd. We should all be struck by the courage that act required. We should all reflect on the values of liberty, freedom, and opportunity that were outlined on that day in a radical and profound document that changed the course of world history. I hope we all, including and especially my colleagues in Congress, can be inspired by that courage and those values today.

The signing of the Declaration of Independence was just the beginning of the experiment. The inception of the idea. The foundation of the promise that is our American republic.

Tomorrow in communities across the nation, we’ll hold parades, throw barbeques, and set off fireworks in celebration of 250 years of this promise. In between, I hope you will join me in taking ten minutes to read the Declaration. I’ve spent a significant amount of time this Congress reflecting on the most famous of sentences “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” AND what came after: “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

From the 14th Amendment to the 19th Amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the experiment we are all a part of has expanded, slowly and sometimes painfully, what “consent of the governed” means. The very fact that I stood in “the room where it happened” in Independence Hall yesterday as a Congresswoman – when I would not have even been allowed in the same room 250 years ago – is a profound testament to this radical experiment in self-determination.

But like any good experiment, idea, and promise…there is yet more to do. So I will leave you with President Gerald Ford’s address at Independence Hall on the Bicentennial:

“It is fitting that we ask ourselves hard questions even on a glorious day like today. Are the institutions under which we live working the way they should? Are the foundations laid in 1776 and 1789 still strong enough and sound enough to resist the tremors of our times? Are our God-given rights secure, our hard-won liberties protected?”

These questions are just as relevant 50 years later. I am determined to ask them of my colleagues in Congress when we return to Washington after the holiday. But I think even Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin would agree: these questions are not for Congress alone to answer. What the Declaration began and later our Constitution further avowed, our Founders intentionally built a system of self-governance where all of us have a part to play in determining the future of our nation.

This Independence Day, I hope you are able to beat the heat and celebrate with your loved ones and neighbors – but I hope you also take some time to reflect on the fact that the last 250 years have been built by people like you. Continue to lean in. Continue to show up. And continue to participate in this great experiment so that it can continue for the next 250 years."


Leger Fernández Has Delivered More Than $6.7 Billion for New Mexico Communities, Water Infrastructure, Disaster Recovery Since Coming to Office

Santa Fe, N.M. — Since taking office, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández has helped deliver more than $6.74 billion in federal funding to strengthen New Mexico communities, invest in critical infrastructure, and help families recover from devastating natural disasters.

The funding includes:

$5.48 billion for disaster relief, including compensation and recovery efforts for survivors of the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and flooding in Chaves County.

$738.45 million for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, bringing reliable, clean drinking water to Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and northwestern New Mexico.

$398.75 million for the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, securing long-term water access for about 73,000 people in Clovis, Portales, Texico, Elida and Cannon Air Force Base.

$124.4 million through Community Project Funding, supporting dozens of locally driven projects across New Mexico’s third Congressional District, including improvements for roads, water systems, fire fighters, sheriffs, housing, schools, community centers, health care facilities, tribal infrastructure, and economic development in our cities, rural and Tribal communities. See a full list of these projects here.

In total, these investments amount to $6,742,683,785 delivered for New Mexico.


Congressman Harris Announces $5.58 Million for Easton Airport Runway Improvement Project

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $5,580,000 to Easton Airport in Talbot County through the Airport Improvement Program.

The awards include $3,396,293 for runway paving and expansion of the Runway 4/22 safety area and $2,183,707 for additional runway paving and a 900-foot extension of Runway 4/22. Together, the projects will improve safety and bring the runway into conformity with current FAA standards.

Statement from Congressman Harris:


Comisionado Residente llama al gobierno y sector privado a formar una alianza para mover la economía de Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – El Comisionado Residente de Puerto Rico, Pablo José Hernández, afirmó hoy que el gobierno y el sector privado deben ser aliados para impulsar el desarrollo económico del país, durante un mensaje ofrecido en la juramentación de Che Julio Aparicio como presidente de la Cámara de Comercio de Puerto Rico, celebrada en el Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino, en el Distrito de Convenciones.

El Comisionado Residente sostuvo que Puerto Rico no puede avanzar si el gobierno y los sectores productivos trabajan de espaldas unos a otros, y destacó que esa colaboración debe traducirse en resultados concretos para la Isla.

"Hay quienes insisten en pintar al sector público y al sector privado como enemigos. No tiene por qué ser así. No somos adversarios. Somos, y debemos ser, aliados cada vez que nuestros intereses apuntan en la misma dirección", expresó.

Como ejemplo, señaló los esfuerzos que su oficina ha impulsado en el Congreso junto a distintos sectores para defender los incentivos contributivos, lograr un mejor trato para Medicare Advantage, evitar el precipicio fiscal de Medicaid y adelantar la transición del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional (PAN) al Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP).

El Comisionado Residente compartió su visión sobre el desarrollo económico y afirmó que el bienestar de las personas más vulnerables y el crecimiento de las empresas no son objetivos opuestos. Además, sostuvo que el progreso económico depende de instituciones sólidas, reglas claras y un entorno que fomente la inversión y el emprendimiento.

"El bienestar del más vulnerable y la fortaleza del que emprende no compiten. Se necesitan. La incertidumbre y la injusticia limitan el desarrollo económico. Impiden invertir a largo plazo. Impiden confiar en el sistema. Defender las instituciones es defender el suelo mismo sobre el que ustedes construyen. El desarrollo económico es para el progreso integral de todo un pueblo: para que seamos más educados, más saludables y más completos cultural y espiritualmente. Es para construir un país de primer orden mundial", concluyó.

El Comisionado Residente destacó el conocimiento y la experiencia del sector privado, y reiteró su disposición de continuar trabajando junto a la Cámara de Comercio y otros sectores productivos del país para impulsar iniciativas que fortalezcan la economía de Puerto Rico, promuevan la inversión y amplíen las oportunidades para los trabajadores, los comercios y las empresas de la Isla.

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LEADER JEFFRIES IN PHILADELPHIA: “WE ARE A COUNTRY OF CITIZENS, NOT SUBJECTS”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, alongside Members of Congress and other leaders, delivered remarks at Independence National Historical Park to mark the birth of the United States as part of America250, the bipartisan national celebration of our nation’s Semiquincentennial.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Governor Shapiro, Members of Congress, all those assembled.

It is a high honor and a distinct privilege to be marked present today at the birthplace of our democracy, where 250 years ago, the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence, decreeing that all men are created equally and entitled to certain unalienable rights, such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The Declaration of Independence formally severed us from the tyrannical reign of King George III, who the signatories accuse of obstructing the administration of justice, cutting off trade with the rest of the world, sending officers to harass the people, obstructing efforts to naturalize citizens and trying to render the military superior to civilian authority.

Independence Hall, right across the way, is the birthplace of the Constitution, where the Framers decided that the Congress would be separate and coequal, never subservient or coopted. So let us never forget that we don’t work for any other branch of government. There are no kings in the United States of America. We work exclusively for the American people.

Indeed, the House was set up to be the institution that the Framers envisioned to be the closest to the people—to reflect the hopes, the dreams, the aspirations, the fears, the concerns, the anxieties, the life experiences and the passions of the people. James Madison once observed that the House should be in intimate sympathy with the people that we are privileged to represent. Intimate sympathy.

Let us use this moment to reflect on these principles and recommit to bringing them to life not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans. We’re not a perfect nation, and America has indeed struggled at times, beginning with the horrors of chattel slavery and the oppression of Native Americans, to live up to our highest ideals, but the high-minded principles upon which this great country was born have served as an eternal lamppost for us to continue to strive and march toward a more perfect union.

America is an exceptional nation, and to this day, as President Lincoln once observed, we remain the last best hope on Earth. We are a country of citizens, not subjects. A nation of patriots, not patsies. And a republic whose fate will be determined by voters, not victims.

We must never abandon the principles that have brought us this far—liberty and justice for all, equal protection under the law, free and fair elections, government of the people by the people and for the people, the land of the free and the home of the brave. These are the values that define the best of who we are as a nation. Let us all recommit to them today so we can ensure that the next 250 years are even better than the first.

God bless all of you, God bless the Congress and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Full event can be watched here.

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LEADER JEFFRIES ON NPR: “DONALD TRUMP IS DESTROYING THE COUNTRY IN REAL TIME”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition, where he made clear that upon the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, Democrats are focused on lowering the high cost of living, protecting access to healthcare, cleaning up corruption and winning back the House of Representatives to hold Donald Trump and Republicans accountable for their extremism.

MICHEL MARTIN: Among the Democrats hoping to flip control of Congress back to their party in the midterms is Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic Leader, who represents a district in New York, and he’s on the line with us now. Good morning, Leader Jeffries, thanks for joining us.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning. Great to be with you.

MICHEL MARTIN: As you just heard, you backed two Democratic incumbents against Democratic Socialists who had the backing of New York’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani. If Democrats win back the House with the help of people who opposed your picks, how do you plan to work with them?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we have to win back the House by actually flipping seats that are currently held by Republicans. And we’re going to continue to do everything we can to do just that. And we’ve got great candidates running all across the country, challenging Republicans who’ve been nothing but a reckless rubber stamp to Donald Trump’s extreme agenda, while at the same period of time focusing on issues like driving down the high cost of living, fixing our broken healthcare system and cleaning up the corruption that Donald Trump has unleashed on America in real time.

MICHEL MARTIN: To my—my question was how do you plan to work with these folks if they do achieve, well if they win their seats, which they are expected to do. They’re in deep blue districts, but they’ve opposed the people that you supported, so how do you plan to work with them?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I plan to continue to support every single House Democratic incumbent. And that certainly was the case with Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Diana DeGette—who had an incredible career over the last 30-plus years championing reproductive freedom—and, of course, Dan Goldman, who’s been a fighter challenging the Trump administration. At the same period of time, primaries are a way of life in the House of Representatives, specifically because the Framers wanted our institution to be the closest to the American people, which was the primary reason that we have to stand for election every other year. And within the House Democratic Caucus family, there will be a wide variety of different perspectives—progressives, New Dems, Blue Dogs. I’ve worked with sort of the ideologically diverse group of Members up until this point, and will continue to do so. But what unifies House Democrats, and we’ll see what happens in terms of as we transition into a new Caucus, but obviously the overwhelming majority of folks who will be part of that Caucus are going to be focused on stopping MAGA extremism on the one hand, while, most importantly, doing everything we can to make life better for the everyday Americans we’re privileged to represent on the other.

MICHEL MARTIN: You know, President Trump is already workshopping attack lines against some of these nominees. He’s calling them communists. He’s saying he’s not going to allow them to destroy the country. Do Democrats have an answer for that?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump is destroying the country in real time right now. He promised to lower the high cost of living on day one. Costs haven’t gone down, they’ve gone up. Donald Trump promised to ‘love and cherish Medicaid’ and turned around and signed the One Big Ugly Bill, which ripped away Medicaid from more than 10 million Americans, including many in rural parts of the country. And Donald Trump is the one who promised not to start wars in the Middle East, but to stop them and then turned around and launched a reckless and costly war of choice in the Middle East, which is raising gas prices on the American people. That’s why House Democrats have strongly opposed this war, and we will continue to do so until it finally comes to an end.

MICHEL MARTIN: You know, he hasn’t signed that housing affordability bill that passed with a large bipartisan majority in both houses, pressuring Congress to pass a bill that would require proof of citizenship to vote because he says that that is his priority. And he says, using his words, that these other bills are a yawn. To your knowledge, has that bill actually been presented to the President?

LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s my understanding that the bill has been sent over by Speaker Johnson earlier this week. And the President has up to 10 days to take action on it. If he fails to take any action, of course, Michel, as you know, it will become law. This is an extraordinary thing that Donald Trump is playing games with a bipartisan housing bill that is designed to make sure that we are building housing that the American people can actually afford. It’s part of the work of legislating and House Democrats committed to getting things done. In this instance, we’re—

MICHEL MARTIN: Do you think the bill is going to become law? Do you think it is going to become law?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I do think it will become law. And there’s been great leadership by Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Senator Elizabeth Warren helping to lead the charge around this bill as part of our continuing effort as Democrats to address the cost of living crisis that Donald Trump and Republicans have made worse during their time in office over the last 18 months.

MICHEL MARTIN: Obviously, President Trump is obviously very concerned about the midterms. This is one of the reasons he’s so concerned about this election bill, what he calls the SAVE America Act. I want to ask you, an FBI memo obtained by the Associated Press indicates a surge of more than 200 personnel in Fulton County, Georgia, as part of an investigation, an ongoing investigation, into the 2020 election. The FBI declined a request for comment. What do you make of that? I mean, do you think this could be a fair deployment of government resources if it puts to rest once and for all the President’s unproven claims of election fraud? Or do you think there could be some other outcome?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the notion that Donald Trump is wasting FBI resources, along with Kash Patel, on a conspiracy theory connected to the 2020 presidential election that has long been invalidated is extraordinary. But again, Donald Trump is not focused on the issues that matter. He’s made clear he thinks the affordability crisis is a hoax. He loves inflation. He said to the American people he does not give a damn about the personal financial situation that they’re in. Everyday Americans are drowning right now as it relates to the Trump-Republican economy. And Donald Trump is focused on trying to rig the midterm elections. We have embarked on the largest voter protection effort in the history of modern-day America because we’re determined to make sure, as Democrats, that there is a free and fair election in November, so that it’s the American people who are actually the ones who get to decide who serves in the majority in the Congress after these midterms, not Donald Trump and MAGA extremists.

MICHEL MARTIN: Let me quickly turn to a fun fact about your background. I think you’re the only Member of Congress with roots from Cape Verde. Your grandfather, your great-grandfather, was from Cape Verde. The tiny nation’s soccer team is facing off against world champions Argentina today. Are you watching?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I’ll definitely be watching. It’s an incredible story. It’s an underdog story. And it demonstrates the resilience of the nation of Cape Verde. And Cape Verdeans, of course, have a long history here in the United States of America, particularly in the New England states. It was my great-grandfather, Manuel Gomes, who immigrated into this country to New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1915.

MICHEL MARTIN: Okay, before we let you go, how are you celebrating America’s 250th birthday this weekend?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I’ll be spending time at home in the district at a variety of different celebrations, including potentially one that’s held every year in Coney Island that this year will be spectacular because it is our 250th birthday. I had an opportunity yesterday to be in Philadelphia, the birthplace of our democracy, at a bipartisan session commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago, and we’ll continue to celebrate throughout the year.

MICHEL MARTIN: That is the House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries. Leader Jeffries, thank you so much for joining us, and happy birthday to the United States.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Happy 4th of July, everyone. Thank you.

Full interview can be listened to here.

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LEADER JEFFRIES ON NPR: “DONALD TRUMP IS DESTROYING THE COUNTRY IN REAL TIME”


Whip Clark Statement Marking One Year of Republicans’ Big Ugly Law

MALDEN, MA — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) released the following statement marking one year since House Republicans passed their Big Ugly Law:

“One year ago, House Republicans passed their singular legislative goal: Donald Trump’s Big Ugly Law. This devastating budget has made life more expensive and difficult for families across the country.

“After promising to lower costs, Donald Trump and the GOP abandoned working people in favor of the billionaire class — enacting the largest-ever cuts to food assistance and healthcare in our nation’s history while handing massive tax cuts to the Trump family and their billionaire donors.

“Americans are barely making it under Republican control of the White House and Congress. More than 440 hospitals are at risk of closure in our communities. More than 15 million people are losing their healthcare coverage. More than 4 million people have lost their food assistance — including more than 770,000 children. And families are struggling to afford groceries, gas, rent, and other necessities.

“Working people are struggling under high costs while Republicans cater to the rich and the connected. We are fighting with every tool we have to take back the House and deliver the lower costs, security, and peace of mind Americans deserve.”

In Massachusetts, Republicans’ Big Ugly Law has:

Ended food assistance for more than 175,000 people — including nearly 62,000 kids.

Kicked more than 53,000 people off Medicaid.

Pushed more than 40,000 people off ACA coverage.

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Statement from Congressman Nick Langworthy in Response to Buffalo Mayor Ryan’s Comments

"Sean Ryan can call me whatever he wants. I’m not backing down.

"I believe a city as great as Buffalo should proudly celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Instead, the Mayor canceled that celebration while presiding over a ceremony honoring a foreign flag. It was an enormous disappointment to the thousands upon thousands of Buffalo residents who were looking forward to celebrating this historic milestone with their families and neighbors.

"Those were his priorities. Mine are clear: I’ll always stand for America, celebrate our flag, honor our history, and never apologize for believing that America should come first.”


One Year In, the Largest Tax Cuts in American History Are Delivering for Iowa

July 3, 2026

IOWA - Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) today marked the one-year anniversary of the Working Families Tax Cuts becoming law, highlighting the real savings and tax relief the legislation has delivered for Iowa families, workers, farmers, seniors, and small businesses.

Signed into law one year ago, the Working Families Tax Cuts have lowered taxes, increased take-home pay, and helped hardworking Americans keep more of what they earn.

"One year later, the Working Families Tax Cuts are delivering exactly what they promised: lower taxes, bigger paychecks, stronger family budgets, and real savings for hardworking Americans," said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. "Whether it is tax relief for seniors, workers earning overtime, families raising children, or farmers passing their operations on to the next generation, these policies are making a real difference. I will continue fighting for policies that put Iowans first."

Background

One year after becoming law, the Working Families Tax Cuts continue to provide meaningful relief for millions of Americans through provisions including No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, tax relief for seniors, permanent protections for family farms, incentives to strengthen American manufacturing, and new $1,000 Baby Investment Accounts for eligible newborns.

Since enactment, the Working Families Tax Cuts have delivered:

Tax refunds increased by 11%, putting more money back into the pockets of hardworking Americans.

No Tax on Tips: More than 7.5 million Americans have claimed the deduction, with an average tax benefit of over $7,000. By allowing workers to deduct up to $25,000 in qualified tip income, servers, bartenders, hospitality workers, and others who rely on tips are keeping more of what they earn.

No Tax on Overtime: More than 29 million Americans have claimed the deduction, saving an average of over $3,100. This provision helps police officers, firefighters, nurses, EMTs, corrections officers, and countless other workers keep more of their overtime pay.

Social Security Tax Deduction: More than 35 million seniors have claimed the new deduction, receiving an average tax benefit of over $7,500. Eligible seniors can claim a $6,000 deduction, while married couples can receive up to $12,000, helping them afford everyday necessities and enjoy greater peace of mind after a lifetime of hard work.

Enhanced Child Tax Credit: Nearly 40 million families have claimed the expanded $2,200 Child Tax Credit, helping parents cover the costs of raising children and providing additional financial stability.

Doubled Standard Deduction: The law preserves the doubled standard deduction, benefiting over 90% of taxpayers and allowing families to keep more of their hard-earned income.

Protection for Family Farms: Delivered permanent relief from the 'Death Tax' and helps protect family farms ensuring there farms are passed down to kids and grandkids not sold to pay the IRS.

No Tax on Car Loan Interest: Allows eligible Americans to deduct interest on qualifying loans for new American-made vehicles.

Small Business Tax Deduction: Makes the 20% small business deduction permanent, giving Main Street businesses the certainty they need to invest, hire, and grow.

$1,000 Baby Investment Accounts: Provides eligible newborns with a $1,000 investment account, helping families begin building long-term financial security from the start of their child’s life.

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Tyler Morning Telegraph: Moran: Our moral foundations are our greatest inheritance

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a handful of colonial delegates staked their lives on a set of ideas. Not political ideas—moral ones. The truth that the rights of every person come not from a king, but from God, and that no man is above the law. They also believed virtue, not power, is the true cornerstone of self-governance. And, they were right!

In 1831, a young French writer named Alexis de Tocqueville traveled across this country studying our penal system. In the process he discovered America. He witnessed people animated by something deeper than self-interest—a society shaped by moral conviction and voluntary associations that bound citizens together for the common good.

That conviction was baked into the architecture of this nation from the start. Our legal traditions drew directly from Judeo-Christian moral codes: due process, judicial impartiality, the proportionality of punishment, the principle that leaders must be subject to the same laws as everyone else. These ideas weren’t invented in Philadelphia in 1776. They were inherited—from a tradition that understood human dignity as something given by God, not granted by men.

Our founders knew this. John Adams wrote “the only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue.” George Washington called morality “a necessary spring of popular government.” A republic, they understood, could not sustain itself on institutions alone. It requires a people of character to breathe life into those institutions.

The celebration of this anniversary must be more than fireworks and ceremony. It must be a renewal of commitment to virtue.

National character isn’t shaped in Washington; it’s shaped in homes, schools, houses of worship, and local civic life. It starts in our family institutions, buoyed by individuals who seek righteousness aligned with the natural laws of God.

Our laws are only as good as the moral foundations beneath them. Our institutions hold only as long as people inside them hold to something higher than themselves.

The men who gathered in Philadelphia in 1776 were not perfect—but, they built the incredible country we call home today. They gave us a republic rooted not in the will of a monarch, but in the dignity of every person and the authority of a moral order above any government institution.

Because of what they built, generations of Americans have had the freedom to worship, to speak, to work, to dream, and to correct the nation’s wrongs over time. Because of their courage, we have had 250 years to grow—imperfectly, but always with the tools to do better embedded in the very documents our Founders left us.


Congressman Griffith’s Weekly E-Newsletter 7.3.26

The Republican Congress continues to use the reconciliation process to produce conservative wins for the American people.

Not only were the Working Families Tax Cuts (WFTC) done in a reconciliation bill, but earlier this June, Congress passed another reconciliation bill to fully fund federal immigration enforcement agencies through the rest of President Trump’s term.

This had to happen after “open borders” Democrats refused to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Because of their obstruction, the DHS shutdown was the longest agency shutdown in U.S. history.

With Republicans’ passage of this immigration enforcement reconciliation package, we blocked Democrats from defunding the federal agencies responsible for removing criminal illegal aliens.

I will continue to support policies that protect American communities from Biden-Harris “open borders” policies.

A potential reconciliation package is also being discussed to help with things ranging from defense funding to voter ID policies. As of right now, a final draft of a potential reconciliation bill has yet to be produced.

Delivering conservative wins through the reconciliation process is evident from the Working Families Tax Cuts that President Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025.

I was proud to back this transformative package, which prevented tax hikes on working families and delivered other meaningful tax relief reforms.

Data is now available on how these reforms are helping Americans.

According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, 97% of tax filers accessed these tax cut benefits. The Ways and Means Committee in Congress notes that IRS data shows Americans received an average refund of nearly $3,300, marking a greater than 11% increase in average individual refunds year over year.

By passing this legislation, the Ways and Means committee notes that we stopped a tax increase of 22% for the average taxpayer.

Additionally, tax filers took advantage of new opportunities.

More than 7 million Americans claimed a deduction for tips. This follows on President Trump’s “No Tax on Tips” promise.

But Republican lawmakers did not stop there.

We also created a deduction for those who work hourly overtime. This tax season, nearly 30 million filers claimed this deduction.

Further, an enhanced senior bonus deduction allowed seniors on social security to keep more of their money. The $6,000 bonus is in place for single filers and $12,000 for joint filers.

While we strengthen economic prospects for working families through this tax relief, Republicans also advance businesses with a focus on ‘Made in America.’

Johnson & Johnson, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, is one company expanding domestic operations in the United States.

The company’s CEO, Mr. Joaquin Duato, credited Republicans’ legislation for his company moving forward with the $55 billion expansion.

The reconciliation bill also delivers vital health care funding to rural communities through the Rural Health Transformation Program.

Virginia is the recipient of more than $189 million thanks to the Rural Health Transformation Program.

This pot of money helps rural hospital providers in Virginia’s Ninth District. That includes Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, to which Virginia awarded its first Program grant.

This award will help the College expand health care workforce training opportunities. As medical deserts threaten health care access, grants like these can help close the provider gap, develop a pipeline of rural health care workers and better serve rural patients.

As more Rural Health Transformation Program awards flow to our region, I will continue to advocate for tax policies that help our region.

Such policies include the New Markets Tax Credit, which we permanently extended in the Working Families Tax Cuts.

This tax credit has been credited for the construction of a new medical office building in Tazewell County!

This facility is creating new options for health care, which in turn is helping Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital.

Further, I believe that the reconciliation package’s boosted tax incentives for Opportunity Zones in rural areas can unlock more potential health care opportunity. A tax structure that promotes investments in rural communities can produce dividends!

These ideas show that the tax policies we advanced in the Working Families Tax Cuts support our economic prospects.

Further, I will continue to consider reconciliation ideas that produce prosperity, opportunity and freedom for the American people.

If you have ideas, please feel free to contact our office.

If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at https://morgangriffith.house.gov/. Also on my website is the latest material from my office, including information on votes recently taken on the floor of the House of Representatives.

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Representatives Panetta, Ross, DeLauro Introduce Bill to Deliver Faster Relief for Taxpayers

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02) and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) in introducing a bill to improve transparency between taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax refund claims.

Currently, there is no requirement that the IRS pay or deny refund claims within a set timeframe. As a result, claims can spend years in the IRS’ queue without a decision, leaving taxpayers with no clear answers or recourse. The bill requires the IRS to respond to tax refund claims within one year of receiving a taxpayer’s return. It also ensures that any refund paid after that period is adjusted for inflation and includes interest to compensate taxpayers for the delay.

IRS employees work diligently to serve taxpayers and process refund claims, but their work has been undermined by staffing cuts under the Trump administration. Thousands of IRS employees have been laid off, resulting in fewer claims processed and growing backlogs. Since 2019, the number of backlogged tax claims has doubled to more than two million. This bill will create a clear process to ensure refund claims are paid or denied in a timely manner, with taxpayers guaranteed a sufficient explanation for any IRS decision.

“The backlog in cases at the IRS has left way too many hardworking taxpayers waiting way too long for their hard-earned refunds,” said Rep. Panetta. “Our RETURN Act would help restore accountability, efficiency, and transparency by requiring the IRS to respond to refund requests within one year and explain the reasoning behind any denial. This legislation would help ensure a more responsive tax system so that all Americans can efficiently and effectively receive their tax returns.”

“Americans in North Carolina and across the country work hard for every dollar they earn, and they deserve prompt responses when they file their tax returns,” said Rep. Ross. “At a time when too many families are stretched thin by rising costs, they should not be left wondering whether they will receive the money they are owed. This bill will help ensure tax refunds are processed in a timely manner and require the IRS to provide clear explanations of its decisions to the American taxpayers.”

“We are in a cost-of-living crisis,” said Rep. DeLauro. “Americans are living paycheck to paycheck – if the government is responsible for a late refund, they should ensure that Americans are made whole because of it. I am fighting to put more money in working and middle-class Americans' pockets – to help them get ahead and thrive.”

Full text of the bill is available here.

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