U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
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Blumenthal, Takano & Colleagues Blast Secretary Collins for Politicizing Key Veteran Services During Shutdown
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news on Oct. 9, 2025:
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Blumenthal, Takano & Colleagues Blast Secretary Collins for Politicizing Key Veteran Services During Shutdown
Lawmakers call out Trump VA for needlessly weaponizing the government shutdown & violating the Hatch Act
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Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) are leading a group of Committee members today to call out Department
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news on Oct. 9, 2025:
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Blumenthal, Takano & Colleagues Blast Secretary Collins for Politicizing Key Veteran Services During Shutdown
Lawmakers call out Trump VA for needlessly weaponizing the government shutdown & violating the Hatch Act
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Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) are leading a group of Committee members today to call out Departmentof Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins for weaponizing the government shutdown and artificially ending communications with Congress--despite the fact these constituent services have already been funded by multi-year appropriation bills that are not affected by the current government shutdown. The group criticized Collins for spending taxpayer resources to politicize the government shutdown, while simultaneously refusing to assist veterans with their casework.
"Congress has provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with multi-year funding, which ensures a government shutdown has minimal impact on veterans' health care and benefits," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Collins. "That is why we are deeply concerned that your Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA) refuses to initiate, dispatch, or respond to congressional inquiries on behalf of our veteran constituents. Every single day, veterans and their families come to our offices for help in getting their health care and benefits from VA. Often, they come to us as their last resort. We take those concerns or their specific cases directly to VA and advocate on their behalf. Thus, any delay in responding to this outreach or dispatching their cases will cause harm to the veterans we serve...The Department must revisit this prioritization scheme and dedicate sufficient staff and resources necessary to accomplish the task of responding in a timely manner to ALL constituent casework requests initiated by Congress."
The lawmakers pressed the Trump VA for ending all Congressional communications during the shutdown, even though the office which handles these communications--VA's Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA)--has available carryover funding, unrelated to the shutdown, it can use to continue operations: "...[W]e know that previous administrations planned to continue dispatching and responding to congressional inquiries during government shutdowns by utilizing non-furloughed employees. The fact that VA has chosen not to prioritize communication with Congress on policy matters is clearly a leadership decision and a direct affront to our constitutional duty to oversee the work of the Department." Further, the Trump VA has continued communicating with the House Veterans' Affairs Committee's Majority Staff despite ceasing communication with the other Committees' staff.
The lawmakers also condemned Trump VA leaders for violating the Hatch Act in their communications to veterans and VA employees: "To make matters worse, it appears that leaders within your Department have used congressionally appropriated funds to send politically charged messages to veterans and VA staff about the shutdown in what seem to be clear violations of the Hatch Act. We remind you and your leadership team that we are tracking these violations and taking them very seriously. While the Trump Administration may not enforce the Hatch Act currently, we will not hesitate to investigate these violations."
Blumenthal and Takano's letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Angus King (I-ME) and U.S. Representatives Julia Brownley (D-CA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Herb Conaway (D-NJ), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL).
The full text of the lawmakers' letter is available here and below.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
We write to urge you to reverse your weaponization of the current lapse in appropriations and restore vital congressional communications to ensure our veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve, which are covered by multi-year appropriations and should not be affected by the current shutdown.
Congress has provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with multi-year funding, which ensures a government shutdown has minimal impact on veterans' health care and benefits. That is why we are deeply concerned that your Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA) refuses to initiate, dispatch, or respond to congressional inquiries on behalf of our veteran constituents. Every single day, veterans and their families come to our offices for help in getting their health care and benefits from VA. Often, they come to us as their last resort. We take those concerns or their specific cases directly to VA and advocate on their behalf. Thus, any delay in responding to this outreach or dispatching their cases will cause harm to the veterans we serve.
We understand that a lapse in appropriations requires certain nonessential functions to cease. However, it is imperative that the Department continue to be fully open, transparent and communicative with elected representatives in Congress. This is why we find the October 2, 2025, communication from OCLA Assistant Secretary Don Bergin to our Committees so troubling.
Not only does it show a lack of commitment to the relationship with Congress in overseeing the work that we have mandated to continue during a shutdown, but it also diminishes the role of Senators and Representatives in protecting the health and welfare of our veterans, a concern which we know you share. And nowhere is this lack of prioritization more acutely felt than with respect to casework submitted to OCLA by Member offices. While we understand that, according to Assistant Secretary Bergin, "...casework involving the health and welfare of veterans will be prioritized..." during this lapse in appropriations, it is difficult to rationalize how EVERY veteran-related casework would not be categorized as necessary to protect the life and property of veterans. The Department must revisit this prioritization scheme and dedicate sufficient staff and resources necessary to accomplish the task of responding in a timely manner to ALL constituent casework requests initiated by Congress.
Moreover, we are troubled that Assistant Secretary Bergin asserts that, "VA cannot initiate, dispatch, or respond to congressional request..." during this shutdown. The use of the word "cannot" is likely intentional in this context. It is also greatly misleading. We know that OCLA has carryover funding at its disposal during this shutdown and may choose which activities to prioritize with that funding. Additionally, we know that previous administrations planned to continue dispatching and responding to congressional inquiries during government shutdowns by utilizing non-furloughed employees. The fact that VA has chosen not to prioritize communication with Congress on policy matters is clearly a leadership decision and a direct affront to our constitutional duty to oversee the work of the Department.
To make matters worse, it appears that leaders within your Department have used congressionally appropriated funds to send politically charged messages to veterans and VA staff about the shutdown in what seem to be clear violations of the Hatch Act. We remind you and your leadership team that we are tracking these violations and taking them very seriously. While the Trump Administration may not enforce the Hatch Act currently, we will not hesitate to investigate these violations.
To that end, we respectfully request the following information as soon as possible:
1. Please provide us with a "status of funds" report for the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, along with a specific breakdown of prior fiscal year carryover and a delineation of which activities within OCLA this funding has been dedicated toward.
2. Please provide a breakdown of current staffing levels within OCLA, disaggregated by function. Additionally, we would like a breakdown of how many staff have left OCLA since January 3, 2025, disaggregated by reason for their departure to include retirement (regular or VERA), Delayed Resignation Program, termination, reassignment or other.
3. According to Assistant Secretary Bergin's message, OCLA staff is "...committed to working on government shutdown activities." Please provide a detailed description of those activities, along with a list of which specific staff are assigned what duties during this shutdown.
1. Which if any staff of OCLA are involved in planning for the White House's planned Reductions in Force during this lapse in appropriations, which appear to violate the law?
2. Which if any staff of OCLA have been involved in the shutdown-related messages sent to employees and veterans on behalf of the Department in apparent violation of the Hatch Act?
4. It has come to our attention that information has continued to be shared with the House Committee on Veterans Affairs (HVAC) Majority, which has not been shared with either the HVAC Minority or the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Majority and Minority, even after the shutdown commenced, contrary to Mr. Bergin's message. Please provide us with all communications sent to the HVAC Majority of which the Minority was not copied or provided.
Mr. Secretary, we respect that you have the difficult task of maintaining access to care and benefits during an uncertain funding environment. However, it is crucial that you view the Congress as a partner in this effort, and not the enemy. Therefore, we encourage you to continue robust communication with Congress and dedicate sufficient time, both staff and your own, to the task.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. And we look forward to your timely response.
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Original text here: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2025/10/blumenthal-takano-colleagues-blast-secretary-collins-for-politicizing-key-veteran-services-during-shutdown
Blackburn Statement on Tennessee Priorities Secured in 2026 National Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release:
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Blackburn Statement on Tennessee Priorities Secured in 2026 National Defense Bill
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement on the provisions she secured for Tennessee in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by the Senate:
"This year's national defense bill will help safeguard U.S. national security and support our men and women in uniform by ensuring we are prepared for the formidable threats posed by foreign
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release:
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Blackburn Statement on Tennessee Priorities Secured in 2026 National Defense Bill
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement on the provisions she secured for Tennessee in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by the Senate:
"This year's national defense bill will help safeguard U.S. national security and support our men and women in uniform by ensuring we are prepared for the formidable threats posed by foreignadversaries," said Senator Blackburn. "Tennessee's tens of thousands of service members and military installations play a vital role in that mission, and this legislation will modernize critical infrastructure, fund important research programs, and strengthen national security."
2026 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Below is a list of key priorities for Tennessee included in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Blackburn amendments included in NDAA
* ROUTERS Act : Requires U.S. Department of Commerce and National Telecommunications and Information Administration to study national security risks posed by consumer routers, modems, and devices that combine both.
* Quantum Readiness Strategy: Requires the U.S. Department of Defense to submit a strategy to Congress on quantum readiness, ensuring the U.S. is prepared to compete with foreign adversaries' advances in quantum.
Fort Campbell modernization projects
* Replaces the current 49-year-old tower, which is the oldest tower on any power projection platform and is in desperate need of adequate height, space, and visibility for modern operations.
* Provides modern housing for the 101st Airborne Division.
Arnold Air Force Base
* Upgrades Gate 2, enhancing base security and access control at the nation's key test center for propulsion and hypersonics.
Army National Guard projects
* Funding for planning and design to move the Tennessee National Guard from Berry Field to Smyrna Airport.
Research and development in Tennessee
* Expands Vanderbilt's partnership with Army Futures Command to include Tennessee National Guard.
* Provides funding for Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Vanderbilt-led program to build secure, robust artificial intelligence models for use in autonomous vehicles.
* Sustains modernization and operations at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.
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Original text here: https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/10/military/blackburn-statement-on-tennessee-priorities-secured-in-2026-national-defense-bill/4b7dad34-5c29-46a2-9438-c8fab18df847
Beyer Statement On Trump's Illegal Mass Firings Of Federal Workers
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
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Beyer Statement On Trump's Illegal Mass Firings Of Federal Workers
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Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents a Northern Virginia congressional district with one of the largest concentrations of federal workers in the U.S. House, issued the following statement today on illegal, unnecessary mass firings of federal workers announced by the Trump Administration and Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought:
"The mass firings Russ Vought and the Trump Administration
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
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Beyer Statement On Trump's Illegal Mass Firings Of Federal Workers
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Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents a Northern Virginia congressional district with one of the largest concentrations of federal workers in the U.S. House, issued the following statement today on illegal, unnecessary mass firings of federal workers announced by the Trump Administration and Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought:
"The mass firings Russ Vought and the Trump Administrationannounced today are cruel, illegal, and yet another attack on our economy. This is a disaster for Virginia, intentionally inflicted by President Trump and his Republican allies. These firings are also already being fought in court.
"This President is killing jobs at a disastrous rate, while forcing the continuation of a government shutdown that would end if he simply agreed to prevent skyrocketing health care price increases. Instead of doing that, however, Trump and Vought are illegally firing more workers, hurting essential services for the American people, and damaging our economy in Virginia and across the country. Vought is also further abusing power by corruptly freezing hundreds of energy infrastructure projects, which will kill even more jobs and raise electricity prices across the nation.
"Everyone should understand that a government shutdown does not require or enable mass firings of federal workers, in fact it forbids it. President Trump and Russ Vought have been firing federal workers by the thousands continuously since the beginning of the DOGE disaster, and as numerous Republicans have admitted, they plainly hoped to use the pretext of a shutdown to fire even more American workers. But directing these firings during a shutdown violates the law, and the laws they are violating are criminal statutes.
"This Administration's corruption is only matched by its willingness to sabotage our economy and raise prices for the American people. Trump and Vought's lawless contempt for Congress' powers under the Constitution will also make it harder to get the bipartisan deal that is needed to end this shutdown.
"I will continue doing all I can to support and protect federal workers and contractors in Northern Virginia and across the country. To those workers, I say again: you deserve so much better than this, and while I know this is yet another dark moment in a dark year, please do not lose hope. The country still sees and values your service, and your work is not in vain."
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Original text here: https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=8665
Assistant Secretary of War for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Nominee Noh Testifies Before Senate Armed Services Committee
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by John Noh, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for Indo-Pacific security affairs, from an Oct. 7, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished Members of the Armed Services Committee:
It is a great honor to appear before you today and to be considered for the position of Assistant Secretary of War for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.
I am deeply grateful to President Trump for nominating me for this role. I would also like to express my
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by John Noh, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for Indo-Pacific security affairs, from an Oct. 7, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished Members of the Armed Services Committee:
It is a great honor to appear before you today and to be considered for the position of Assistant Secretary of War for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.
I am deeply grateful to President Trump for nominating me for this role. I would also like to express mysincere gratitude to Secretary of War Hegseth, Deputy Secretary of War Feinberg, and Undersecretary of War for Policy Colby for their leadership and support. I am fully committed to implementing the President's policy of putting Americans' interest first and achieving peace through strength.
And thank you - Members of this Committee - for your consideration. I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to meet with you and your staffs over the past several weeks.
Finally, I'm very fortunate to have my wife, Isela, and our children, Jaku, John, and Nina, sitting behind me today. The love, understanding, and support I've received from them have made everything possible. I cannot thank them enough. I also want to thank my parents who are not here but have supported me throughout my life.
I joined the Army right after college. Our Country was at war, and I wanted to do my part and serve. I was fortunate enough to deploy to Afghanistan and lead Soldiers in combat. To this day, my military service fundamentally shapes how I think, including about the role for which I have been nominated. Defense policy is deeply personal to me because ultimately, it has to do with the wellbeing of our men and women in uniform who might one day be put in harm's way. For me, there is no more important mission than doing everything I can to prevent war, to deter conflict. But if they are called upon to fight, ensuring that our servicemembers can execute the mission and come back home safely.
My nomination for the position of Assistant Secretary of War for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs comes at a perilous moment for the Indo-Pacific. It was my time as a congressional staffer working for the House Select Committee on China that helped me understand and appreciate many of the challenges we face in the region today. I do not believe conflict is inevitable. But I also do not believe that peace can be assumed. If confirmed, I will do everything in my power to ensure we achieve peace and prevent war in the region, with the utmost urgency and focus.
Since January of this year, I have had the privilege of serving in various roles within the Indo-Pacific Security Affairs team of OSW Policy. And over those months, I was able to conduct numerous engagements with counterparts from various countries. I know that America First does not mean America alone. I value greatly the alliances and partnerships we have throughout the region.
Members of the Committee, it truly is an honor of a lifetime to be given an opportunity to earn your trust and continue serving our great Country. If confirmed, I pledge to work with closely with you and your teams through the numerous issues and challenges that the United States faces in the Indo-Pacific.
Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/noh_opening_statement.pdf
A.G. Bondi Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee released the following testimony by Attorney General Pamela Bondi from an Oct. 7, 2025, hearing entitled "Oversight of the Department of Justice":
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Good morning Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, and members of the Committee. I am grateful for the opportunity to testify in front of you here today.
When I was confirmed as the 87th Attorney General of the United States, I took office with two main goals: to end the weaponization of justice and return the Department to its core mission of fighting violent crime.
While there is more
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee released the following testimony by Attorney General Pamela Bondi from an Oct. 7, 2025, hearing entitled "Oversight of the Department of Justice":
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Good morning Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, and members of the Committee. I am grateful for the opportunity to testify in front of you here today.
When I was confirmed as the 87th Attorney General of the United States, I took office with two main goals: to end the weaponization of justice and return the Department to its core mission of fighting violent crime.
While there is morework to do, I believe that in eight short months, we have made tremendous progress towards those ends.
Our surge of federal resources into Washington, D.C. is a perfect example of how the Department of Justice should operate. We created a strong partnership with local leadership, working hand-in-hand with the city to surge resources where they were needed most. 19 different federal law enforcement agencies came together as one team to support D.C. police. The results came quickly and proved a simple truth: when our law enforcement officers get the green light to do their jobs with the support they need, our citizens become safer. We have made over 3,800 D.C. arrests and seized over 365 illegal guns in D.C. since the beginning of our operation. Statistics show that crime in our nation's capital is down across the board.
We are replicating that tough-on-crime approach across the country. Our Department of Justice components have been doing historic work to Make America Safe Again. In addition to the FBI under the leadership of Director Kash Patel, who testified to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees last month, the hard work of our US Marshals, ATF, and DEA deserves to be touted.
Under the leadership of Director Gadyaces Serralta, our U.S. Marshals have made over 51,000 fugitive arrests since January 20th. Our Marshals have also been the tip of the spear in Washington, D.C., coordinating the joint activities of the various law enforcement groups in our nation's capital. In a case that is close to my heart, last month the Marshals arrested two young men in D.C. accused of murdering Eric Tarpinian-Yachym, a congressional intern who was shot and killed on June 30th, 2025.
Under the leadership of Administrator Terry Cole, the DEA has seized 3121 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 33.2 million counterfeit pills, 43,157 kilograms of methamphetamine, 137,278 kilograms of cocaine, and 936 kilograms of heroin since January 20th. That represents millions of potential overdoses safely removed from our streets. Our DEA agents have also performed 21,327 arrests in that same time period. The DEA has also returned remarkable results in their nationwide effort to target the Sinaloa Cartel. From just August 25th to August 29th, agents in 23 domestic field divisions and 7 international regions carried out coordinated raids that resulted in 617 arrests, 480 kilograms of fentanyl powder, and over $11 million in currency seized.
Under the leadership of Acting Director Dan Driscoll, the ATF has arrested over 4,200 suspects since January 20th. They have seized 22,837 illegal firearms in that same time period. More than 13,000 of those guns came out of trafficking cases, with over 3,300 being trafficked to cartels in Mexico. Just one month ago, our ATF agents in Houston, Austin, and McAllen arrested eight members of La Nueva Familia Michoacan Cartel in Texas.
Cartels have been prosecuted and brought to justice. Organizations including the Sinaloa Cartel, MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Los Zetas and CNJG are being shut down and sentenced. High profile leaders such as El Mayo and El Musico have been prosecuted and will serve as an example to any member of these organizations that we will find you, arrest you, and at the very least you will serve the rest of your life in Federal prison. These cartels rely on drug and human trafficking to finance its terrorism against the American people while spreading poison and crime in our communities. We are proud to support President Trump's mission of dismantling and destroying the cartels.
While we have restored the Department to its core mission of protecting the American people, this Administration has faced unprecedented judicial attacks since President Trump took office. We have been sued more than 420 times. Lower court judges have issued more than 90 temporary restraining orders against our policies - more than the prior four presidencies combined. This has been a coordinated wave of judicial overreach designed to halt an agenda that won the popular vote and all seven battleground states less than a year ago.
We have stepped into the breach to defend President Trump's Article 2 powers - not just for this president, but to protect the separation of powers for presidents to come. Our record includes 22 Supreme Court victories since January 20th. We have won court victories to protect President Trump's hiring-and-firing authority over federal personnel, defend the use of the Alien Enemies Act to address the prior administration's admission of violent, illegal-alien gang members into our communities, secure the government's right to halt the waste of taxpayer dollars on wasteful foreign aid projects, and enable ICE to conduct its law enforcement operations. The President has the right to carry out his foreign policy, control his personnel, and stop wasteful government spending. We are the mechanism that protects his right to exercise those core authorities.
While major cases involving government powers generate the most headlines, this is a massive organization of more than 110,000 employees: our other legal components are doing incredible work that deserves to be highlighted. Our Environmental and Natural Resources Division has filed complaints against multiple states to roll back unconstitutional climate superfund laws that unfairly burden domestic energy production. Our Civil Rights Division has ended discriminatory consent decrees, filed lawsuits to ensure accurate voter rolls, and taken legal action to halt the wave of anti-Semitism that has swept our country since the terrorist attacks by Hamas two years ago. Our National Security Division has protected our homeland from threats foreign and domestic - for example, arresting key leaders in the nihilistic terrorist group known as 764 and convicting the man who attempted to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022.
This is what justice looks like: law enforcement officers performing their duties with full support as the finest attorneys in the country defend the United States in court. We are returning the Department of Justice to its core function of fighting crime and keeping America safe. In doing so, we have ended the weaponization of justice that ran rampant in the prior administration - including holding prior leaders accountable for using their positions of power to willfully mislead the American people.
We look forward to continuing our work and I look forward to testifying in front of you today.
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Original text here: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/0f3f1fdd-bce4-4cc0-4d9c-b631457d12f9/2025-10-07_Testimony_Bondi.pdf
As Trump Unconstitutionally Deploys Military Into American Cities, Padilla, Schiff, Illinois, Oregon Senators Oppose NDAA
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release:
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As Trump Unconstitutionally Deploys Military Into American Cities, Padilla, Schiff, Illinois, Oregon Senators Oppose NDAA
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Amid President Trump's escalating deployments of troops to American cities, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) -- the six U.S. Senators representing states that Donald Trump is targeting with troop deployments over state and local officials'
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release:
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As Trump Unconstitutionally Deploys Military Into American Cities, Padilla, Schiff, Illinois, Oregon Senators Oppose NDAA
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Amid President Trump's escalating deployments of troops to American cities, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) -- the six U.S. Senators representing states that Donald Trump is targeting with troop deployments over state and local officials'strong objections -- issued the following statement on their vote against the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):
"When our troops raised their right hands and took their oaths, they signed up to defend this country and our Constitution. They didn't sign up to aid a wannabe dictator's campaign to intimidate Americans in their own neighborhoods from exercising their rights to free speech and protest -- the very rights our servicemembers swore to protect.
"We cannot support authorizing this Administration to continue its egregious and unconstitutional abuse of our servicemembers, with Donald Trump treating them like political props by deploying them domestically without any legitimate reason or request from state and local officials.
"The purpose of the NDAA is to make sure our military has the authorities and resources it needs to protect our national security -- but right now, by pulling troops away from their core missions and forcing them into our own streets, Donald Trump is threatening the very rights we all hold dear as Americans."
Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump's militarization of Los Angeles and other American cities. Earlier this week, the California, Illinois, and Oregon Senators condemned the President's deployment of troops against their states. In June, Padilla led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities. Last month, Padilla, Schiff, and 17 other Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the lawsuit brought against President Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military in Los Angeles to suppress peaceful protests. The California Senators also recently demanded the U.S. Department of Defense provide information on operational details related to the ongoing deployment of California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles.
After the Trump Administration deployed National Guard troops across Washington, D.C. and took control of the city's police department, Padilla supported legislation granting the District full authority over the D.C. National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department. Additionally, Padilla recently introduced bicameral legislation to enhance oversight and accountability of the President's deployment of the National Guard. Padilla previously placed a hold on Trump's nominee to serve as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Thomas Carden, until the Trump Administration releases all remaining U.S. military forces from their unjustified deployment to Los Angeles.
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Original text here: https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/as-trump-unconstitutionally-deploys-military-into-american-cities-padilla-schiff-illinois-oregon-senators-oppose-ndaa/
Booker Hosts Virtual Shutdown Town Hall With Hundreds of New Jerseyans
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release:
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Booker Hosts Virtual Shutdown Town Hall With Hundreds of New Jerseyans
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NEWARK, N.J. - This afternoon, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) hosted a virtual town hall with Indivisible One New Jersey (IONJ) where he was joined by New Jerseyans throughout the state, speaking to them about Republicans' government shutdown and answering their questions about Republicans' refusal to work with Democrats on a government funding bill that will address the health care crisis Republicans have manufactured.
From
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release:
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Booker Hosts Virtual Shutdown Town Hall With Hundreds of New Jerseyans
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NEWARK, N.J. - This afternoon, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) hosted a virtual town hall with Indivisible One New Jersey (IONJ) where he was joined by New Jerseyans throughout the state, speaking to them about Republicans' government shutdown and answering their questions about Republicans' refusal to work with Democrats on a government funding bill that will address the health care crisis Republicans have manufactured.
FromSenator Booker : "I heard from New Jerseyans up and down our state who are worried about the looming tsunami of higher health care prices, at a time when their costs are going up on everything from groceries to energy. Americans want Republicans to drop the excuses, come to the negotiating table, and work with Democrats to pass a government funding bill that will address the looming tsunami of higher health care prices and get our government open. Working families in New Jersey should not be forced to choose between bankruptcy or their medicines, but that is the health care crisis Republicans have manufactured with their government shutdown. I made clear to the New Jerseyans I spoke with that I will continue to stand up for the people of our state and demand a resolution to the shutdown that addresses their spiking health care costs, no matter how long or how tough the fight."
"Indivisible One New Jersey (IONJ), the statewide network of New Jersey's Indivisible groups, appreciates Senator Cory Booker for sharing his time with us, and for his commitment to an open dialogue with the grassroots. As Indivisible Co-Executive Director Ezra Levin said, 'Republicans are in charge. They have the trifecta. And they're the ones refusing to govern. Democrats - keep holding the line. The GOP is trying to run out the clock, but patience and persistence are on your side.' We commend Senator Booker's steadfast opposition to this appalling overreach, and we strongly support his continued criticism and resolution," said IONJ Steering Committee.
BACKGROUND: TRUMP & GOP SEEK TO UNDERMINE NEW JERSEY FAMILIES' HEALTH CARE
* 352,000 people in New Jersey receive critical tax credits that help lower their monthly premium payments.
* For a family of four in New Jersey earning $130K a year, their annual premiums would increase by over $11,000, representing an over 100% increase.
* For a family of four in New Jersey earning $64K a year, their annual premiums would increase by over $2500. That is a 222% increase.
* Health care costs for hospitals and other health care providers in New Jersey will increase by hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade.
* The "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBA) and Expiration of the ACA Enhanced Tax Credits combined are projected to increase the uninsured population by roughly 390K people in New Jersey.
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Original text here: https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-hosts-virtual-shutdown-town-hall-with-hundreds-of-new-jerseyans
