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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Barrasso Statement on Vice President Cheney
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, issued the following news release:
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Barrasso Statement on Vice President Cheney
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today issued the following statement on the passing of Vice President Dick Cheney.
"Wyoming mourns the passing of Vice President Dick Cheney. From high school football star to White House Chief of Staff, Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President, Dick's career has few peers in American life. His unflinching leadership shaped many of the biggest moments in domestic
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, issued the following news release:
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Barrasso Statement on Vice President Cheney
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today issued the following statement on the passing of Vice President Dick Cheney.
"Wyoming mourns the passing of Vice President Dick Cheney. From high school football star to White House Chief of Staff, Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President, Dick's career has few peers in American life. His unflinching leadership shaped many of the biggest moments in domesticand U.S. foreign policy for decades. Dick will be remembered as a towering figure who helped guide the course of history in Wyoming, the United States, and around the world. My prayers are with Lynne, with Liz and Mary, and his grandchildren as they celebrate an incredible man."
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Original text here: https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/barrasso-statement-on-vice-president-cheney/
At Hearing, Warren Presses Defense Nominee on Ceasefire and Urges More Humanitarian Aid in Gaza
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release:
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At Hearing, Warren Presses Defense Nominee on Ceasefire and Urges More Humanitarian Aid in Gaza
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Warren: "Half a million people are starving in Gaza right now, and we need to do everything we can to help."
Video of Exchange (YouTube)
Washington, D.C. - At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed Austin Dahmer, nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities, on her concerns about the ongoing humanitarian
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release:
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At Hearing, Warren Presses Defense Nominee on Ceasefire and Urges More Humanitarian Aid in Gaza
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Warren: "Half a million people are starving in Gaza right now, and we need to do everything we can to help."
Video of Exchange (YouTube)
Washington, D.C. - At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed Austin Dahmer, nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities, on her concerns about the ongoing humanitariancrisis in Gaza and the need to ensure Palestinians get desperately needed aid without interference.
Following the declared ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli government, the Trump administration's plan called for "full aid" to be sent to Gaza "without interference." Senator Warren raised concerns about the U.S. government's partnership with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an inexperienced and militarized organization that lacks experience in food distribution.
Mr. Dahmer was questioned about his support for the ceasefire, as he previously tweeted that providing aid to Palestinians makes "U.S. support for Israel look performative." He affirmed his support to Senator Warren for the current peace efforts in Gaza. When pressed about his stance on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's (GHF) inexperience and limited aid distribution, which led to over 1,000 deaths near aid sites, Mr. Dahmer refused to directly answer the question but acknowledged the need for experienced aid organizations to ensure successful aid delivery in Gaza.
Senator Warren concluded the hearing by calling for more effective aid efforts: "Half a million people are starving in Gaza right now, and we need to do everything we can to help."
Senator Warren has been a strong advocate of requiring any recipient of U.S. military aid to follow U.S. laws prohibiting the restriction of humanitarian aid, as well as calling for more desperately needed supplies This link opens in new window or tab. to be delivered to Gaza. She was the first Senator to open up an investigation into the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and has also been a vocal advocate against sending more weapons to the Netanyahu government.
Transcript: Hearings to examine the nominations of Austin Dahmer, of Arizona, and Robert Kadlec, of New York, both to be an Assistant Secretary, and Michael Borders, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, all of the Department of Defense.
Senate Armed Services Committee
November 4, 2025
Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, right now we have a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, and we need to make it last. Following the October 7 terrorist attack, Prime Minister Netanyahu initiated a war that has cost nearly 70,000 Palestinians their lives. About a third of them were women and children. We need the ceasefire to put us on a path to peace. Now, one of the tenets of the ceasefire is that all parties must provide "full aid into Gaza" "without interference." This is powerfully important. For months, the Israeli government had a mere total blockade of food, medicine, and other critical humanitarian supplies, leading to half a million Palestinians in Gaza suffering from the first declared famine in the Middle East.
Now, Mr. Dahmer, you've been nominated to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities. If confirmed, you will advise the Secretary on how to align DoD resources to our national security strategy, including enforcing the conditions of this ceasefire.
Mr. Dahmer, do you support President Trump's ceasefire, including ensuring full aid goes into Gaza without interference?
Mr. Dahmer: Yes, Senator, I absolutely support the President's agenda, including his efforts at peace in Gaza.
Senator Warren: Okay, I'm glad to hear you believe that now in the past, you have tweeted that providing aid to Palestinians makes the U.S. "support for Israel look performative." But on top of continuing to limit aid, the U.S. government chose to work with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an inexperienced organization with no history in food distribution. It was created by management consultants and run by armed contractors. Previous ceasefires saw more than 400 aid distribution sites, but GHF limited distribution instead of 400 to 4 and on GHF's watch, over a thousand starving Palestinians desperately seeking food near GHF sites were killed amid multiple reports that the IDF has been opening fire on them.
Mr. Dahmer, do you think the GHF has a record of success in delivering aid to Palestinians?
Mr. Dahmer: Well, Senator, I think President Trump has been clear not only that he's focused on peace, but that he expects both Israel and Hamas to abide by the ceasefire.
Senator Warren: Okay, I appreciate that, but I asked a very specific question. Do you think the GHF has a record of success in delivering aid to Palestinians? It's a yes or no question.
Mr. Dahmer: Senator, I don't have enough information about the specific organization.
Senator Warren : Don't have enough information? Expertise is critical here, and I'm worried DoD's complete indifference to the experience in delivering aid will only cost more Palestinians their lives.
Now, on October 21 U.S. Central Command announced they had opened a civil-military coordination center where U.S. military personnel will help facilitate assistance from international counterparts into Gaza. The Netanyahu government promptly selected one of the architects of the GHF to be their representative at this U.S.-led center. Press reporting indicates DoD is considering replicating the GHF model, including limiting aid distribution to a handful of sites.
Mr. Dahmer, this is one of the most complex areas to deliver aid. Would DoD be more successful by partnering with experienced aid organizations that have had some real success in delivering that aid?
Mr. Dahmer: Senator, thank you for the important question. I would also note that U.S. Central Command released just a few days ago a video of Hamas actually looting an aid truck as it was being delivered
Senator Warren: So, I appreciate that but that is not the question I asked. I have very limited time here. The chairman is very strict about our time. I'm asking youthis is a complex part of the world to deliver aid in. Would DoD be more successful if they partnered with somebody who actually had had some success in delivering aid in this region?
Mr. Dahmer: Senator, if confirmed, I would commit to always working, not only across the department, on our security cooperation efforts and humanitarian aid
Senator Warren: Could I just have a yes or no on my question?
Mr. Dahmer: Senator, what? I'm sorry, what is this? What is the question?
Senator Warren: The question is, it's a complex area to deliver aid. Would DoD be more successful if it partnered with experienced aid organizations that have had success in delivering aid in this region?
Mr. Dahmer: Senator, I would agree that a demonstrated record of success would be a positive indicator of future success.
Senator Warren: Well, I appreciate that. Half a million people are starving in Gaza right now, and we need to do everything we can to help.
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Original text here: https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/at-hearing-warren-presses-defense-nominee-on-ceasefire-and-urges-more-humanitarian-aid-in-gaza
Assistant Secretary of War for Science & Technology Nominee Jewell Testifies Before Senate Armed Services Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Joseph S. Jewell, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for science and technology, from an Oct. 28, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of the Committee:
It is a profound honor to appear before you today as the President's nominee for Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology. I am deeply grateful to President Trump and Secretary Hegseth for their confidence in nominating me to this critical role, and I thank
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Joseph S. Jewell, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for science and technology, from an Oct. 28, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of the Committee:
It is a profound honor to appear before you today as the President's nominee for Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology. I am deeply grateful to President Trump and Secretary Hegseth for their confidence in nominating me to this critical role, and I thankthe Committee for the opportunity to speak with you today and earn your trust.
I also want to express my gratitude to my family who have made the trip out from Indiana and Michigan to be here: especially my wife, Katie, and our three sons, Richard, Theodore, and Elliott Jewell: 10, 8, and 5 years old respectively and God's sweetest blessings in our lives; my mother and sister, Suzanne and Elizabeth Jewell; and my Aunt and Uncle, Barbara and Tal Day.
I have in mind today, also, those in my family who have served our country, stretching back to the Revolutionary War, in which my 8- and 7times great-grandfathers (via my grandmother Kay Jewell), Colonel Daniel and his son Lieutenant Elijah Plimpton, mustered as part of the Massachusetts militia, down to my 4-times great-grandfather, Emory Plimpton, who during the Civil War was Captain of Company M of the 4th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, the Company recruited primarily from Berrien County in Southwest Michigan where, 120 years later, I was born and raised.
The most significant formative influences in my life came, in that corner of Michigan, from my grandparents, three of whom served during World War II, Chief Petty Officer Charles Jewell (US Navy) and 1 st Lieutenant Richard Kramer (US Army), who were in the Pacific Theatre, and my grandmother Dorothy Fiedler Kramer, who was in the US Public Health Service's Cadet Nurse Corps. While I have not had the privilege of serving in uniform, as they did, their example of service to family and country resonates strongly with me.
Throughout my career--in academic work at Michigan, Oxford, and Caltech, as a research scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory, and now as a professor at Purdue University--I have been privileged to work at the intersection of advanced science and national defense. My research has focused on hypersonic aerothermodynamics, flight test data analysis, and the development and operation of uniquely capable hypersonic wind tunnel facilities: areas that are not only technically demanding but also strategically vital to our national security. As an active aerospace researcher and educator, I have sent numerous graduates into impactful science and engineering roles in national security in the DoW, national labs, and industry, and have executed hypersonic test programs for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
If confirmed, I will bring to this role a deep commitment to ensuring that the United States regains and maintains its technological superiority over our adversaries. We are in an era of renewed great power competition, where nations including China are investing heavily in disruptive technologies to challenge our military advantage. The Department of War must respond with urgency, clarity, and resolve.
President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and Under Secretary Michael have made clear that peace through strength is the cornerstone of American security. That strength must be underpinned by a robust and agile science and technology enterprise. If confirmed as Assistant Secretary, I will prioritize the acceleration of basic and applied research with relevance for defense needs, in areas like hypersonics, directed energy, and artificial intelligence, while ensuring that our investments are aligned with warfighter needs and national strategic objectives.
I believe that innovation is not just about discovery; it is about delivery.
We must shorten the timeline from laboratory breakthroughs to
battlefield capabilities. That means effectively leveraging the best of American academia, fostering public-private partnerships, and empowering our defense laboratories to operate with greater flexibility and speed. It also means holding ourselves accountable for results and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and to maximum effect.
Furthermore, as I see every day as an aerospace engineering professor in my laboratory and classroom, America's technological edge depends on our ability to cultivate and retain the world's best scientists, engineers, and technologists. If confirmed, I will work to support STEM education opportunities like the ones I received at Lakeshore Public Schools back in Stevensville, Michigan, empower early-career researchers, and create new pathways for talent to enter the defense innovation ecosystem. We must inspire the next generation to serve--not only in uniform, but also in the laboratories and industries that power our defense enterprise.
Finally, I want to emphasize the importance of collaboration. The challenges we face are too complex for any one institution to solve alone.
If confirmed, I will work closely with our military services, combatant commands, allies, and partners in academia and industry to ensure that our science and technology strategy is unified, coherent, and mission-driven.
In closing, I am humbled by the opportunity to serve. I believe deeply in the mission of the Department of War and in the power of American innovation to preserve peace, protect freedom, and secure our future. If confirmed, I look forward to working with this Committee and with all stakeholders to ensure that the nation that my three young sons, Richard, Theodore, and Elliott, someday inherit is the global leader in defense science and technology.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I welcome your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/jewell_opening_statement.pdf
Assistant Secretary of War for Mission Capabilities Nominee Caggy Testifies Before Senate Armed Services Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by James R. Caggy, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for mission capabilities, from an Oct. 28, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of the Committee: thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored to be the President's nominee for Assistant Secretary of War for Mission Capabilities, and I am deeply grateful for the confidence President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have placed in me. This is a humbling
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by James R. Caggy, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for mission capabilities, from an Oct. 28, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of the Committee: thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored to be the President's nominee for Assistant Secretary of War for Mission Capabilities, and I am deeply grateful for the confidence President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have placed in me. This is a humblingmoment, and I appreciate your consideration of my nomination.
I have spent my career at the intersection of technology and national security. I served for over a decade as a US Army infantry officer, including combat deployments in Afghanistan and the Middle East, and those experiences impressed upon me the importance of giving our warfighters every possible advantage. After my military service, I held executive leadership roles in the technology sector, delivering cloud computing, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities to warfighters.
Most recently, I served as a technical advisor in the Office of the Secretary of War Strategic Capabilities Office, where I focused on rapidly prototyping new capabilities for the Joint Force. This blend of frontline military experience and technology leadership over two decades has me excited for the opportunity to lead the Mission Capabilities Office.
We are at a pivotal moment. The United States faces the most complex and challenging security environment since World War II. Advanced technologies are emerging at a breakneck pace, and our competitors, especially China, are investing aggressively to outpace us. As a soldier in combat, I learned firsthand that having superior capabilities can be a matter of life or death for the troops on the ground. As a technologist, I see how cutting-edge innovation, such as artificial intelligence, directed energy weapons, hypersonics and advanced space systems, can transform our military if we can get those innovations out of the lab and into the field quickly. It's about ensuring the Department of War can develop, test, and field the tools our warfighters need faster and more effectively than our adversaries.
If confirmed, I will focus on three priorities. First, accelerating prototyping and delivering new capabilities to our warfighters at speed. We must shorten the cycle from idea to impact. Success in this area means we won't just innovate in a lab; we will get technology into the field where it can make a difference for the men and women on the front lines. I will push the Department to remove bureaucratic roadblocks that slow down transitioning proven technologies to the Joint Force, so that warfighters receive state-ofthe-art capabilities on timelines measured in months, not years.
Second, we must strengthen our development pipelines and test infrastructure to drive innovation at scale. It's not enough to invent or procure a single new gadget; we need a sustainable system that continually transitions good ideas into fielded capabilities. I intend to work with the Services and Combatant Commands to increase the number of joint prototyping and experimentation events over the next year, so we identify and fix problems early and get capabilities into warfighters' hands faster. The metric I care about is speed with credibility: how quickly we can prove that a technology works and field it at scale. If confirmed, I'll insist we measure and shorten both timelines, without compromising safety or effectiveness.
Finally, we must strengthen DoW's partnership with the emerging defense-tech sector. Startups have transformative ideas but get stuck in our processes. We need to be a better partner. We must be clear, fast, and predictable so a promising technology becomes a funded pilot in months, not years.
In closing, I am motivated above all by the obligation we have to the men and women who serve in uniform. We ask our warfighters to deter aggression and, if necessary, fight and win our nation's wars. So, we must ensure they have every advantage we can give them. That is what the mission capabilities office is all about: making sure that when our troops go into harm's way, they are the best-equipped and best-prepared fighting force on the planet. If confirmed, I will work tirelessly to maintain America's technological edge. I am humbled by the prospect of returning to public service, and I will approach the job with a "mission first, bureaucracy last" mindset every single day.
Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and members of the Committee, thank you again for considering my nomination and for your dedication to our nation's defense. I look forward to answering your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/caggy_opening_statement.pdf
Assistant Secretary of Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment Nominee Rogers Testifies Before Senate Armed Services Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Brendan P. Rogers, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and the environment, from an Oct. 28, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of the Committee.
It is an honor to appear before you as the nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and the Environment. I am grateful to Senator McCormick for his generous introduction and to President Trump for his trust and
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Brendan P. Rogers, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and the environment, from an Oct. 28, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of the Committee.
It is an honor to appear before you as the nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and the Environment. I am grateful to Senator McCormick for his generous introduction and to President Trump for his trust andconfidence in me.
I would also like to thank Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Phelan for focusing on a warfighting culture during this crucial period.
Three things bring me before you today in consideration of this nomination - my friends and family, my commitment to our Sailors and Marines and an appreciation for the threats we face.
My motivation begins with my friends and family, whose combined support has shaped my path. Most importantly, my wife, Brigid, and our four children, Michala, Tiernan, Keely, and Finn, are with me today. I want our kids to inherit the same freedoms and opportunities I have been blessed with. Those freedoms are not guaranteed - they are secured by our strength and the sacrifices of those who serve. I am committed to supporting our Navy and Marine Corps warfighters and their families in pursuit of their missions so our nation remains strong and free for all Americans.
Second, I am inspired by our Sailors and Marines, who face demands every day. My grandfather graduated from the Naval Academy in 1932 and served as a career surface warfare officer. My father graduated from the Naval Academy in 1957 and spent 30 years as a Marine helicopter pilot. I followed their path, graduating from the Naval Academy in 1990, and serving 10 years in Naval Special Warfare. The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment oversees a portfolio critical to how our warfighters live, train, and operate. If confirmed, I will tackle these responsibilities with urgency and resolve - focused on delivering reliable infrastructure, safe housing, resilient energy and water systems and continued access to realistic training environments. Our Nation asks a great deal of our warfighters and their families, and we must match that with unwavering support.
Third, I feel a strong call to service, especially in these uncertain times. I have watched, with growing concern, indicators of a broader conflict emerging - escalating espionage, global competition for resources, attempts to restrict freedom of navigation and divergent views on world order. We are seeing intrusions on our home soil with increasing frequency: a sustained cyber assault on our infrastructure and frequent drone incursions over our military facilities.
These are not abstract incidents or distant occurrences - they are real and present threats. Our national leadership is responding, and I feel obligated to join that effort.
Throughout my career, I have been privileged to work both in and out of uniform. In the SEAL Teams, I operated across the globe in various challenging environments - sea, air, land, and subsurface - alongside joint service members and our international allies. Those experiences gave me a deep respect for operational excellence and the need to be ready for any challenge. Mission readiness not only underpins strategic success - it's also a responsibility owed to our warfighters and their families.
In the private sector, I cut through complexity to make investment and operational decisions while managing diverse stakeholders. Ten years as an investor taught me to uncover the operational and financial truths of a business, revealing the overly optimistic narratives often presented. Ten more years serving as a Chief Operating Officer taught me to lead across disciplines with distinct cultures and priorities and align them around common goals and disciplined trade-offs. In both roles, I learned that mission success depends on clear and consistent communication, as well as robust accountability and experience-based risk management - principles that guide my leadership today.
My finance career instilled in me a deep respect for fiduciary responsibility - a principle that guides the decisions made on behalf of our clients. If confirmed, I will bring that same commitment to managing the substantial assets and budget within the Navy's Energy, Installations, and Environment portfolio. Smart stewardship demands innovation, fresh thinking, and cost discipline.
If confirmed, I will emphasize readiness, innovation, open communication, and accountability. Much has been accomplished, but more is required to meet the significant challenges ahead. I will draw on my experience in uniform and business, and work in close partnership with this Committee and Congress, within the Department of War, and with additional stakeholders across government, industry, and our communities.
Together, we will strengthen the foundation on which our Sailors and Marines live, train, and fight - ensuring the Navy and Marine Corps remains a globally present, forward-deployed force ready to project strength and secure our national interests.
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/rogers_opening_statement.pdf
Assistant Secretary of Housing Nominee Cassidy Testifies Before Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Francis Cassidy, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of Housing, from an Oct. 30, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Warren, and Members of the Committee--thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. It is truly the honor of a lifetime.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, I look forward to partnering with this Committee to help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership, a mission I know we all support.
I want to thank
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Francis Cassidy, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of Housing, from an Oct. 30, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Warren, and Members of the Committee--thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. It is truly the honor of a lifetime.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, I look forward to partnering with this Committee to help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership, a mission I know we all support.
I want to thankPresident Donald J. Trump for the confidence he has placed in me through this nomination, and Secretary Turner for his steadfast support, friendship, and the inspiring servant leadership he brings to our mission at HUD.
As the current Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing, I've seen firsthand the dedication and professionalism of the Office of Housing and Federal Housing Administration team. The progress we've made to date has been remarkable, and I'm humbled by the opportunity to continue that work should I be confirmed.
I want to thank my mother, Mary Kay, my family, and friends for their constant encouragement, and I'm grateful they could join me today.
I'm also proud to be a graduate of La Salle High School, whose motto--"Enter to learn, leave to serve"--continues to guide me. I'm honored that its president, Brother James Butler, is here today as a reminder of the teachers and mentors who instilled in me the value of serving others.
Most importantly, I want to thank my amazing wife, Grace. She has been my rock--steadfast, patient, and supportive through every step of this transition from the private sector to public service. As many members of this Committee know, public service is not just a personal calling, but also a family sacrifice. She has embraced that with resilience and unwavering faith in our shared purpose. I am profoundly grateful for all she has done, especially as we welcomed the greatest blessing of all earlier this year--our happy and healthy daughter, Margot Cassidy.
They remind me daily that behind every housing policy are real families--just like mine--who deserve opportunity and stability. While our housing challenges are great, I am confident that together we can meet this moment--by increasing housing supply, modernizing federal housing finance programs, and expanding opportunities for families across America to become homeowners and build wealth.
I joined HUD after spending my entire career in the private sector, where I financed billions of dollars working with owners of multifamily, senior housing, and healthcare properties. That experience, working with lenders, developers, and operators, gave me a deep appreciation for the role FHA plays in supporting housing production and access to credit.
But beyond my professional background, FHA is also deeply personal to me.
While in college, I planned to rent an off-campus townhouse, but the owner offered me the chance to buy it. With an FHA-insured mortgage and 3.5 percent down, I became a homeowner at 20 years old. That experience gave me a firsthand understanding of the wealth-building power of homeownership, and it's the kind of opportunity I want to help expand for more Americans.
It's also why I believe so strongly in FHA's mission. When done right, it's far more than a lending program--it's a bridge to ownership, upward mobility, and longterm financial security that helps families build wealth and stability across generations.
My late father would always tell me, "the only way to be successful in life is to help others be successful in life." That lesson continues to guide me in this work.
The chance to lead FHA and the Office of Housing is truly the honor of my career.
It allows me to serve my country while drawing on the lessons I learned in my prior life, and to work hand-in-hand with the lenders, developers, and policymakers who know both the strengths and the challenges of our programs.
I fully recognize that there are plenty of both, and that's why we've been focused on making steady, meaningful progress to improve our programs for Americans who rely on FHA.
My top priority is to streamline and modernize FHA's loan programs, removing unnecessary barriers so that transactions move faster, costs fall, and practitioners can build more homes.
As one example, within my first month at HUD, I initiated an Express Lane in our Section 232 healthcare program. For applications that meet strict underwriting criteria, this process accelerates HUD's review and approval timelines, reducing processing times from months to just a few weeks.
In our Single-Family program, we implemented a sweeping set of policy recissions that will cut the red tape out of our programs and more effectively deliver on President Trump's priority to reduce the cost of homeownership for Americans.
The 12 sub-regulatory policies that we rescinded were unnecessary, burdensome for lenders and borrowers, and directly increased the cost of homeownership.
While that may seem like a small administrative step, it's emblematic of a larger effort to bring clarity, consistency, and efficiency across all of FHA's programs.
At the same time, our commitment to protecting the safety and soundness of the FHA Insurance Fund is ironclad. We've taken steps to mitigate risks, and our Capital Ratio remains well above the Congressionally mandated 2 percent.
These are just a few examples--and there's more work ahead.
Serving at HUD is a dream job, thanks to Secretary Turner, who is restoring the Department's mission-driven focus--advancing self-sufficiency and revitalizing communities nationwide.
But we can't do it alone. Real progress depends on strong partnerships with Congress, the housing sector, and all FHA stakeholders--the builders, lenders, and local leaders who make housing opportunity possible.
I applaud this Committee's bipartisan work on housing policy and your continued engagement with HUD. Together, we can expand opportunity and help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership.
Thank you, Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Warren, and Members of the Committee. I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/cassidy_testimony_10-25-25.pdf
Amid Democrat Shutdown, Major Cracks Appear in the Democrat Coalition
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release:
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Amid Democrat Shutdown, Major Cracks Appear in the Democrat Coalition
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WASHINGTON As the Democrat Shutdown ends its fifth week, frustration is growing across the country not just from travelers and federal workers, but from the very unions Democrats claim to represent.
More than a month ago, House Republicans passed a clean, responsible continuing resolution to keep the government open and protect paychecks for federal workers. But Democrats continue to keep it closed inflicting pain on the working
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release:
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Amid Democrat Shutdown, Major Cracks Appear in the Democrat Coalition
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WASHINGTON As the Democrat Shutdown ends its fifth week, frustration is growing across the country not just from travelers and federal workers, but from the very unions Democrats claim to represent.
More than a month ago, House Republicans passed a clean, responsible continuing resolution to keep the government open and protect paychecks for federal workers. But Democrats continue to keep it closed inflicting pain on the workingfamilies they say they stand for.
Now, even longtime Democratic allies are speaking out to urge Democrats to pass the clean CR and end the Democrat Shutdown.
UNION LEADERS SOUND THE ALARM
Union leaders across the country are speaking out calling on Democrats to end the shutdown and put workers first.
Everett Kelley, AFGE National President: " I represent over 800,000 federal and D.C. government workers who serve with pride and professionalism... It's long past time for our leaders to put aside partisan politics and embrace responsible government... Reopen the government immediately under a clean continuing resolution that allows continued debate on larger issues."
Teamsters President Sean O'Brien: "Congress is playing the same blame and delay game that corporations play with American workers seeking a first contract. A shutdown will hurt working people. Period. American workers are not bargaining chips. Senators should stop screwing around and pass the House-passed clean, short term funding bill."
NATCA President Nick Daniels: "Congress must pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to immediately end the government shutdown, ensure that all individuals who have not been paid during this prolonged closure receive their compensation, and then engage in bipartisan negotiations on other pressing issues facing our nation."
In addition, Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA), NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), and Allied Pilots Association (APA) have issued statements calling on Congress to pass the clean CR and reopen the government.
Together, these unions represent millions of workers demanding immediate action to restore paychecks and end the shutdown.
AMID MOUNTING AIRPORT DISRUPTIONS AND THE UPCOMING THANKSGIVING TRAVEL RUSH, MAJOR AIRLINES URGE DEMOCRATS TO END THE SHUTDOWN
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby: "It's putting stress on people. It's not fair to those people. It's also putting stress on the economy."
American Airlines: "The quickest way to end this shutdown and get these workers paid is by passing a clean continuing resolution (CR). A prolonged shutdown will lead to more delays and cancellations and the American people, especially during the busy holiday season, deserve better."
Delta Airlines: "Delta Air Lines implores Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government so that our air traffic controllers, TSA and CBP officers charged with the safety and efficiency of our national airspace can collect the paychecks they deserve."
Southwest Airlines: "The public expects and deserves to travel in a system in which air traffic controllers and federal safety and security employees are paid in a timely fashion. We ask Congress to adopt a clean continuing resolution."
DEMOCRATS KNOW IT'S WRONG AND THE CRACKS ARE SHOWING
And now, cracks are appearing inside the Democratic Party itself with even their own members publicly rejecting the shutdown strategy.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA): "And, again, I feel like the Democrats really need to own the shutdown. I mean, we're shutting it down... I voted for all their C.R.s, our C.R.s, every single time. And I refuse to put 42 million Americans in the kinds of food insecurity. Now, this is all solved by just reopen our government and the people are now paid. Now, if we are - we are the party that are fighting for working people.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ): "I think what's a very fair deal is open the government and let's just vote on extending these premiums for a year or more. I don't understand what's so hard about that."
Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME): "This government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump. The shutdown is hurting Americans and our economy, and the irony is it has only handed more power to the president."
Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security under President Obama: "I'm going to break from the party line here on this. I'm a Democrat. I'm with John Fetterman and Angus King... The most basic function of Congress is to fund the government, turn the lights on, keep the government working so that the 3 million people who are public servants are able to do what they do to serve all the rest of us... I believe that Congress should vote to re-open the government."
THE FACTS ARE SIMPLE
* The House did its job on September 19, passing the clean funding bill to keep the government open.
* Republicans in the Senate stand ready to do the same. It takes 60 votes meaning Democrats must join.
* Democrats have voted 15 times to keep the government closed.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and other federal workers are going without pay and the economic damage is spreading nationwide.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While Republicans are working to end the shutdown and protect American families, Democrats have admitted their true motive: to use the pain of working people as "leverage" for political gain.
"Every day gets better for us."
Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
"Of course, there will be families that are going to suffer... but it is one of the few leverage times we have."
House Democrat Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.)
***
Original text here: https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2763
Amid Democrat Shutdown, Major Cracks Appear in the Democrat Coalition
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (Rep.) -- House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release:
* * *
Amid Democrat Shutdown, Major Cracks Appear in the Democrat Coalition
*
WASHINGTON As the Democrat Shutdown ends its fifth week, frustration is growing across the country not just from travelers and federal workers, but from the very unions Democrats claim to represent.
More than a month ago, House Republicans passed a clean, responsible continuing resolution to keep the government open and protect paychecks for federal workers. But Democrats continue to keep it closed inflicting
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (Rep.) -- House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release:
* * *
Amid Democrat Shutdown, Major Cracks Appear in the Democrat Coalition
*
WASHINGTON As the Democrat Shutdown ends its fifth week, frustration is growing across the country not just from travelers and federal workers, but from the very unions Democrats claim to represent.
More than a month ago, House Republicans passed a clean, responsible continuing resolution to keep the government open and protect paychecks for federal workers. But Democrats continue to keep it closed inflictingpain on the working families they say they stand for.
Now, even longtime Democratic allies are speaking out to urge Democrats to pass the clean CR and end the Democrat Shutdown.
UNION LEADERS SOUND THE ALARM
Union leaders across the country are speaking out calling on Democrats to end the shutdown and put workers first.
Everett Kelley, AFGE National President: " I represent over 800,000 federal and D.C. government workers who serve with pride and professionalism... It's long past time for our leaders to put aside partisan politics and embrace responsible government... Reopen the government immediately under a clean continuing resolution that allows continued debate on larger issues."
Teamsters President Sean O'Brien: "Congress is playing the same blame and delay game that corporations play with American workers seeking a first contract. A shutdown will hurt working people. Period. American workers are not bargaining chips. Senators should stop screwing around and pass the House-passed clean, short term funding bill."
NATCA President Nick Daniels: "Congress must pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to immediately end the government shutdown, ensure that all individuals who have not been paid during this prolonged closure receive their compensation, and then engage in bipartisan negotiations on other pressing issues facing our nation."
In addition, Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA), NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), and Allied Pilots Association (APA) have issued statements calling on Congress to pass the clean CR and reopen the government.
Together, these unions represent millions of workers demanding immediate action to restore paychecks and end the shutdown.
AMID MOUNTING AIRPORT DISRUPTIONS AND THE UPCOMING THANKSGIVING TRAVEL RUSH, MAJOR AIRLINES URGE DEMOCRATS TO END THE SHUTDOWN
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby: "It's putting stress on people. It's not fair to those people. It's also putting stress on the economy."
American Airlines: "The quickest way to end this shutdown and get these workers paid is by passing a clean continuing resolution (CR). A prolonged shutdown will lead to more delays and cancellations and the American people, especially during the busy holiday season, deserve better."
Delta Airlines: "Delta Air Lines implores Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government so that our air traffic controllers, TSA and CBP officers charged with the safety and efficiency of our national airspace can collect the paychecks they deserve."
Southwest Airlines: "The public expects and deserves to travel in a system in which air traffic controllers and federal safety and security employees are paid in a timely fashion. We ask Congress to adopt a clean continuing resolution."
DEMOCRATS KNOW IT'S WRONG AND THE CRACKS ARE SHOWING
And now, cracks are appearing inside the Democratic Party itself with even their own members publicly rejecting the shutdown strategy.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA): "And, again, I feel like the Democrats really need to own the shutdown. I mean, we're shutting it down... I voted for all their C.R.s, our C.R.s, every single time. And I refuse to put 42 million Americans in the kinds of food insecurity. Now, this is all solved by just reopen our government and the people are now paid. Now, if we are - we are the party that are fighting for working people.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ): "I think what's a very fair deal is open the government and let's just vote on extending these premiums for a year or more. I don't understand what's so hard about that."
Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME): "This government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump. The shutdown is hurting Americans and our economy, and the irony is it has only handed more power to the president."
Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security under President Obama: "I'm going to break from the party line here on this. I'm a Democrat. I'm with John Fetterman and Angus King... The most basic function of Congress is to fund the government, turn the lights on, keep the government working so that the 3 million people who are public servants are able to do what they do to serve all the rest of us... I believe that Congress should vote to re-open the government."
THE FACTS ARE SIMPLE
* The House did its job on September 19, passing the clean funding bill to keep the government open.
* Republicans in the Senate stand ready to do the same. It takes 60 votes meaning Democrats must join.
* Democrats have voted 15 times to keep the government closed.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and other federal workers are going without pay and the economic damage is spreading nationwide.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While Republicans are working to end the shutdown and protect American families, Democrats have admitted their true motive: to use the pain of working people as "leverage" for political gain.
"Every day gets better for us."
Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
"Of course, there will be families that are going to suffer... but it is one of the few leverage times we have."
House Democrat Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.)
***
Original text here: https://www.speaker.gov/2025/11/04/amid-democrat-shutdown-major-cracks-appear-in-the-democrat-coalition/
