Minority News Releases
Senator Murray on President Trump’s FY27 Budget Request
Trump proposes slashing domestic investments while increasing defense spending by half a trillion dollars more ICYMI: Trump on Wednesday: “It’s not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare ... We have to take care of one thing: military protection.” Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the release of President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request, which proposes increa… Continue Reading
04.02.26
Murray, Warren, Sanders, Wyden, Baldwin Blast New Trump Admin Attempt to Dismantle Education Department, Call for Immediate End to Illegal Transfer of Student Loans to Treasury
Committee Ranking Members argue that the scheme “will set the stage for more dysfunction in a federal student aid system that the Trump Administration has already made more expensive and confusing to navigate” Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) pressed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to rescind their plans to move the administrati… Continue Reading
03.27.26
Senator Murray Statement on DHS Funding
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “Democrats have been clear for weeks: there is absolutely no reason that TSA agents’ paychecks should be held hostage to Republicans’ demands to provide another blank check for ICE and Border Patrol—and it is just plain wrong that their pay has been held up this long. But finally, Republicans have relent… Continue Reading
03.25.26
Senate Republicans Block TSA Pay for the 11th Time
Senate Republicans have now blocked TSA pay 11 times & blocked bills to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, & Coast Guard 14 times in total Washington, D.C. — This evening, Senate Republicans once again blocked two separate bills offered by Senate Democrats to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers. First, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sought unanimous consent to pass legislation to pay all TSA employees, but Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) objected. Then, Senator Merkley… Continue Reading
03.24.26
For 9th Time, Senate Republicans Block Legislation to Pay TSA
Senate Republicans have now blocked TSA pay 9 times & blocked bills to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, & Coast Guard 12 times in total Washington, D.C. — Today, Senate Republicans once again blocked legislation offered by Senate Democrats to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sought to call up the TSA pay bill and vote on it—but Senate Republicans blocked Democrats from even bringing it up for a vote. _______________… Continue Reading
03.24.26
Senator Murray on Funding DHS and Reining in ICE and CBP
Murray calls out Senate Republicans for blocking TSA funding 8 times in a row while dragging feet on basic reforms to ICE and Border Patrol Murray: “Just as Democrats have been very clear, we will immediately fund TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and CISA while talks continue on ICE and Border Patrol, we’ve also made very clear that if we are talking about funding any part of ICE or CBP, we absolutely must take some key steps to rein them in.” ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s full remarks*** … Continue Reading
03.23.26
Senate Republicans Once Again Block TSA Pay—as Airport Lines Worsen & Trump Outright Refuses to Fund TSA Until Congress Passes His Voter Suppression Bill
ICYMI: Overnight, Trump rejects “any deal” on DHS funding until Republicans pass the “SAVE America Act” Senate Republicans have now blocked TSA pay 8 times & blocked separate bills to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, & Coast Guard 11 times in total Washington, D.C. — Today, Senate Republicans once again blocked legislation offered by Senate Democrats to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, as airport security lines worsen nationwide and as President Trump insists tha… Continue Reading
03.21.26
Senator Murray Responds as 49 Senate Republicans Vote Down Bill to Pay TSA
Senate Republicans have now blocked TSA pay 7 times Senate Republicans have blocked legislation to fund TSA, CISA, Coast Guard, FEMA, & other important DHS functions 10 times in total as talks to rein in ICE & CBP continue Washington, D.C. — This afternoon, in a 41-49 vote, every Senate Republican present voted against a measure brought up by Senate Democrats to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers while negotiations over DHS funding and measures to rein … Continue Reading
03.20.26
Senator Murray Calls Out Republicans for Blocking Bills to Fund TSA & Other DHS Functions While Dragging Feet on Basic ICE Reforms
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s floor remarks*** ICYMI: Senate Republicans Block Bills to Fund TSA, Other Parts of DHS for the 9th Time Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to call out Republicans for blocking legislation to pay TSA agents and fund important functions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), like disaster relief and cyber defense, as they set up more failed votes on… Continue Reading
03.19.26
Senator Murray on Latest Trump Admin Effort to Create New Red Tape, Dismantle the Department of Education
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Department of Education’s announcement that it is inking yet another Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA) to illegally spin off core departmental responsibilities—this time with the Department of the Treasury as it relates to federal student aid programs. “Instead of helping student borrowers get the support they need, Secretary McMahon is focused … Continue Reading
03.19.26
Senate Republicans Block Bills to Fund TSA, Other Parts of DHS for the 9th Time
Senate Republicans have now blocked legislation to fund TSA, CISA, Coast Guard, FEMA, & other important DHS functions 9 times, as talks to rein in ICE & CBP continue Senate Republicans have blocked TSA pay 6 times Washington, D.C. — This afternoon, Senate Republicans once again blocked two bills offered by Senate Democrats to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers and to fund all of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) except Immigration and Customs E… Continue Reading
03.18.26
Senate Republicans Once Again Block Bill to Pay TSA Agents
This marks the 7th time Senate Republicans have blocked legislation to fund TSA, CISA, Coast Guard, FEMA, & other important DHS functions as talks to rein in ICE & CBP continue Washington, D.C. — This afternoon, Senate Republicans once again blocked legislation offered by Senate Democrats to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers while negotiations over common-sense reforms to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (C… Continue Reading
03.12.26
In 24 Hours, Senate Republicans Block Five Separate Bills to Fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, Coast Guard, & Other DHS Functions
Senate Republicans have now blocked Democratic attempts to fund critical parts of DHS six times in total Washington, D.C. — Over the last 24 hours, Senate Republicans have blocked five separate bills offered by Senate Democrats to fund key components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)—while ne… Continue Reading
03.11.26
Senate Republicans Again Block Bill to Fund TSA, FEMA, & Cyber Defense Agency
Senate Republicans once again block Murray’s bill to fund everything at DHS but ICE and Border Patrol, as they drag their feet on common-sense reforms to protect Americans from violence at the hands of ICE Murray: “Right now, TSA agents are going without pay because Republicans and the White House have decided they would rather shut down all of DHS than pass some very basic reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol.” Murray: “Democrats are not going to write a blank check for rogue ag… Continue Reading
03.05.26
Senate Republicans Block Bill to Pay TSA Agents, Fund FEMA & Cyber Defense Agency as They Drag Their Feet on Common-Sense Reforms to Protect Americans from Violence at the Hands of ICE
Murray: “It has become all too clear that Republicans would rather keep DHS shut down than work with Democrats to prevent more Americans from being killed by masked federal agents.” Murray: “Instead of blocking bills to pay TSA agents—or wasting time with dead-on-arrival legislation—Republicans should finally listen to their constituents who want to see ICE reined in—and work with us to enact the reforms we need. I remain ready to get it done.” ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s floor rema… Continue Reading
03.03.26
Senator Murray Calls on Congress to End War with Iran, Demands White House Take DHS Reforms Seriously
Murray: “Donald Trump promised lower costs and no more foreign wars. Instead, he has given us higher costs and a new, costly war in the Middle East. It is hard to imagine a more straightforward betrayal.” Murray: “If Republicans want to know who is actually undermining our cyber defenses and our counter-terrorism work, all they have to do is look across town at Kristi Noem’s DHS and Kash Patel’s FBI.” ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator P… Continue Reading
02.27.26
Senator Murray on the Latest Status of the Disaster Relief Fund
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on news that—after spending the last year holding up disaster aid and weakening FEMA— Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem is now taking some steps to release long-held up disaster relief from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). “These resources should have gone out the door many months ago, but Secretary Noem has personally pr… Continue Reading
02.25.26
As Energy Department Allocates Funds in Defiance of Spending Law, Murray and Kaptur Renew Call for GAO to Investigate Misuse of Clean Energy Funding
Washington, D.C. — Today—as the Department of Energy (DOE) makes funding available in defiance of the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution—Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, renewed their request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issu… Continue Reading
02.23.26
Senator Murray Statement on Secretary McMahon’s Newest Efforts to Dismantle the Department of Education and Jeopardize Support for Students
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Department of Education’s announcement today that it is inking two additional Interagency Agreements (IAA) to illegally spin off core departmental responsibilities to other federal agencies. “These illegal agreements aren’t just creating pointless new bureaucracy that burdens our already-overworked teachers and schools; they are actively je… Continue Reading
02.23.26
Senator Murray Statement on Secretary McMahon’s Newest Efforts to Dismantle the Department of Education and Jeopardize Support for Students
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Department of Education’s announcement today that it is inking two additional Interagency Agreements (IAA) to illegally spin off core departmental responsibilities to other federal agencies. “These illegal agreements aren’t just creating pointless new bureaucracy that burdens our already-overworked teachers and schools; they are actively jeop… Continue Reading