Minority News Releases
Senator Murray on Trump Defunding Blue State Army Corps Construction: “This is Some Corrupt B-S”
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, issued the following statement on the release of the Army Corps’ work plans detailing how it will spend the funding provided by Congress under Republicans’ yearlong continuing resolution for fiscal year 2025. The plans show how Trump’s Army Corps of Engineers intends to zero out and significantly cut funding for essent… Continue Reading
05.15.25
Murray Slams Sweeping Funding Freeze at DOT, Grills Duffy on Massive Staffing Cuts at FAA, Across DOT
WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks and questioning Washington, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Appropriations Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called out how this administration has illegally frozen, cancelled, and slow-walked federal funding for transportation projects across America and grilled Se… Continue Reading
05.14.25
Murray Grills Administrator Zeldin Over Plans to Destroy EPA
Murray calls out ongoing defiance of appropriations laws ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks and questioning*** Washington, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Appropriations Interior Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, blasted the Trump administration’s mass firings and proposed budget cuts at the EPA and called out Administrator Lee Zeldin for canc… Continue Reading
05.14.25
Merkley Remarks at EPA Budget Hearing with Administrator Zeldin
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley - the Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee - delivered the following remarks at the hearing reviewing the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency with Administrator Lee Zeldin: Senator Merkley’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below: “Thank you, Chair Murkowski and congratulations on your chairmanship, a role you have already previou… Continue Reading
05.13.25
Murray, Van Hollen, Tillis, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Calling on DHS to Reinstate Disaster Mitigation Program Critical to Local Communities
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a bipartisan, bicameral letter with over 80 of their colleagues urging Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which supports local efforts to protect and harden our communities from natural disaster. The BRIC program provides grants for hazard mitigation… Continue Reading
05.08.25
Murray Grills Kristi Noem on Frozen Disaster Relief, Slams Trump’s Lawless, Inhumane Immigration Policy
ICYMI: In Senate Floor Speech, Senator Murray Calls Out Trump’s Staggeringly Lawless and Inhumane Immigration Policy WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks and questioning Washington, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on the FY26 budget for the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, blasted the Trump administration’s lawless and inhumane immigration policies and grille… Continue Reading
05.08.25
FBI Director Shows Up to Budget Hearing With “No” Timeline for Budget, Walks Back His Criticism of Trump’s Plan for Big Cuts at FBI
Asked about FBI budget, Patel tells Senate Appropriations Committee: “I’m not asking you for anything at this time.” ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks and questioning*** Washington, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee hearing on the FY26 budget for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, grilled Director Kash Patel on President Trump’s proposed budg… Continue Reading
05.08.25
Education Leaders Urge McMahon to Reject Waiver Requests for K-12 Education Funds That Allow States to Avoid Accountability
Washington, D.C. — Today, congressional Democrats urged Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to reject any efforts by states to undermine the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which specifically directs funding to high-poverty schools, English as a Second Language programs, afterschool and summer learning, and more. The letter was sent by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member… Continue Reading
05.05.25
Top Committee Leaders Press Energy Department for Answers on Detrimental Departmental Policies and Unlawful Funding Freeze—Following Up on Repeated Requests
Murray, Heinrich, DeLauro, Pallone, Lofgren write to Secretary Wright, calling on him to restore lawful operations at DOE and provide promised transparency about the Department’s harmful actions to date Washington, D.C. — Today, the top Democrats in Congress with oversight over the Department of Energy (DOE) sent a letter to Secretary Chris Wright demanding information the Department has thus far failed to provide about its suspension of critical energy programs, cancellation of awards an… Continue Reading
05.02.25
Senator Murray Statement on President Trump’s Preliminary Budget Request
Murray: “This is a proposal to raise costs and make life harder—and worse—for working people in every part of the country.” Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 preliminary budget request, which proposes slashing critical investments in non-defense programs that matter immensely to families and our country’s competitiveness and future. The Tru… Continue Reading
04.30.25
At Hearing, Senator Murray Slams Trump Administration for Threatening Biomedical Research and Jeopardizing Americans’ Health
***WATCH AND READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks*** ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s questioning*** *WATCH AND READ: Emily Stenson’s testimony* Washington, D.C. - Today—at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on biomedical research—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored why the investments we make in biomedical research are so vital, what’s at stake for patients and families as Trump takes a wrecking ball to this research, and wh… Continue Reading
04.30.25
Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Appropriations Hearing on Biomedical Research
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks*** Washington, D.C. - Today—at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on biomedical research—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored in her opening remarks how important biomedical research is for patients and families across the country and how President Trump’s unprecedented attacks on our nation’s premier biomedical research enterprise threatens to unravel decades of progress. Sen… Continue Reading
04.29.25
In Response to Questioning by Sen. Murray, Top Watchdog Says It’s Opened 39 Impoundment Investigations
At hearing on FY26 budget requests for GAO, CBO, GPO, Murray asks about Trump impoundment investigations, Republicans’ reconciliation bill GAO Comptroller General says OMB has not been cooperative ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s questioning*** Washington, D.C. — Today—at a Senate Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee hearing to review the FY26 budget requests for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and Government Publishing Office (GP… Continue Reading
04.29.25
NEW: 100 Days In, Trump is Blocking At Least $430 Billion Dollars in Funding Owed to American People
Murray, DeLauro release new information tracking federal funding Trump is freezing—hurting communities across the country ***VIEW NEW TRACKER HERE*** Washington, D.C. — Today—on President Trump’s 100th day in office—Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, released a new tracker detailing how President Trump is freezing at least $430 billion in federal… Continue Reading
04.24.25
Murray, Sanders, Baldwin Blast Trump Admin’s Attacks on Head Start, Demand RFK Jr. Immediately Release Funding and Reverse Firings
42 lawmakers write to RFK Jr. demanding answers on Trump admin’s actions undermining Head Start as Trump reportedly plans to eliminate the program Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human … Continue Reading
04.16.25
Murray, Kaptur Call on Energy Department to Reverse New Indirect Cost Cap That Will Gut Funding for Cutting-Edge Research
Washington, D.C. — Today, 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, sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright expressing deep concern about how the Department’s recently announced cap on indirect costs for DOE research will jeopardize … Continue Reading
04.16.25
NEW: Trump Admin Withholding Nearly $1 Billion in Funding for Head Start—Crunching Centers Nationwide and Forcing Devastating Closures
Data shows steep decline in Head Start funding going out the door so far this year—as Trump administration hollows out offices running the program and eyes eliminating it outright Washington, D.C. - As President Trump finalizes his proposal to eliminate Head Start, shutters half of the regional offices running the program, and fires scores of staff who ensure Head Start centers can serve kids and families—new data shows his administration has issued nearly $1 billion less in federal grant… Continue Reading
04.14.25
Senator Murray Statement on Trump Budget Proposal to Fully Eliminate Head Start
New reporting shows the Trump administration is considering proposing to eliminate Head Start altogether—a key goal of Project 2025 Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), responded to new reporting that President Trump is considering proposing to zero out funding for Head Start in his forthcoming budget request—… Continue Reading
04.11.25
Murray, Kaptur Ask GAO to Look into Whether New DOE Order Will Risk More Cost Overruns, Project Delays and Failures at National Labs
Washington, D.C. — Today, 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, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting it review whether a recent order issued by Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright that seeks to accelerate… Continue Reading
04.10.25
Senators Collins and Murray Announce the Start of the FY26 Appropriations Process, Releasing Guidance on Programmatic, Language, and Congressionally Directed Spending Requests
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Patty Murray, Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, respectively, released guidance for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 programmatic, language, and Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests. The Committee is moving forward with the FY 2026 appropriations process, and will begin hearings later this month. General guidance for Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations requests is available HERE. Programmatic/Language Reque… Continue Reading