Minority News Releases
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
04.07.25
Murray, Sanders, DeLauro, Scott, Baldwin Demand McMahon Reverse Abrupt Policy Change Halting Funding for Schools Nationwide
Top appropriators and authorizers press Trump’s Department of Education for details about its’ abrupt halt of funding for state governments and school districts that adds a bureaucratic hurdle to reimbursement and will harm student recovery following the pandemic 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), Congress… Continue Reading
04.04.25
Murray, Kaptur Statement on Reports of Potential Mass Firings at Energy Department
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, responded to reports of plans for potential mass reductions in force (RIF) at the Department of Energy, which could reduce the Department’s staffing levels by nearly 50% and affect even criti… Continue Reading
04.04.25
Murray, Sanders, Baldwin Demand Answers on Trump, RFK Jr. Ripping $12 Billion Away from Communities to Tackle Public Health Threats, Opioids Crisis, & More
Senators warn that de-obligation of funds will put health and well-being of the American people in jeopardy—and flies in face of Congress’ intent 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 Servic… Continue Reading
04.03.25
FACT SHEET: Trump Imperils Program to Help Working Americans Heat and Cool Their Homes
Trump and RFK Jr. fired entire staff running LIHEAP—putting program that helps 6 million American households heat and cool their homes in grave jeopardy $378 million due to go out to help Americans avoid sweltering heat this summer now at risk Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, responded to President Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. firing the entirety of the staff who run … Continue Reading
04.03.25
Senator Murray Slams Republicans’ Blueprint to Give Billionaires More Tax Cuts—and Pretend They Are Free—While Kicking Kids Off Medicaid
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 Budget Committee, issued the following statement on the release of Senate Republicans’ modified budget resolution. “Republicans blowing up our national debt to dole out massive tax cuts for billionaires is nothing new, but their attempt to use a ridiculous budget gimmick to try and evade longstanding budget rules and pretend their b… Continue Reading
04.02.25
Murray, Heinrich Sound Alarm on Reports of DOGE “Hit List” of Key Energy Projects, Demand that Department of Energy Follow the Law
Murray, Heinrich, and colleagues: “Dissolving contracts, cancelling grants and loans, and reneging on loan guarantees without any intention to execute the laws is not only illegal, but is harmful to the public and energy consumers. Your indiscriminate cancellations of spending will increase energy prices, make our grid less secure, and stop energy innovation” Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, and U.S. Senator Ma… Continue Reading
04.01.25
FACT SHEET: Trump, Musk, & RFK Jr. Hollow Out HHS, Threatening Americans’ Health and Wellbeing
Trump carries out mass firings across HHS and subagencies today ICYMI: Murray, Former Health Department Leaders, Sound Alarm on Trump and RFK Jr. Gutting HHS ICYMI: Murray, DeLauro, Baldwin Demand Answers on RFK Jr.’s Plans to Gut HHS 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 the Trump adminis… Continue Reading
03.31.25
Murray, DeLauro, Baldwin Demand Answers on RFK Jr.’s Plans to Gut HHS
Top appropriators press Trump administration for details about its vast, illegal plans to unilaterally weaken and reorganize HHS—calling for the “radical transparency” it has promised but utterly failed to deliver Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Lab… Continue Reading
03.28.25
Senator Murray Statement on Trump and Musk Moving to Permanently Abolish USAID
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, issued the following statement on the Trump administration illegally moving to permanently shutter the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). “Trump and Musk shuttering USAID leaves a dangerous void our adversaries will fill, punishes dedicated Americans who honorably chose to serve their country, and is quite literally causing preventable deaths all across the globe. Trump… Continue Reading
03.28.25
Senator Murray on Trump Blocking Disaster Relief for Americans
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, issued the following statement on the Trump administration blocking billions of dollars in disaster relief owed to victims and communities struck by disasters for unacceptable, political reasons. “When hurricanes or floods or fires destroy Americans’ homes and bring life to a screeching halt for entire communities, the federal government has a serious responsibility to help ensure families h… Continue Reading
03.27.25
Senator Murray Slams Trump Continuing to Block Funding for America, Defying Spending Laws
Murray: “All of us want a better working, more efficient government that delivers for people. But what Trump and Musk are doing has nothing to do with efficiency or with helping people. They are breaking the law, and ripping the rug out from underneath families and American businesses—all while working overtime to pass more tax breaks for billionaires like themselves.” *** WATCH: Senator Murray’s floor remarks*** Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Se… Continue Reading
03.27.25
Senators Collins, Murray Challenge the Administration’s Treatment of Emergency Spending in Continuing Resolution
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee respectively, sent a letter to Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russ Vought challenging the Administration’s decision and authority to concur with only a portion of the emergency-designated funding included in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. “Regardless of our views on the Fiscal Responsibility… Continue Reading
03.25.25
Senator Murray Statement on Trump’s Sweeping New Illegal Cuts to Critical National Security Initiatives
Trump seeks to gut funding to: combat global narcotics trade, support allies’ defenses, strengthen American competitiveness, and more Illegal move threatens billions of dollars more for Americans’ housing, NASA, and other critical programs Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, issued the following statement on illegal cuts President Trump sought to make on Monday to critical investments in America’s national security and compet… Continue Reading
03.24.25
What are they hiding? Murray, DeLauro Demand OMB Promptly Restore Access to Website Detailing Federal Spending Allocations, As Federal Law Requires
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following joint statement after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) moved to unlawfully hide how the agency directs agencies to spend taxpayer dollars. OMB hid this information by destroying a website that publicly displayed all of these decisions, known as apportionments. “F… Continue Reading
03.17.25
Murray, DeLauro, Baldwin Demand Detailed Answers on Trump Admin’s Sweeping Mass Firings at Department of Education
Top appropriators press McMahon on how the Department will carry out requirements of federal law and its critical responsibilities despite far-reaching, illegal firings of approximately 50% of staff Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), … Continue Reading
03.14.25
On Senate Floor, Senator Murray Urges No Vote on House Republicans’ CR
Murray: “House Republicans are saying give Trump all this power, or we will shut down the government. But let’s be very clear: that is and always has been a false choice.” Murray: “Before I close, I want to say to my constituents who are frightened or scared: I understand your fears. … But your voice matters. Speaking out matters. You elected me to be your voice, and you better believe I’m going to fight for you. So, shoulders up. Keep the faith. We’re going to keep fighting for the Ameri… Continue Reading