Minority News Releases
Senator Murray Statement on Trump Admin Illegally Firing USAID Staff
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Trump administration taking action Sunday to permanently eliminate 1,600 USAID employees’ positions and put nearly every other agency employee on administrative leave—in flagrant violation of the law. “Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to unilaterally shutter USAID—with their latest announcement of permanent reductions in force for 1,600 posi… Continue Reading
02.20.25
Senator Murray on Senate Republicans’ Pro-Billionaire Budget Resolution, Trump and Musk’s Devastating Funding Freeze and Mass Firings
Murray: “Republicans are going down this partisan path because they know Democrats are not going to join them in throwing Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and veterans’ benefits into the wood chipper so they can throw more tax cuts at billionaires and the biggest corporations.” Murray: “We should not be taking kids out of child care to give billionaires a tax break. We should not be taking food off the family table to put more fuel in private jets.” ICYMI: Senator Murray speaks at Bu… Continue Reading
02.19.25
Senator Murray Remarks on Senate Republicans’ Budget Resolution at Senate Democrats’ Weekly Press Conference
Murray: “It’s no mystery why billionaires like Donald Trump and Elon Musk love this plan: they are getting all the benefits, but they aren’t the ones footing the bill.” ICYMI: Senator Murray speaks at Budget Committee markup of resolution, offers common sense amendments rejected by Republicans ***VIDEO HERE*** Washington, D.C. — Today, at Senate Democrats’ weekly press conference, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke about Senate… Continue Reading
02.19.25
Murray Blasts Trump and Musk Decimating HHS, Risking Americans’ Health and Livelihoods
ICYMI: Murray releases fact sheet detailing how mass layoffs jeopardize essential services Americans rely on 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 administration’s mass firings of dedicated workers across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its many subagencies. Thousands… Continue Reading
02.15.25
Week 4: Trump Continues to Block Hundreds of Billions of Dollars Owed to Communities Across America
ICYMI: Week 3 Funding Freeze Update ***PDF VERSION HERE*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released another update detailing how, in his fourth week in office, President Trump has continued to block hundreds of billions of dollars in enacted funding from making its way out to families and communities across America who are counting on investments that have been enacted into law. In a statement, Senat… Continue Reading
02.14.25
FACT SHEET: Trump & Elon’s Layoffs Jeopardize Essential Services Americans Rely On, Threaten Critical Agency Objectives Keeping Americans Safe & Healthy
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) responded to the Trump administration’s mass firings of federal workers who are on their “probationary” period—meaning: federal workers who were hired or promoted within the past 1-2 years. There is nothing efficient about indiscriminate mass firings. Although the exact number of employees in their probationary period changes with each pay period, data from March 2024 shows more than 220,000 federal employees were within their pr… Continue Reading
02.13.25
Senator Murray: Trump Blocking Funding Will Kill Good-Paying Energy Jobs and Raise Families’ Energy Bills
Murray: “In choking off tens of billions of dollars in energy investments, Trump is threatening to kill thousands of good-paying American jobs and raise energy costs for households across the country.” Senator Murray hosts press call to detail how Trump blocking energy investments is hurting communities in every part of the country WATCH: PRESS CALL HERE Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of th… Continue Reading
02.11.25
Senator Murray on Trump and Musk’s Funding Freeze, RFK Nomination at Democrats Weekly Press Conference
*VIDEO HERE* Washington, D.C. — Today, at Senate Democrats’ weekly press conference, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke about President Trump and Elon Musk’s illegal funding freeze, government funding ahead of the March 14 deadline, and the pending nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below: “We have a funding deadline fast approachi… Continue Reading
02.07.25
FACT SHEET: Trump Continues to Block Hundreds of Billions of Dollars Owed to Communities Across America
***READ FACT SHEET HERE*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released a new fact sheet detailing how, in his third week in office, President Trump is continuing to block hundreds of billions of dollars in enacted funding from making its way out to families and communities across America who are counting on investments that have been enacted into law. In a statement, Senator Murray said: “President Trump is… Continue Reading
02.07.25
Murray, Merkley, King, Heinrich Sound the Alarm Over National Parks Staffing Shortages Due to Trump’s Hiring Freeze
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senate Energy and Natural Resources National Parks Subcommittee Ranking Member Angus King (I-ME), and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-NM) urged newly confirmed U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to immediately take action to resolve looming staffin… Continue Reading
02.07.25
Murray, Baldwin, DeLauro Blast Trump Administration on Halt of Vital Work at Nation’s Largest Public Health Agency
As fall out continues from Trump Administration’s funding freeze, legislators demand answers on HHS’s plan to do its job and keep Americans safe Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, joined Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, in call… Continue Reading
02.06.25
Murray, Merkley, DeLauro, Pingree Demand Answers on Illegal EPA Funding Cuts That Harm Public Health, Environment, and Families
Washington, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (ME-01) demanded recently confirmed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin answer urgent questions about funding freezes at the agency. … Continue Reading
02.06.25
Murray, Sanders, Baldwin, DeLauro, Scott Demand Answers on Trump’s Plans to Dismantle Education Department
Washington, D.C. — Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education; and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee alongside Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the … Continue Reading
02.05.25
Senator Murray Highlights Trump’s Illegal Spending Freeze on Billions via Day One Executive Orders, Putting Economies and Jobs at Risk
***VIDEO HERE*** Trump Administration is still blocking hundreds of billions of dollars passed by Congress ICYMI: Murray Hold Press Call With WA State Orgs About Jobs at Risk Due to Funding Freeze Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is helping lead Senate Democrats in holding the Senate floor for a full 30 hours ahead of a final confirmation vote on Russell Vought to serve as Director of the Office of Managem… Continue Reading
02.05.25
Senator Murray Details Harm Caused By Trump’s Blanket Funding Freeze, Ongoing Chaos
***VIDEO HERE*** Murray shared many WA stories and concerns she heard following President Trump’s blanket funding freeze Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is helping lead Senate Democrats in holding the Senate floor for a full 30 hours ahead of a final confirmation vote on Russell Vought to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Senator Murray delivered an hour-long floor speech and her rem… Continue Reading
02.05.25
Senator Murray Joins Colleagues in Holding Senate Floor All Night to Send Stark Warning Against Confirming Russ Vought to Lead OMB
***VIDEO HERE*** Murray: “Why on earth would any one of us confirm someone whose entire game plan is to break the law and dare the world to stop him?” 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, helped lead Senate Democrats in holding the Senate floor for a full 30 hours ahead of a final confirmation vote on Russell Vought to serve as Director of the… Continue Reading
02.05.25
Top Appropriators: Trump Administration’s “Deferred Resignation” Scheme is Deceptive, Legally Questionable, & Puts Vital Taxpayer Services At Risk
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, in an effort to protect taxpayers and federal workers and uphold the law, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, along with U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the Ranking Members of both the Senate and House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittees, sent a letter to the U.S.… Continue Reading
02.03.25
Murray, Schumer, Wyden, Schatz, Warren Sound Alarm Over Musk Forcing Way into Highly-Sensitive Government Payment System, Threatening to Choke Off Funding for the American People
Murray: “It’s already painfully clear that this is the most corrupt administration in our history, and it’s putting our economy, our government, and our most at-risk communities in serious jeopardy.” Murray: “Maybe Elon will decide he doesn’t like that Blue Origin—and not SpaceX—gets a contract, so he wants to gum up the works on their payments. Private corporations and competitors need to take note. And anyone who thinks that surely won’t happen has not been paying attention.” ***VID… Continue Reading
01.31.25
Senator Murray Statement on Court Blocking Trump’s Devastating Funding Freeze
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on a federal district court ordering a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump’s federal funding freeze: “Today, the court affirmed what we’ve long known: the President does not have the power to rip funding that is law away from the American people. “People in every corner of the country have felt the painful consequences of Trump… Continue Reading
01.31.25
Murray, Kaptur Demand Answers on Trump Administration Freezing Energy Department Investments to Lower Americans’ Energy Costs
Washington, DC — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Ranking Member, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, wrote a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Department of Energy demanding answers about the Trump administration withholding critical investments to lower energy costs for American families and business… Continue Reading