url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-ninth-circuit-court-order-returning-control-of-national-guard-to-california/,Padilla Statement on Ninth Circuit Court Order Returning Control of National Guard to California,2025-12-31,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its stay on a federal judge’s order barring the Trump Administration from deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles, ending the federalization of California’s National Guard and returning authority over them to the state:

“Today’s order affirms what we’ve said from the beginning: the Trump Administration’s choice to federalize and deploy National Guard troops in Los Angeles was unlawful. This deployment is reckless, harmful, and an abuse of executive power that has put service members in an impossible position.

“The fight is not over but I look forward to the remaining service members returning to their families, their jobs, and their primary critical missions as soon as possible.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-126-lawmakers-urge-dhs-to-withdraw-public-charge-proposal-that-would-harm-immigrants-citizen-children-and-public-health/,"Padilla, 126 Lawmakers Urge DHS to Withdraw Public Charge Proposal That Would Harm Immigrants, Citizen Children, and Public Health",2025-12-23,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, co-led 126 lawmakers, including 16 other Senators and 110 Representatives, in urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw its proposed public charge rule, warning it would harm U.S. citizen children, immigrant communities, and public health systems nationwide. The letter was co-led by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), as well as Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.-13), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Grace Meng (D-N.Y.-06), Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.-03), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), and CHC Vice Chair of Policy Robert Menendez (D-N.J.-08) in the House.

“Public charge” is a ground of inadmissibility to the United States, under which an immigration officer determines whether an immigrant is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for future assistance. The Trump Administration’s proposal would rescind the clear 2022 public charge regulations and replace them with vague, undefined standards, leading to arbitrary decision-making, fear, and widespread confusion. Past public charge expansions have driven families, including those with U.S. citizen children, away from lawful access to health care, nutrition, and early childhood programs.

“The proposed public charge rule will lead to mass uncertainty, disparate and arbitrary outcomes for individuals applying for permanent status or admission into our country, and undue harm to U.S. citizens,” wrote the lawmakers.

“The chilling effects triggered by expansions of public charge interpretation are well-documented and severe. Research following [past public charge restrictions] showed that confusion about eligibility led large numbers of eligible immigrant families — including U.S. citizen children — to forego health insurance, nutrition supports, and early childhood programs vital to healthy development,” continued the lawmakers.

The lawmakers argued that the proposal contradicts Congressional intent, undermines the rule of law, and risks triggering a massive chilling effect that would worsen child health outcomes, increase food insecurity, and shift costs to states and local governments. The members urged DHS to withdraw the proposal in full and maintain the 2022 regulations, which provide clarity, fairness, and consistency for families and adjudicators alike.

Padilla also joined Senate and House immigration leaders in a separate formal regulatory comment to DHS opposing the public charge rule, warning that the proposal unlawfully rewrites longstanding immigration law and would deter immigrant families from accessing basic health, nutrition, and housing assistance they are legally entitled to receive.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Noem and Director Edlow,

As Members of the United States Congress, we write in strong opposition to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding “public charge,” published in the Federal Register on November 19, 2025.

We urge the Department to completely withdraw the proposed rule, which would rescind the 2022 public charge regulations without establishing a clear or lawful replacement. The proposed public charge rule will lead to mass uncertainty, disparate and arbitrary outcomes for individuals applying for permanent status or admission into our country, and undue harm to U.S. citizens. The NPRM also defies Congressional intent, seeks to rely on illegal data-sharing from other government agencies, and erodes trust in our legal immigration system. Our immigration laws function only when families, adjudicators, and service providers can rely on transparent standards grounded in statute.

By discarding the existing regulations and signaling that future, undefined “policy and interpretive tools” will guide public charge decisions, DHS creates immediate and widespread uncertainty for immigrants who have followed every requirement of the law. Families seeking adjustment of status — including refugees, survivors of domestic violence or trafficking, children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, and others whom Congress has long exempted from punitive public charge treatment — cannot navigate a system where the rules shift without warning and where past, lawful conduct that the federal government had stated was permissible could be reinterpreted as a negative factor. To be very clear, the proposed rule will trigger a massive chilling effect, driving eligible families away from essential assistance in health care, nutrition, childcare, and education, with the heaviest harm falling on U.S. citizen children.

Congress has repeatedly affirmed that public charge must be administered with clarity, fairness, and fidelity to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) not through shifting sub-regulatory tools that create fear and confusion. If DHS believes further policy changes are necessary, those changes must be forward-looking, transparent, and subject to full public notice and comment. Families should never be penalized for accessing programs that the federal government has long stated would carry no immigration consequences.

For these reasons, we urge DHS to withdraw this NPRM and maintain the 2022 public charge regulations, which reflect longstanding law, congressional intent, and the stable framework that immigrant families and communities need in order to thrive.

I. By withdrawing the 2022 regulations and leaving no clear replacement, the proposed rule seeks to circumvent public and congressional input, creates mass uncertainty, and will lead to discriminatory and uneven application of our laws.

The proposed rule would rescind the 2022 public charge regulations currently codified in 8 CFR 212.20–212.23 and related provisions in 8 CFR Parts 103, 213, and 245, without replacing them with a binding regulatory standard. Instead, DHS indicates that it will rely on the future issuance of “policy and interpretive tools” to guide public charge determinations. Deferring critical substantive policymaking to later sub-regulatory guidance — outside of notice-and-comment procedures — violates the Administrative Procedure Act’s (APA) requirement that agencies provide the public with meaningful opportunity to evaluate and comment on the agency’s actual policy. Regulations of this significance cannot lawfully be implemented through internal guidance that bypasses both public scrutiny and congressional oversight.

The INA, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(4), requires public charge assessments to be made based on a totality of the circumstances, considering specific statutory factors including age, health, family status, assets, resources, financial status, education, and skills. The 2022 rule provided a clear and administrable framework consistent with congressional intent and more than a century of agency practice, including the codification of definitions for “likely to become a public charge” and “receipt of public benefits.” Removing these definitions invites arbitrary decision-making and creates significant risk that adjudicators will rely on factors that Congress has not authorized, contrary to both INA § 212(a)(4) and long-established precedent. DHS’s stated interest in removing “limitations” on the types of public resources considered underscores the agency’s intent to expand adjudicator discretion well beyond statutory bounds.

Recent reporting on new guidance issued by the Department of State (DOS) demonstrates the harms already resulting from unbounded discretion in public charge adjudications. Without transparent regulations, DOS has reportedly issued internal guidance directing consular officers to speculate about future health care costs, employability, English proficiency, financial sufficiency, and even the health and perceived economic burden of family members without making this guidance public or seeking input from Congress. Officers are instructed to assess access to employer-sponsored insurance decades into the future and may disregard otherwise valid affidavits of support. These instructions contradict statutory requirements and introduce subjective and inconsistent decision-making into visa adjudications. The NPRM implies DHS will replicate this discretionary approach across USCIS adjudications, creating a patchwork of unpredictable outcomes for similarly situated applicants based solely on assigned adjudicator or processing location.

Finally, the proposed rule’s lack of clear standards will create profound uncertainty for immigrants, state and local governments, legal service providers, and Members of Congress constituent services. Families will be confused about how DHS intends to apply public charge law, community organizations will lack reliable information to provide lawful advice, and congressional offices will face new barriers in assisting vulnerable constituents with federal agencies. Because the proposed rule eliminates all certainty and predictability for those who anticipate applying for a green card and are not exempt from a public charge determination, it damages the ability of Members of Congress to provide actionable information when approached by constituents. Instead, the proposed rule would lead to a chaotic and inconsistent immigration system that congressional offices and their constituents will be unable to predictably navigate. This is particularly concerning because Congress—not the Executive Branch—retains the authority to make key decisions about the conditions under which noncitizens may access federal safety-net programs. Without clear regulatory direction, DHS and DOS would effectively assume policymaking authority that resides with Congress.

For these reasons, rescinding the 2022 rule without simultaneously proposing a fully developed and transparent replacement is unreasonable, violates core APA requirements, and guarantees discriminatory and uneven application of immigration law across agencies and jurisdictions.

II. The proposed rule contradicts long-standing practice and law, congressional intent, and seeks to rely on illegal data-sharing from other government agencies.

For more than a century, the meaning of “public charge” under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) has been consistently interpreted to refer to a person likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, demonstrated through reliance on cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutionalization at government expense. This understanding is reflected in longstanding agency practice, judicial precedent, and the 1999 Interim Field Guidance, which Congress has repeatedly left undisturbed. See 64 Fed. Reg. 28689 (May 26, 1999). The 2022 DHS regulations formally adopted this longstanding interpretation in 8 CFR 212.21–212.23, creating clear and consistent rules that aligned with congressional intent under INA § 212(a)(4).

The NPRM departs sharply from this settled framework and disregards Congress’s deliberate decisions in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA). When Congress amended the public charge inadmissibility ground in IIRIRA, it enumerated the five statutory factors—age, health, family status, assets/resources/financial status, and education/skills—yet significantly chose not to list or incorporate any specific public benefit programs into the statute. At the same time, in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), Congress imposed detailed restrictions on eligibility for federal benefits but did not tie eligibility for or use of those benefits to public charge. Congress clearly understood how to specify benefit programs when it wished to do so. The omission in INA § 212(a)(4) reflects a deliberate legislative choice not to equate temporary use of safety-net programs with future dependency. Courts addressing the 2019 final rule implemented by the first Trump administration recognized this; as the Second Circuit explained, “Had Congress thought that any benefits use was incompatible with self-sufficiency, it could have said so… but it did not.” New York v. DHS, 969 F.3d 42, 77 (2d Cir. 2020).

The proposal’s removal of the definitions in 8 CFR 212.21—including what constitutes “public charge,” “public cash assistance for income maintenance,” and “receipt of public benefits”—signals DHS’s intent to authorize officers to consider benefits well beyond those Congress has ever permitted. This contradicts 140 years of consistent interpretation and decades of administrative practice aimed at providing clarity, limiting confusion, and preventing unnecessary public health harms. In 1999, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) explained that confusion about public charge and benefits eligibility was producing “significant, negative public health consequences,” and issued systemwide guidance precisely to prevent the chilling effects that DHS now proposes to recreate. Eliminating the 2022 rule’s clear standards revives those same risks without any statutory basis.

The proposed rule contains no assurance that adjudicators will refrain from considering benefits received during periods when the federal government expressly stated that such benefits had no immigration consequences. This omission breaks sharply from the approach taken even in the 2019 rulemaking, where DHS stated explicitly that benefits used before the effective date “would not be considered… because SNAP was not considered in public charge inadmissibility determinations under the 1999 Interim Field Guidance.” 84 Fed. Reg. 41292, 41573 (Aug. 14, 2019). Removing decades-old expectations without transition guidance or prospective limitations is an arbitrary and capricious decision, given that families have built their health, nutrition, and economic decisions around clear federal assurances that these programs are safe to use while they work toward self-sufficiency. In fact, DHS acknowledges in the NPRM that “the regulated public may be relying on aspects of the regulatory scheme in the 2022 Final Rule,” which substantively aligns with the 1999 guidance.

Finally, the proposed rule also raises serious concerns that DHS may rely on inter-agency data-sharing, including with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to obtain information about public benefit use or household financial circumstances. Congress has been unequivocal: IRS data is protected by strict confidentiality rules under 26 U.S.C. § 6103, and executive agencies cannot repurpose tax information for immigration enforcement or adjudications. Many of the undersigned Members of the Congress have a documented history of challenging such illegal data-sharing schemes.

If DHS intends to base public charge determinations on tax data, state benefit records, or other protected sources, such a system would directly violate federal privacy law, exceed statutory authority, and contradict repeated congressional directives. The NPRM’s ambiguity on this issue is unacceptable. Agencies cannot expand their statutory reach through backdoor data-sharing arrangements that Congress has expressly forbidden. Any implication that DHS will access IRS or other sensitive data to determine eligibility for immigration benefits must be explicitly rejected, and the Department must clearly affirm that it will not use protected data sources—directly or indirectly—in any public charge determination.

III. The proposed rule will create a massive chilling effect with undue harm to American communities, U.S. citizens, and especially children; and it will erode faith in our legal immigration system.

The chilling effects triggered by expansions of public charge interpretation are well-documented and severe. Research following the 1996 PRWORA and IIRIRA laws showed that confusion about eligibility led large numbers of eligible immigrant families — including U.S. citizen children — to forego health insurance, nutrition supports, and early childhood programs vital to healthy development. Federal and academic studies following welfare reform found that confusion and fear led to significant declines in Medicaid participation among otherwise eligible immigrant families and their U.S.-citizen children, with researchers warning that rising uninsurance among these children would worsen health outcomes and increase uncompensated care burdens on safety-net providers.

Under the 2019 Trump public charge rule, similar harm reemerged rapidly. Even though many programs were not included in the rule, nearly half (46%) of immigrants in low-income families reported that they or a family member avoided applying for or disenrolled from public benefits due to immigration concerns.

That chilling effect extended far beyond the rule’s legal scope, including participation in Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and school meal programs. The consequences were borne disproportionately by U.S. citizen children, who lost access to preventive medical care, early childhood education, and essential nutrition — evidence that fear-driven policy harms American families and public health systems.

The proposed rule will predictably magnify these harms. DHS itself acknowledges that the rule would reduce government spending on benefits by more than $9 billion per year — a drastic impact that cannot be explained by changes in eligibility since very few immigrants who lack permanent status qualify for the programs implicated. As experts have pointed out, those cost reductions will instead come from reduced use by eligible U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, including children. The rule’s elimination of key standards — such as the express exclusion of family members’ benefit use and clear definitions of “receipt of public benefits” — will create widespread fear that parents’ lawful use of critical support for their children will threaten their ability to obtain permanent residence.

That chilling effect will be the most acute among children. Nearly one in four children in the United States lives in a family with an immigrant parent. Many of these children are U.S. citizens who rely on Medicaid or CHIP for healthcare, WIC and school meals for nutrition, and Head Start and childcare subsidies for early learning and economic stability. When parents are forced to choose between enrolling their child in life-saving healthcare or preserving their own chance to stay with their family, the result is poorer child health, delayed development, reduced educational attainment, and heightened food insecurity — all harms Congress has repeatedly acted to prevent.

Uncertainty about how DHS will treat past or current benefit use will also impair state and local governments’ ability to meet public health and safety goals. Officials have relied on the clarity provided by the 2022 rule to design outreach campaigns, create eligibility worker training, and expand coverage initiatives for low-income families. If immigrants become afraid to use medical care or food assistance, the resulting rise in communicable disease risk, emergency care usage, and poverty will burden local budgets and undermine federal investments in preventive services.

Finally, the chilling effect of this rule must be understood in the context of the broader campaign of threats against legal immigration being carried out by the current Administration. Immigrants already face pervasive uncertainty regarding visa issuance, humanitarian pathways, family reunification, and agency backlogs. The proposed rule would dramatically expand that uncertainty to include basic life decisions about children’s health, nutrition, and early education. When federal agencies send the message — explicitly or implicitly — that families must avoid lawful programs or face immigration penalties, the result is a collapse in trust in the legal immigration system itself.

For these reasons, DHS’s proposal would deter eligible families from accessing essential services, directly harm U.S. citizen children, shift costs to state and local governments, and erode confidence in lawful immigration pathways. Congress cannot tolerate a regulatory change that so clearly and predictably undermines public health, child well-being, and the credibility of federal law.

IV. Conclusion

For the reasons detailed above, we urge the Department to withdraw this proposed rule in its entirety and maintain the 2022 public charge regulations currently in effect. The existing framework reflects longstanding congressional intent, ensures consistent and lawful adjudications, and provides immigrant families with the clarity required to make informed decisions about their health, stability, and future in the United States.

If DHS determines that further regulatory changes are necessary, those changes must be prospective only, must undergo full public notice-and-comment review, and must include explicit instructions that adjudicators may not penalize individuals for the lawful use of benefits during a period when federal policy assured them it was safe to do so. The Department must also ensure that any sub-regulatory guidance with practical adjudicatory effect is made public and subject to meaningful oversight.

Congress will continue to uphold its responsibility to ensure that our immigration system operates with fairness, transparency, and fidelity to the rule of law. We stand ready to work with the Department to protect immigrant families, strengthen pathways to lawful status, and maintain the integrity of the public charge ground as Congress intended.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-pause-discriminatory-national-park-entry-fees/,"Padilla, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Pause Discriminatory National Park Entry Fees",2025-12-23,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators express concerns over January 1 implementation — without proper notice — of $250 America the Beautiful non-resident annual passes and $100 non-resident fee for highly visited national parks, including Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led four Senators in calling on Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to pause the implementation of the Administration’s expensive new national park entry fees and annual passes for non-residents, which are slated to take effect on January 1, 2026. The Senators emphasized that these new passes and fees were not properly noticed in accordance with the law, will slow park entry, and will further limit international visitation.

In late November, Interior announced a new fee structure for access to public lands. Beginning next year, the annual pass will cost $80 for U.S. citizens and residents and $250 for non-residents, the first time the United States has required proof of residency to access public lands. Non-residents age 16 and up who don’t have an annual pass will be forced to pay a $100 per person fee to enter 11 of the country’s most visited national parks — including Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks — in addition to the standard entrance fee.

“America’s national parks serve as destinations for visitors both domestically and internationally to experience our country’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and history,” wrote the Senators. “While we understand that entrance and recreation fees are vital to enhancing the visitor experience, we want to ensure all feel welcome to enjoy all national treasures. Since these new fees are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, we strongly believe these fees are being implemented too quickly, without public input, and will be a barrier for both residents and non-residents alike.”

“We request that you stop implementation of the new non-resident passes and fees until the public has an opportunity to weigh in, impacts to visitation are studied, and clarity on implementation is provided to Congress, NPS employees, and impacted stakeholders,” continued the Senators.

The National Park Service (NPS) is permitted to collect and retain entrance and recreation fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. These fees play an important role in making sure these parks can provide a positive visitor experience for citizens and non-residents alike. However, the law requires the Secretary of the Interior to allow the public the chance weigh in on the development of or changes to recreation fees, and it mandates advanced notice to impacted communities in local publications. The Senators criticized the Administration for failing to provide this legally required opportunity for public input.

In addition to Padilla, the letter was also signed by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Padilla and his colleagues also warned that this plan would further strain the understaffed NPS workforce, as the Trump Administration has cut 24% of permanent NPS employees since January, including positions like fee collectors and information technology specialists. These staffing shortages will likely further compound entry delays, especially at the highly visited parks charging an extra $100 for non-residents.

With overseas visitation to national parks already down over 3% (and down 25% for visitors from Canada), the Senators expressed concerns that these numbers could fall even further with the steep price of non-resident passes, hurting the American economy.

The Senators also pushed for answers regarding how Park Service staff would implement this fee structure — including how the Park Service would identify who is subject to these new fees and how non-resident information would be collected or potentially stored — why public notice was not provided, and what analyses were done to understand impacts to visitation, to gateway communities, and to the recreation industry.

Earlier this year, Senator Padilla and his colleagues urged Secretary Burgum to immediately resolve looming staffing shortages at the NPS following President Trump’s hiring freeze, cancellation of thousands of job offers for seasonal NPS employees, and buyout offers made without clear legal authority. He also pushed Secretary Burgum to allow Yosemite to implement its preferred reservation system, while underscoring the threat that the Trump Administration’s reckless NPS staff cuts posed to a successful summer season. In May, Padilla introduced the RESERVE Federal Land Act to expand access to public lands, improve the visitor reservation process, and enhance transparency in how fees are collected for federal lands and national parks.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Burgum,

We write to express our concern about the new $250 America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Passes and the additional $100 non-resident fee for 11 highly visited parks. America’s national parks serve as destinations for visitors both domestically and internationally to experience our country’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and history. While we understand that entrance and recreation fees are vital to enhancing the visitor experience, we want to ensure all feel welcome to enjoy all national treasures. Since these new fees are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, we strongly believe these fees are being implemented too quickly, without public input, and will be a barrier for both residents and non-residents alike.

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act allows most of the federal land management agencies, including the National Park Service (NPS), to collect and retain entrance and recreation fees. The law states the “Secretary shall provide the public with opportunities to participate in the development of or changing of a recreation fee.” It also requires advanced notice to impacted communities, specifically requiring the Secretary to “publish notice of a new recreation fee or a change to an existing recreation fee established under this chapter in local newspapers and publications located near the site at which the recreation fee would be established or changed.” To our knowledge, there was no opportunity for the public to participate in the development of these new fees.

We are also concerned about the impact this plan would have on the already understaffed NPS workforce. The NPS permanent workforce has been reduced by 24% since January, with lost positions that would be important in helping implement these new fees, including fee collectors and IT specialists. Further, the additional requirements to check each visitors’ residency will very likely slow entry into the parks, particularly the highly visited parks identified to charge $100 per person in addition to regular entry fees.

Finally, we are concerned about what these fees will mean for international visitation. According to the International Inbound Travel Association, overseas visitation is down more than 3% and Canadian visitation is down 25%. International visitors spent $254 billion in the United States in 2024 and national parks are often part of their itinerary.

Therefore, we request that you stop implementation of the new non-resident passes and fees until the public has an opportunity to weigh in, impacts to visitation are studied, and clarity on implementation is provided to Congress, NPS employees, and impacted stakeholders.

We also request answers to the following questions:

The Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act requires public participation in the development of new national park fees. Can you explain why the public was not involved?

Did the Department publish notice of the new recreation fees in local newspapers or publications located near the 11 highly visited parks, as is required by the Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act? If no, why not?

How does the Department plan to implement the new fees, particularly the additional $100 in 11 highly visited parks, with severely reduced permanent staff levels? What guidance has been provided to NPS staff required to collect these fees? Please provide any guidance or training materials associated with this fee change.

How is NPS defining the terms “resident,” “residency,” and “non-resident”? How do individuals prove citizenship or residency when purchasing a pass online, and will any personal information be stored in any way for the Department or any other agencies to access?

How do individuals prove residency when purchasing a pass in-person, and which documents will be accepted? Will any personal information be stored through this process?

What is the process for checking a carload of visitors to a national park for their residency? Will the driver be the only one required to show proof of residency, or will every visitor be required to provide identification?

What if an individual fails to bring an acceptable form of identification?

Several popular national park sites already have issues with long entrance lines. What measures are being put in place by the Department to ensure the process is seamless and efficient for both residents and non-residents?

What analyses were conducted by the Department to understand the impacts to visitation at our parks, as well as the economic impacts to gateway communities and the recreation industry, by implementing these new fees?

Thank you in advance for addressing these important questions and stopping the implementation of these new fees until we get clarity on these issues.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-urge-trump-administration-to-reverse-devastating-cuts-to-federal-weather-forecasting-and-snowpack-monitoring-services/,"Padilla, Schiff Urge Trump Administration to Reverse Devastating Cuts to Federal Weather Forecasting and Snowpack Monitoring Services",2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) pushed the Trump Administration to reverse its shortsighted staff cuts and harmful reductions to critical weather forecasting services and snowpack surveys at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With an atmospheric river bearing down on California through Christmas, which has already caused severe flooding in Redding, the Senators raised the alarm that these dangerous cuts will restrict California’s preparation for dangerous storms and floods — threatening public safety, property, and agriculture — while damaging the state’s water supply.

Due to the Trump Administration’s mass staff firings and other staff reductions, River Forecasting Centers have been forced to consolidate duties and shift roles away from consistent monitoring in specific local areas to more general ones. These unprecedented staffing cuts have also led to reduced overnight operations, less frequent collection of comprehensive data, and delays in severe weather warnings, while straining California’s state-federal partnerships that are necessary for forecasting, snowpack monitoring, and snow surveys. Padilla and Schiff warned that California National Weather Service (NWS) scientists are now simultaneously monitoring multiple flood-prone regions outside their normal coverage areas due to these cuts, which could limit critical written forecasts.

“We are gravely concerned that diminished services within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture pose unnecessary risks to California lives and property and harm the state’s ability to prepare for dangerous storms and floods and to provide essential water,” wrote the California Senators. “We write to ask you to reconsider these reductions for the safety and well-being of Californians, and the many Americans that depend on timely weather and water services and forecasting.”

The relentless rainfall from the atmospheric river currently hitting California shows how dangerous it is to weaken these warning systems. The staff cuts at the California-Nevada River Forecast Center and other weather forecast offices in California hinder their ability to provide flood risk warnings, impairing timely evacuation orders and emergency resource positioning.

The Senators stressed that cuts to NWS’ forecasting services could also impact airplanes and ships that depend on storm prediction, as well as farmers’ planting and harvesting decisions, which depend on seasonal forecasts. Additionally, the Senators voiced serious concerns that these cuts will limit California’s ability to accurately conduct snow surveys to properly manage the state’s water supply. They warned that this forecasting gap will further impact the state’s nationally leading agriculture industry, while undermining drought preparation.

“Staff cuts and regional consolidation of duties away from these important actions will severely impact the ability to perform snow surveys in as many as one third of the State’s watersheds, leaving a fundamental gap in the data needed for supply forecasting,” continued the Senators. “Lacking this data not only severely undercuts the State’s ability to properly plan and manage the water resources for Southern California, the Bay Area, and the Central Valley’s agricultural industry, it also debilitates our ability to prepare for the critical needs of communities in years of drought.”

During an active fire season this summer, Senators Padilla and Schiff demanded that the Trump Administration reverse the staffing cuts at California NWS offices, which jeopardize critical weather services that people rely on during disasters. Padilla also introduced the Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts Act, bipartisan legislation that would reduce flood risks and bolster emergency preparedness by improving atmospheric river forecasting to more precisely predict the timing and location of these storms.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Rollins and Secretary Lutnick,

We are gravely concerned that diminished services within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture pose unnecessary risks to California lives and property and harm the state’s ability to prepare for dangerous storms and floods and to provide essential water. We write to ask you to reconsider these reductions for the safety and well-being of Californians, and the many Americans that depend on timely weather and water services and forecasting.

For decades, the State of California and the federal government have worked in partnership to produce forecasts and collect water supply data essential to California’s capacity to protect people and property from dangerous flooding. However, in recent months, unprecedented staffing cuts at your agencies have strained this vital partnership and greatly diminished the joint state-federal responsibility to perform essential forecasting functions and conduct snowpack monitoring and a significant amount of snow surveys as planned.

There have been several reports about the continued impacts and dangers of staffing shortages, including reduced overnight operations, less frequent collection of comprehensive data, and delays in severe weather warnings. An article in the San Francisco Chronicle further highlighted that weather service scientists in California are currently having to simultaneously monitor multiple flood-prone areas beyond their usually assigned regions due to vacancies. This could force staff to cut back on the frequency of written forecasts, which are typically issued every six hours during winter storms.

Cuts to National Weather Service operations within NOAA pose considerable risks. Staffing cuts to the Weather Service’s observations and forecasting capabilities could have ramifications for airplanes that can’t fly without accurate weather observations and forecasts, and ships that rely on storm forecasts to avoid dangerous high seas. Farmers also rely on seasonal forecasts to plant and harvest. Additionally, staffing reductions at the California-Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC) and weather forecast offices in California could pose serious threats to public safety. River forecast center employees save lives by providing advanced warning of flood risks, which is essential information used by emergency managers to issue timely evacuations and position emergency resources in advance of disaster.

Additionally, federal agency staffing reductions will impact the State’s ability to conduct all of the snow surveys needed this winter to accurately forecast the State’s water supply. The State has a long history of collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies to collect key snow data that is essential to forecast California’s water supply each year. Historically, the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service have participated in the data collection. Staff cuts and regional consolidation of duties away from these important actions will severely impact the ability to perform snow surveys in as many as one third of the State’s watersheds, leaving a fundamental gap in the data needed for supply forecasting. Lacking this data not only severely undercuts the State’s ability to properly plan and manage the water resources for Southern California, the Bay Area, and the Central Valley’s agricultural industry, it also debilitates our ability to prepare for the critical needs of communities in years of drought.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-cortez-masto-schatz-lead-21-senators-in-condemning-the-trump-administrations-unlawful-attacks-on-english-language-learners-education/,"Padilla, Cortez Masto, Schatz Lead 21 Senators in Condemning the Trump Administration’s Unlawful Attacks on English Language Learners’ Education",2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators on the transfer of the Office of English Language Acquisition away from the Education Department: “This will not improve student outcomes. It will only make it harder for states, school districts, and educators to meet the diverse needs of English learners.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led 21 Senators in expressing their alarm at the Trump Administration’s attacks against English Language Learners (ELLs). In their letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Senators condemned the Administration’s unlawful transfer of the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor and demanded the Trump Administration restore longstanding guidance to support ELLs.

The Department of Education Organization Act that established OELA makes clear that its director must report directly to the Secretary of Education. The lawmakers emphasized that OELA is charged with helping ELLs achieve English proficiency and academic success, and the Administration’s unlawful transfer of the Office to the Labor Department — which lacks the necessary expertise, staff, and capacity — would create extreme bureaucratic challenges. This move will severely harm states, school districts, and educators alike.

The Senators also made clear that the rescission of longstanding ELL guidance creates confusion among education providers and leaves them vulnerable to litigation for non-compliance with federal laws. This critical guidance, established in 2015, previously outlined how educational institutions can comply with federal laws requiring that ELL students have equal access to schools’ programs and services.

“We are outraged by the continued attacks the Trump Administration has undertaken on English learners, including the recent scattering of some of the Department of Education’s core responsibilities across several agencies that lack the expertise, staff, and capacity to protect student rights or support student learning,” wrote the Senators. “Even as your Departments take away tools for educators to better serve English learners, the law is clear: all students acquiring English as a second language have the right to an education.”

“Every child deserves access to a quality education and an opportunity to succeed, regardless of what language they speak at home. By limiting support for English learners and their families, the Trump Administration has put students, states, and our nation at a disadvantage,” continued the Senators. “We demand you immediately reinstate the 2015 guidance, reestablish a strong OELA within the Department of Education, and continue consistent research, funding, staffing, and other support for English learners. States, school districts, and schools must comply with all applicable statutes and Supreme Court case law, and it is imperative that they continue to have this critical, practical guidance in place to ensure that the five million English learners receive access to the same high-quality education as all students.”

In 2015, the Department of Education and Department of Justice (DOJ) established the ELL guidance, detailing the steps that state educational agencies can take to comply with Title VI’s application to English learners. This guidance outlined how to identify English learners, staff and support an English language program, and provide meaningful access to curricular and extracurricular programs. Education experts and advocates have sounded the alarm on the rescission of this guidance, warning it may lead to potential cases of discrimination against English learners in schools.

This rescission and the scattering of some of the Department of Education’s core responsibilities compound the Administration’s unprecedented attacks on the Education Department, including its decision to revoke schools as a “protected area” from immigration enforcement, firing almost all OELA employees dedicated to ELLs, and withholding federal dollars supporting ELLs.

Across the United States, over 5 million schoolchildren — one in 10 students at K-12 public schools — are considered English learners, the majority of whom are U.S. citizens. In California, over 1 million learners have this designation.

In addition to Padilla, Cortez Masto, and Schatz, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Senator Padilla has been a leading advocate opposing the Trump Administration’s continued assault on the Education Department. Earlier this month, he joined 35 of his Senate colleagues in slamming the Department of Education’s recent announcement that it signed interagency agreements to illegally outsource core Department functions that students and their families rely on and calling on Secretary McMahon to reverse these latest steps to dismantle the Department of Education. In July, Padilla and Schiff blasted the Administration’s decision to illegally withhold over $6 billion in Congressionally appropriated education funds, including approximately $928 million from California. Earlier this year, Padilla joined 37 Democratic colleagues in expressing outrage at the Administration’s reckless and illegal firing of half of the workforce at the Education Department. Last month, Senators Padilla, chair of the Senate Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucus, and Schiff, along with U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), and Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), led 34 members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation in strongly opposing the Education Department’s decision to rescind $350 million in funding from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary McMahon and Attorney General Bondi:

We write to express grave concern over the transfer of the Office of English Language Acquisition to the U.S. Department of Labor as well as the rescission of the U.S. Department of Education’s and U.S. Department of Justice’s joint 2015 Dear Colleague Letter: English Learner Students and Limited English Proficient Parents (“2015 guidance”). We are outraged by the continued attacks the Trump Administration has undertaken on English learners, including the recent scattering of some of the Department of Education’s core responsibilities across several agencies that lack the expertise, staff, and capacity to protect student rights or support student learning. Even as your Departments take away tools for educators to better serve English learners, the law is clear: all students acquiring English as a second language have the right to an education.

Today, there are more than five million English learner students across the country—one in ten of all K-12 public school students—of which the vast majority are U.S. citizens. These students attend school in city, suburban, and rural classrooms in every state. English learners, as with all public school students, have the legal and moral right to access a meaningful, rigorous, and high-quality education. Under the landmark 1974 Supreme Court case Lau v. Nichols, the court held that schools must take steps to address language barriers to ensure English learners are able to meaningfully access their education. Funding, resources, technical assistance, research, and guidance from the federal government enable our states and schools to ensure that English learners have access to pathways towards graduation, higher education, and the workforce—contributing positively to the economy and fabric of the United States.

Section 216 of the Department of Education Organization Act requires the establishment of the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA), whose Director “shall report directly to the Secretary [of Education]” (20 U.S.C. 3420). OELA is charged not only with supporting implementation of title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, but also with providing national leadership so that English learners and immigrant students attain English proficiency and academic success. At the beginning of the year, the Administration fired all but one employee in this office and withheld federal dollars intended for English learners, which Congress had already appropriated. Although the funds were eventually released to states, President Trump’s budget calls for cutting this funding for the 2026-27 school year.

Furthermore, the Administration’s November 18 announcement to transfer OELA’s responsibilities to the Department of Labor is unlawful and would constrain English learner programs with excessive bureaucratic hurdles. This will not improve student outcomes. It will only make it harder for states, school districts, and educators to meet the diverse needs of English learners.

The negative impacts of these actions are also exacerbated by the Administration’s rescission of the 2015 guidance, which provided critical and legally grounded direction for states, school districts, and schools on how to comply with federal laws and legal precedents that address the education of English learners. The decision to rescind this guidance has created uncertainty about educational agencies’ legal obligations to English learners and their families, and it sends a dangerous and misleading signal that enforcing the civil rights of the more than five million English learners is optional.

Despite your agency’s rescission of the 2015 guidance and efforts to dismantle OELA, federal laws and Supreme Court decisions remain in full force and bind all states, school districts, and schools to fulfill their responsibilities to English learners. Rescinding the guidance creates confusion among these states and school districts, as they no longer have clear, practical direction. The 2015 guidance provided useful, actionable information for how they might meet their obligations to English learners and their families. It did not create new legal obligations.

The decision to rescind the 2015 guidance contradicts the Administration’s stated priorities. The Administration asserts that it seeks to empower parents and advance parental rights, yet it stripped resources that helped schools meaningfully communicate with Limited English Proficient parents about education services, report cards, and parent-teacher conferences. Further, the Administration aims to refocus education on learning in math, reading, science, and history, but it rescinded guidance that helped schools establish sound instructional programs and ensured their effectiveness in increasing English proficiency and academic achievement.

Every child deserves access to a quality education and an opportunity to succeed, regardless of what language they speak at home. By limiting support for English learners and their families, the Trump Administration has put students, states, and our nation at a disadvantage. We demand you immediately reinstate the 2015 guidance, reestablish a strong OELA within the Department of Education, and continue consistent research, funding, staffing, and other support for English learners. States, school districts, and schools must comply with all applicable statutes and Supreme Court case law, and it is imperative that they continue to have this critical, practical guidance in place to ensure that the five million English learners receive access to the same high-quality education as all students.

We respectfully request a written response to this letter within 30 days.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-trump-administrations-unconscionable-targeting-of-minority-serving-institutions/,Padilla Statement on Trump Administration’s Unconscionable Targeting of Minority-Serving Institutions,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), chair of the Senate Congressional Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucus, issued the following statement after the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel released an opinion attempting to dismantle Minority-Serving Institutions:

“Today’s baseless opinion from the Justice Department is wrong, plain and simple. Donald Trump and his Administration are once again attacking the institutions that expand opportunity for millions of aspiring students of all backgrounds. The opinion ignores federal law, including Congress’ bipartisan support for our nation’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Minority-Serving Institutions, including more than 100 MSIs in California alone.

“Every student deserves access to the American Dream. This unconscionable move by this Administration will harm millions of students who deserve better.”

MSIs are Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTIs), and/or Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Historically, these programs have been authorized on a bipartisan basis in law.

All MSIs, including HSIs, are accredited, degree-granting, public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that serve millions of students across the country. More than 800 colleges and universities are MSIs in the U.S., and no court of law has yet issued an opinion finding these programs unconstitutional. As chair of the Senate HSI Caucus, Senator Padilla has led the fight opposing the Trump Administration’s attacks against MSIs. Senator Padilla has led multiple letters stronglyopposing the Education Department’s decision to rescind $350 million in funding from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). In September, Padilla and U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), co-chair of the House HSI Caucus, issued a statement slamming this decision. Additionally, Padilla and Castro previously condemned the Trump Administration’s letter declaring that they will no longer defend the $350 million HSI annual grant program in court, effectively ending the program.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/energy-departments-watchdog-agrees-to-padilla-schiff-lofgren-request-for-independent-audit-of-canceled-grants-for-70-california-projects/,Energy Department’s Watchdog Agrees to Padilla-Schiff-Lofgren Request for Independent Audit of Canceled Grants for 70+ California Projects,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Padilla, Schiff, Lofgren and 26 members of the California congressional delegation asked the Department of Energy Inspector General to review the cancellation of $3.3 billion in federal funding for California projects, including the ARCHES Hydrogen Hub, earlier this year

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Inspector General (OIG) agreed to their request to launch an independent investigation into the unlawful termination of $7.6 billion in grants to California and other states targeted for their perceived lack of support for President Trump.

Padilla, Schiff, and Lofgren led 26 members of the California Congressional delegation in a request for the audit in October, following Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought’s post announcing the cancellation of 79 grants for California, totaling $2.1 billion, as well as $1.2 billion in future funding that Padilla secured for the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) hydrogen hub as part of 321 terminated projects nationwide.

The cancellation of these funds threatens hundreds of thousands of jobs across energy, construction, and manufacturing sectors and would cause higher energy costs for California residents.

“The Trump Administration’s unlawful cuts of billions of dollars for California energy projects — including over $2 billion in Republican-represented districts — is making Donald Trump’s affordability crisis even worse,” said Senator Padilla. “After our calls for a watchdog investigation, I am glad to see the Energy Department’s inspector general taking action to bring transparency and accountability for the Administration’s vengeful hit list. From a backup power generator for a California children’s hospital to bipartisan funding for ARCHES Hydrogen Hub, the Administration must reverse these harmful cuts and work to prevent Americans’ energy costs from skyrocketing even further.”

“Donald Trump and his administration have launched an unlawful campaign of vengeance toward California, and their illegal cancellation of 79 energy grants to California was the latest example. I’m pleased to see that at our request, the Energy Department’s acting Inspector General is opening an investigation into this clear political targeting, which the Trump administration has openly admitted in court was intended to punish blue states,” said Senator Schiff. “The cancellation of these funds directly threatens California jobs and will drive up energy bills at a time when costs are already out of control and the demand for energy is going up exponentially. I look forward to the Office of Inspector General’s thorough review of this matter and will continue to urge that these critical, congressionally appropriated grants are reinstated.”

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, and Lofgren, the October request was also signed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11) and U.S. Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Ami Bera (D-Calif.-06), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.-29), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), and George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27).

Senators Padilla and Schiff have strongly opposed the Department of Energy’s recent project cuts. In October, Padilla, Schiff, and Lofgren led 27 Democratic California lawmakers in writing to Budget Director Vought and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to denounce the DOE energy project cuts. Padilla and Schiff also joined 35 Senators in demanding that Secretary Wright and Director Vought restore funding for 223 energy projects in Democratic-led states that the Trump Administration unlawfully canceled. Additionally, The California Senators also blasted the Department’s cancellation of all $1.2 billion Padilla secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for California’s ARCHES hydrogen hub. Padilla, Schiff, and Representatives Whitesides and Levin previously led a bipartisan, bicameral delegation of 45 lawmakers in urging DOE to preserve funding for hydrogen production hubs, including ARCHES.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-introduces-bill-to-support-conservation-of-over-1-7-million-acres-of-california-public-lands/,Padilla Introduces Bill to Protect and Restore Over 1.7 Million Acres of California Public Lands,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced the reintroduction of his sweeping public lands package. The Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act would protect and restore over 1.7 million acres of California’s public lands throughout northwest California, the Central Coast, and Los Angeles County.

The bill would permanently protect over 900,000 acres of California public lands, including over 550,000 acres of new wilderness and nearly 700 miles of new wild and scenic rivers. It would also promote restoration, fire resilience, and ecological health on another 871,000 acres of forests in areas of high fire risk in Humboldt and Trinity counties. This restoration area would improve water quality, preserve outdoor recreation opportunities, and reduce the threat of wildfires to neighboring communities.

The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), and Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28) are leading companion legislation to the respective parts of the package.

“Our public lands and natural spaces are some of California’s greatest gifts — from the Northern California Redwoods, to the Carrizo Plain, to the San Gabriel Mountains,” said Senator Padilla. “As the Trump Administration tries to sell off our state’s precious public lands and waters, we must protect and restore these areas to mitigate wildfire risk, reach California’s conservation goals, protect our natural resources, and ensure generations to come can enjoy access to the outdoors. I was thrilled to see President Biden heed our calls to permanently protect the entire San Gabriel Mountains last year, and I urge my colleagues to pass this package to protect access to green space for millions of Californians.”

“California is home to many of our nation’s most iconic and scenic natural treasures which are enjoyed by millions each year,” said Senator Schiff. “Yet, these public lands are under threat by a Trump Administration which continues to advocate for selling millions of acres across the Golden State to the highest bidder. I’m proud to co-sponsor the PUBLIC Lands Act to protect the natural outdoor spaces we all enjoy, and to advance conservation efforts that improve fire resilience and water quality.”

The legislation consists of three bills that have been reintroduced in the House of Representatives including:

The Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act, which is led in the House by Representative Huffman. The bill would permanently protect 484,733 acres of public lands and 479.8 miles of wild and scenic rivers.

The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, which is led in the House by Representative Carbajal. The bill would permanently protect 385,842 acres of public lands and 199.3 miles of wild and scenic rivers.

The San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act, which is led in the House by Representative Judy Chu. The bill would permanently protect 35,335 acres of public lands and 20.2 miles of wild and scenic rivers.

Last year, Padilla and Chu successfully pushed President Biden to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The expansion was previously included in the PUBLIC Lands Act and the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act. The proclamation added over 105,000 acres of protected land to the south and west of the previously-designated Monument, which will protect biodiversity, safeguard cultural, Tribal, and scientific history, and increase access to green space for millions of Angelenos.

“California has some of the most beautiful, iconic landscapes in America. My district is home to old-growth forests, rugged coastlines, and winding rivers that make up the heart and spirit of the North Coast,” said Representative Huffman. “Our public lands don’t belong to any singular person – we all depend on the ecological, economic, cultural, and mental health benefits they provide. That’s why I met with folks from all across my district to create a bill that meets Northern CA’s diverse land management needs. I’m proud to partner with Senator Padilla on this legislative package that brings all our regions together, charting out a course to be good stewards of California’s treasured spaces so they can endure for generations.”

“From the rugged trails of the Los Padres National Forest to the sweeping Carrizo Plain, the Central Coast is home to some of the most pristine public lands in the country. We must act now to permanently protect these landscapes, which sustain local watersheds, provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, and strengthen both our public health and economy,” said Representative Carbajal. “I am grateful to Senator Padilla for including my Central Coast Heritage Protection Act in his bill, ensuring these treasures are safeguarded so future generations can continue to experience the natural beauty that defines our region.”

“My district is fortunate to be home to the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains right in our backyard. But, as one of the most park-poor regions in the country, increasing access and expanding protections is critical. That’s why I worked for years with community advocates and the Obama Administration to secure the designation of the San Gabriels as a national monument in 2014 — and why I continued pushing under President Biden to expand the monument’s boundaries last year to better protect these lands and improve access for millions of Angelenos. Still, more work remains to protect the wilderness and rivers of the San Gabriels,” said Representative Chu. “I’m so proud to partner with Senator Padilla on his PUBLIC Lands Act, which includes my San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act, to preserve California’s pristine natural spaces and ensure Californians can continue to access these spaces for generations to come.”

“The PUBLIC Lands Act safeguards special places that Americans love and want to protect. It ensures these sensitive landscapes, with remarkable cultural and environmental value, are protected for future generations to enjoy. We’re deeply appreciative of Senator Padilla’s leadership to expand outdoor access, conserve California’s natural areas, and ensure meaningful consultation and collaboration with California Native American tribes,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot.

The PUBLIC Lands Act would protect California’s iconic landscapes, provide critical access to open space for communities, support California’s outdoor recreation economy, and fight the climate crisis. Guided by science and input from local communities, the bill also advances California’s goals of conserving 30% of our lands and waters by 2030.

For a list of quotes from supporters, click here.

Senator Padilla has spearheaded numerous efforts to create new and expand existing national monuments to protect California’s public lands and advance conservation efforts. Padilla led the charge to establish the Chuckwalla National Monument and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument, protecting roughly 850,000 acres of California’s public lands. Last year, Padilla successfully secured the expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument following his introduction of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act to permanently protect both areas. Padilla also led a letter urging President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to expand the monument.

Full text of the PUBLIC Lands Act can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-condemns-trumps-destructive-misuse-of-the-military-opposes-defense-policy-bill/,"WATCH: Padilla Condemns Trump’s Destructive Misuse of the Military, Opposes Defense Policy Bill",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026 (NDAA) vote to call on his Senate colleagues to provide a check on President Trump’s reckless deployment of military force abroad and on U.S. soil. He encouraged Republicans in Congress to exercise their role as a co-equal branch of government to rein in Trump’s harmful foreign policy agenda instead of rubberstamping his conflicts in Latin America and across the globe.

Padilla blasted Trump for destroying decades of bipartisan foreign policy, undermining longstanding alliances like NATO, and cozying up to dictators like Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, and Vladimir Putin. He emphasized that Trump’s National Security Strategy abandons our alliances with democracies in the fight against authoritarianism, while supporting temporary, transactional alliances with countries willing to shower him with praise. As Putin continues his crusade to tear up Ukraine, Padilla warned that Trump’s acquiescence will put even more innocent civilians in harm’s way.

Padilla slammed the unlawful bombing of alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific, despite the fact that Congress has not declared war nor authorized the use of military force in Venezuela or anywhere else in Latin America. Congressional Republicans have failed — twice — to pass a War Powers Resolution and assert Congress’ Constitutional authority in response to the boat strikes in the Caribbean. He also criticized the Defense Department’s refusal to release videos of the unlawful “double tap” strike against survivors in the Caribbean.

Additionally, Padilla warned his colleagues that President Trump has repeatedly diverted Department of Defense resources, including over $2 billion, to enact his cruel mass deportation campaign and unlawfully deploy National Guard troops to American cities. Last week, a federal judge barred the Trump Administration from continuing to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles, ruling the deployment was unlawful.

As Trump tries to use the military to build “unquestioned power” and silence dissent, Padilla called on his Republican colleagues to restore accountability and prevent the Administration from eroding our national security even further. He announced his intent to vote ‘no’ on the NDAA, urging his colleagues to use this opportunity to stand up to Trump’s abuse of power and deployment of troops against American citizens.­

Key Excerpts:

“Make no mistake: this year is anything but normal. What we’ve seen just one year into this second Trump Administration is the destruction of eight decades of bipartisan foreign policy consensus and the destruction of post-war alliances that have kept Americans safe for generations. And we’ve seen growing abuses of power meant to enrich Donald Trump and his allies.”

“If this was solely about stopping drug traffickers, I don’t think there would be disagreement or objection here to a law enforcement-based approach to do exactly that. Of course we want to stop drug trafficking. But the Trump Administration seemingly can’t to decide if it wants to be crime fighters or war mongers — and they’ve decided to use the United States military to bomb their way through the Caribbean either way.”

“Donald Trump wants unchallenged use of the military to achieve his every whim and every grievance — even when it means violating our international norms, betraying our allies, and violating the Constitution. How is that going to make us any safer?”

“Donald Trump is politicizing our servicemembers both by word and by deed. He’s diverted military resources away from numerous, numerous critical missions for his chaotic and violent mass deportation campaign. He’s federalized and deployed National Guard troops in American cities — against our own citizens — in violation of the law.”

“This president is trying to corrupt the military for his own personal gain, and to silence all opposition. He is pushing the legal limits of his authority.”

“With each passing day, Donald Trump continues to use the Department of Defense as an extension of his Administration’s border enforcement apparatus. Republicans have cheered him on the whole way, abdicating their responsibility to this institution, to their constituents, and to their oath of office.”

“Colleagues, this is a president doing everything he can to build ‘unquestioned power’ over our military, and a Republican party that refuses to challenge him. At a time when the Trump Administration is abusing its power, destroying our standing in the world, deploying troops against our own people, the annual defense authorization bill offers an important opportunity. It’s an important opportunity to hold this Administration accountable — not just out of responsibility to our constituents, but to the Constitution and to this co-equal branch of government.”

“900 billion dollars is a lot to rubberstamp. And I refuse to hand this Administration any more tools to enrich themselves and undermine our national security and our standing in the world.”

Video of Padilla’s full remarks is available here.

Amid President Trump’s unlawful deployments of troops to American cities over state and local officials’ strong objections, Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and the Illinois and Oregon Senators previously voted against Senate passage of the NDAA.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-blumenthal-introduce-bill-to-provide-victims-of-abuse-by-federal-law-enforcement-the-right-to-sue/,"Padilla, Blumenthal Introduce Bill to Provide Victims of Abuse by Federal Law Enforcement the Right to Sue",2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Amid troubling pattern of violence by ICE and CBP officers, federal law provides no statutory right to sue federal law enforcement for violating constitutional rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Trump Administration conducts widespread and indiscriminate immigration enforcement operations in cities across the country, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement Act to allow individuals — regardless of citizenship — the right to sue federal law enforcement officers and agencies in civil court for violations of their civil and constitutional rights.

Under current law, individuals can sue state and local officers for constitutional violations, but there is no comparable statutory right to sue federal officers for doing the same. While the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents allowed some lawsuits against federal officers, courts have repeatedly narrowed that ruling, leaving many victims of federal misconduct without meaningful recourse.

Federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have recently expanded their sweeping enforcement raids into cities like Charlotte, North Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana, continuing a troubling pattern of violence and excessive force seen in Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and other American cities. These abuses show how easily federal officers can act with impunity when there are no effective avenues to hold them accountable, eroding public trust and weakening the basic principles of constitutional accountability.

“For months, ICE and CBP officers have terrorized communities across the country, deploying violent and excessive tactics against immigrants, U.S. citizens, journalists, and bystanders alike with no accountability. These abuses of individuals’ constitutional rights without consequence shatter public trust and stoke fear among hardworking members of our communities,” said Senator Padilla. “By ensuring every individual, regardless of citizenship, can sue federal law enforcement when their constitutional rights are violated, this bill reaffirms that the rule of law applies equally to all — including those who enforce it.”

“In a democracy, the government is accountable to the people. Last week, we heard directly from five American citizens whose constitutional rights were flagrantly violated when they were illegally detained for hours – sometimes days – and some of whom were violently assaulted by federal agents. The brave witnesses at our forum represent hundreds, even thousands, more who have been abused and mistreated by federal immigration agents and who deserve their day in court. This legislation is immediately necessary – to hold officers and agencies accountable for violations of civil rights, and to prevent these kinds of violent abuses in the future,” said Senator Blumenthal.

The Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement Act is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore).

“Federal officials should not be allowed to violate someone’s constitutional rights with impunity, and one of the best ways to prevent that is to hold accountable the agencies responsible for those officials’ conduct,” said Senator Whitehouse, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee. “Our legislation ensures that individuals targeted by this or any other Administration have access to justice in an honest courtroom.”

“Donald Trump is throwing due process and constitutional rights out the window in his rush to dehumanize and deport immigrants who are living peacefully in the United States. As ICE and CBP follow Trump’s marching orders, people must have the tools needed to stop this administration from carrying out its cruel and inhumane mass deportation agenda. I support restoring due process rights by giving people the right to sue law enforcement agencies for carrying out Trump’s authoritarian fever dream,” said Senator Wyden.

“Federal law enforcement officers, like their state and local counterparts, take an oath to uphold the Constitution and the rights of the people they serve. When they violate that oath, those who have been harmed must be able to seek accountability. Yet decades of judicial precedent have narrowed individuals’ ability to recover monetary damages when federal law enforcement violates their constitutional rights,” said Senator Booker. “This bill ensures Americans hold federal law enforcement accountable just as they can state and local officers. At a time when federal forces have expanded by the tens of thousands, and incidents of excessive force by federal officers are occurring daily in streets across the country, Americans cannot be barred from seeking justice in the courts. Congress must pass this bill to correct this court-created flaw in the law.”

The Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement Act would close the loophole in accountability for federal officers by:

Creating a statutory right of action allowing individuals, regardless of citizenship, to seek damages for civil rights violations committed by federal law enforcement officers;

Amending 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to include federal law enforcement agencies (“public employers”) alongside state and local actors;

Allowing suits against federal agencies when their employees violate constitutional rights, regardless of whether an agency policy caused the harm, and waiving sovereign immunity for these claims to ensure victims have access to redress in federal court;

Preserving existing defenses for individual officers, leaving the qualified immunity doctrine unchanged.

The bill is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Brennan Center.

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s cruel and indiscriminate mass deportation agenda, including against his unprecedented, illegal militarization of Los Angeles and other American cities. In October, Padilla walked out of Senate Republicans’ unserious subcommittee hearing entitled “ICE Under Fire: The Radical Left’s Crusade Against Immigration Enforcement,” as the Trump Administration conducts violent immigration enforcement actions across the country. Last week, Padilla denounced the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) unlawful arrests of U.S. citizens during Senator Blumenthal’s bicameral spotlight forum, which included three U.S. citizens from California whom DHS arrested or detained. Additionally, Padilla and Senator Booker recently demanded answers from DHS leadership on the hiring standards and training protocols for newly hired ICE agents. In July, Padilla and Senator Booker introduced the VISIBLE Act to require immigration enforcement officers to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement actions.

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-cornyn-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-establish-a-federal-office-of-fusion/,"Padilla, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish a Federal Office of Fusion",2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced bipartisan legislation to formally establish the Office of Fusion at the Department of Energy (DOE). House Fusion Energy Caucus co-chairs Representatives Don Beyer (D-Va.-08), Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.-23), and Lori Trahan (D-Mass.-03) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

With energy costs soaring across the nation, the office would advance fusion energy and accelerate research, development, demonstration, deployment, and market adoption of fusion technologies. In partnership with the private sector, this office would also advance near-term and long-term fusion energy science and technology to meet the growing energy, environmental, and economic demands of the United States.

Last month, DOE released their reorganization plans which included an “Office of Fusion.” This bipartisan bill would complement these plans, codify the office, and urge DOE to move forward with their plans to ensure that the United States can continue leading the way on fusion energy and eventually reach commercialization.

Fusion has been described as the “energy of the future” with the potential to harness the power of the sun to manufacture near limitless energy for American homes, technology, and the economy. It has the potential to be a nearly limitless and sustainable source electricity that can help meet the demand of tomorrow.

“A clean energy future powered by fusion has the potential to bring nearly unlimited, dependable, and carbon-free electricity across our country, slashing energy costs for millions of Americans,” said Senator Padilla. “California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is leading the industry with repeatable fusion ignition breakthroughs, and Republicans and Democrats agree that now is the time to support further progress to cement the United States’ energy dominance and establish fusion’s market viability. Establishing the Office of Fusion is a bipartisan priority to support advancements in fusion technology to lower Americans’ electric bills and meet the evolving energy needs of our nation.”

“As energy demand continues to skyrocket, the United States must implement innovative solutions quickly to maintain reliability and safeguard national security,” said Senator Cornyn. “By establishing the Office of Fusion within the Department of Energy, this legislation would accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge fusion energy as an abundant and reliable power source to help meet surging demand and bolster grid stability.”

“Establishing an Office of Fusion at the Department of Energy is a critical step toward unlocking one of the most promising clean energy solutions,” said Representative Beyer. “Fusion research and development is advancing toward commercialization, and we need a coordinated federal effort dedicated to getting fusion energy on the grid as quickly as possible. An established Office of Fusion would provide the focused leadership and technical expertise necessary, in coordination with the private sector, to accelerate decades of scientific progress, give the United States the momentum it needs to lead the world in fusion energy development and deployment, and finally supply fusion power to the grid.”

“Fusion energy represents one of the most promising breakthroughs of our time, with the potential to deliver abundant, reliable, carbon-free power while strengthening America’s economic and national security,” said Representative Obernolte. “By reestablishing the Office of Fusion at the Department of Energy, this bill accelerates commercialization through public-private partnerships, positions our workforce and supply chains to compete and win against adversaries like China, and ensures the United States remains the global leader in fusion technology. Congress must provide clear direction and a coordinated federal strategy to move fusion from the lab to the grid, and this legislation does exactly that.”

“Fusion energy holds enormous promise to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable power while strengthening America’s competitiveness and security,” said Representative Trahan. “Formally establishing an Office of Fusion at the Department of Energy will give this rapidly advancing field the focus and coordination it needs to move from breakthrough science to real-world deployment. With world-class fusion companies and researchers here in Massachusetts and across the country, this bipartisan legislation helps ensure the United States leads the way in bringing fusion from the lab to the grid.”

Last year, Padilla and Cornyn’s Fusion Energy Act was signed into law as part of the Fire Grants and Safety Act. The law streamlines the creation of clear federal regulations to support the development of commercial fusion facilities by codifying the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s regulatory authority over commercial fusion energy systems.

In December 2022, California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a global leader in fusion technology, became the first lab to achieve fusion ignition — meaning more energy was released than was needed for the reaction. Ignition has been achieved at least seven times since then. This success proves the viability of fusion energy and the leadership of the United States in the face of heavy investment by China.

“The restoration of the Office of Fusion, first by the Trump Administration, and now Congress, is the newest powerful signal that fusion is rapidly evolving from its scientific origins to a commercial endeavor that will power the global economy for generations,” said Bob Mumgaard, CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems. “I applaud the sponsors of the bill for the vision and leadership in helping to ensure the Department of Energy’s fusion efforts are organized and, ultimately, funded around driving commercial deployment and scaling of fusion power.”

“A dedicated office of fusion at the Department of Energy was a priority for the FIA from the beginning. We thank Senators Padilla and Cornyn for their leadership on the introduction of this bipartisan legislation and look forward to supporting its passage. This bill will codify the DOE’s plan to create an office of fusion. The prioritization of fusion through a dedicated office will advance the path to commercial deployment,” said Andrew Holland, CEO, Fusion Industry Association.

In 2023, Padilla welcomed DOE’s announcement of $42 million for a program to establish three hubs to advance inertial fusion energy, including $16 million for a hub led by DOE’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. Additionally, Padilla and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) pushed President Biden to support the inclusion of over $1 billion in FY24 funding for the Fusion Energy Sciences program within DOE’s Office of Science, consistent with the amount authorized in the CHIPS and Science Act.

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-rosen-colleagues-push-to-overturn-trump-rule-ending-automatic-work-permit-renewal-for-approved-noncitizens/,"Padilla, Rosen, Colleagues Push to Overturn Trump Rule Ending Automatic Work Permit Renewal for Approved Noncitizens",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Work permits allow noncitizens with legal status to work, but long USCIS processing times are placing U.S. employers and workers at risk

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and nine Senate colleagues in introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to reverse a recent Trump Administration rule that ends automatic extensions of work permits for noncitizens, making it so that previously-vetted and approved individuals with legal status cannot continue to work while they await approval of their work permit renewals.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) interim final rule, announced on October 30, ended the automatic extensions for 18 different categories of noncitizens, including those granted refugee status, asylum status, and temporary protected status, as well as spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants. Due to long USCIS processing wait times, people who submitted work permit renewal applications on time will be left without work authorization while they wait for their application to be processed — sometimes for many months at a time — risking workers’ ability to legally work, through no fault of their own. If implemented, the rule would impact 87 percent of all pending renewals of employment authorization documents.

Prior to this new Trump rule, if a person living legally in the United States filed their work permit renewal request on time, they would automatically receive a work permit extension to ensure they don’t lose their authorization while USCIS processes their renewal. The Senators’ proposal would reinstate that commonsense policy.

“Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s campaign to marginalize noncitizens working here legally is disrupting our entire national economy and devastating employers who rely on their contributions,” said Senator Padilla. “The Administration’s self-defeating rule to deny automatic work permit extensions would force people who have already been vetted to lose their ability to keep working, causing unnecessary strain for immigrants and employers alike. People who have already been screened and authorized to work should be able to keep working, plain and simple.”

“Immigrants who work and contribute to our economy are central to Nevada’s prosperity, and they’re the backbone of the U.S. economy,” said Senator Rosen. “This unfair rule change by the Trump Administration will cause chaos — forcing thousands of immigrants with legal authorization to stop working or be fired by their employer. This will hurt our economy and harm thousands of families, so I’m urging my colleagues to join me in overturning this rule.”

In addition to Padilla, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Angus King (I-Maine), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-warren-garamendi-unveil-report-showing-trump-administration-siphoned-at-least-2-billion-from-military-budget-for-immigration-enforcement/,"Padilla, Schiff, Warren, Garamendi Unveil Report Showing Trump Administration Siphoned At Least $2 Billion From Military Budget for Immigration Enforcement",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Pentagon’s requested budget for 2026 indicates the Defense Department plans to spend at least $5 billion more for southern border operations alone

Cover Letter to the Pentagon (PDF) | Text of Report (PDF)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08) in releasing a new report detailing the Trump Administration’s diversion of funds and resources from the Department of Defense (DoD) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to support immigration enforcement, and its impact on readiness and morale.

Under the second Trump Administration, the U.S. military has become heavily involved in immigration enforcement. The lawmakers’ new report, the first detailed review of the Pentagon’s spending on immigration, found that DoD has committed at least $2 billion to support immigration enforcement through mobilizing and deploying troops to American cities and the Southern border, deporting and transporting immigrants on military aircrafts, detaining individuals on U.S. military installations, and more.

The report comes after a federal judge’s ruling yesterday barred the Trump Administration from deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles, requiring the Administration to end the federalization of the remaining 100 troops in the area and returning authority over them to California. U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer wrote in his ruling that the “defendants’ argument for a president to hold unchecked power to control state troops would wholly upend the federalism that is at the heart of our system of government,” noting that the Administration’s position would give them a blank check “to create a perpetual police force comprised of state troops, so long as they were first federalized lawfully” that is unreviewable by courts.

Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.-06) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), co-authored the report.

“Diverting the military from its existing missions and thrusting it into immigration enforcement does not make Americans safer. This multi-billion-dollar political stunt is an overt waste of taxpayer resources and undermines national security, military readiness, and resources for our servicemembers,” wrote the lawmakers.

The report raised concerns that, in addition to the cost of the DoD immigration efforts, it has resulted in “servicemembers … being pulled from their homes, families, and civilian jobs for indefinite periods of time to support legally questionable political stunts,” continued the lawmakers.

Despite an unprecedented $170 billion budget allocated to DHS, it’s unclear how much DoD has received in reimbursement for any of its spending on immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, the military is funding these efforts in support of DHS with money allocated for other DoD projects, including updates to barracks, maintenance hangers, and military construction projects in the Pacific. Concerningly, the Pentagon has requested an additional $5 billion for further immigration support in its budget request for 2026.

The members’ report found that, in 2025, the Pentagon has committed:

At least $1.3 billion for the deployment of troops and resources to the border;

At least $258 million to support Trump’s orders to deploy troops to Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis, along with plans to reassign 600 Judge Advocates (JAGs) as immigration judges;

At least $420.9 million for detaining immigrants at domestic military installations and overseas bases like Guantánamo and Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti; and

At least $40.3 million for military flights to deport and transport noncitizen detainees.

The deployment of troops for immigration enforcement has also weakened the military’s ability to respond to emergencies. For example, the 101st Airborne Division — the U.S. Army’s only air assault division — deployed to the border instead of standing ready for national security missions. Additionally, leading into peak fire season, the California National Guard firefighting unit was “understaffed because roughly half its members [were] deployed to Los Angeles.” These deployments may also require units to miss key training exercises necessary to ensure combat readiness, as the Government Accountability Office found occurred during the first Trump Administration.

The report also slammed the Administration’s failure to adequately inform Congress and the public about the diversion of funds. The coalition directed follow-up questions to Secretary Hegseth about the number of troops currently supporting immigration enforcement, how long military units will be supporting DHS, and whether DHS will reimburse the military.

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s militarization of Los Angeles and other American cities, diverting away critical DoD resources. In June, Padilla led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty servicemembers to American cities. In September, Padilla and Schiff filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the lawsuit brought against President Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military in Los Angeles to suppress peaceful protests. The California Senators also demanded the Department of Defense provide information on operational details related to the ongoing deployment of California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles. Additionally, Padilla introduced bicameral legislation to enhance oversight and accountability of the President’s deployment of the National Guard.

Earlier this year, Senators Padilla and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) called for a review of the exorbitant costs of the Trump Administration’s use of the United States Naval Station Guantánamo Bay to detain immigrants. In a letter to President Donald Trump, the Senators highlighted the nearly $40 million in taxpayer dollars that was spent in a matter of months for the migration operations mission and called for the President to direct the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization (USDS) to investigate this spending. The letter followed an official delegation visit the Senators joined to conduct oversight of the operations at the base in March.

Full text of the report is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-trumps-executive-order-undermining-californias-ai-leadership/,Padilla Statement on Trump’s Executive Order Undermining California’s AI Leadership,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order seeking to block or undo all state regulation of the artificial intelligence industry:

“No place in America knows the promise of artificial intelligence technologies better than California. It’s why we are world leaders in A.I. innovation and industry and why we have been able to work collaboratively to adopt some of the strongest consumer protections in the country. But with today’s executive order, the Trump Administration is attacking state leadership and basic safeguards in one fell swoop.

“To truly unleash innovation in artificial intelligence, the Trump Administration should instead be bolstering federal agencies, investing in research universities, and growing our talent pipeline — both American and foreign born.

“The Trump Administration may refuse to protect consumers or invest in innovation, but make no mistake: California will continue to lead the A.I. revolution.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-california-health-care-leaders-blast-republicans-refusal-to-prevent-californians-health-care-costs-from-soaring/,"WATCH: Padilla, California Health Care Leaders Blast Republicans’ Refusal to Prevent Californians’ Health Care Costs From Soaring",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — After Senate Republicans voted against Democrats’ plan to prevent millions of Americans’ health care costs from skyrocketing, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) hosted a virtual press conference to sound the alarm on the looming Republican health care crisis. Padilla was joined by California and national health care leaders to highlight the severe consequences of Republicans’ refusal to pass Democrats’ proposal of a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits before they expire at the end of the year, jeopardizing care for over 1.7 million Californians who rely on these essential subsidies.

As the Trump Administration’s largest reduction to Medicaid in history and disastrous tariff wars are already raising costs for working families, Republicans’ failure to extend the ACA tax credits will nearly double Californians’ health care premiums on average, pricing 400,000 residents out of their insurance coverage completely next year. Across the country, nearly 22 million Americans rely on these tax credits, and 4 million Americans could lose their health care altogether from their expiration.

Jessica Altman, Executive Director of Covered California; Jessica Wilson (Cruz), CEO of National Alliance on Mental Illness; Sandy Reding, a Registered Nurse, President of the California Nurses Association, and Vice President of National Nurses United; and Dr. Rachel Ruiz, Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Santa Clara Medical Center and Valley Physicians Group Chair joined Padilla in warning about the rising costs of Americans’ health care.

“Today, Republicans voted to rip health insurance away from millions of Americans. Three weeks from now, lifesaving Affordable Care Act tax credits will expire, leading to skyrocketing health care costs for over 1.7 million Californians, all because Republicans refused to get serious about health care,” said Senator Padilla. “Democrats’ position hasn’t changed: we’re fighting to prevent premiums from doubling or even tripling starting in January. But with costs rising on everything from groceries and housing to energy bills and health care, Republicans are forcing Americans to make the impossible decision between coming up short on rent and groceries or skipping out on health care for the year.”

“The Enhanced Premium Tax Credits have made health care coverage attainable for over 24 million Americans, and enrollment has doubled nationally since 2021, so we know the best way to keep health care affordable is to extend these tax credits,” said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman. “In California, premiums would nearly double — on average — if Congress does not act. Over 1.7 million Californians need these credits extended by Congress so they can afford health care coverage in 2026, as they run their small businesses, work in the gig economy, or have just retired.”

“When a family is in crisis, they shouldn’t have to worry about how it will be paid for. Without these tax credits, we’re going to see a ripple effect on families, individuals, and the streets of California. With an ongoing mental health crisis in this country, we cannot let millions of people lose coverage for lifesaving mental health treatment, counseling, and recovery supports,” said Jessica Wilson (Cruz), CEO of NAMI California.

“Nurses are extremely concerned that Congress failed to take action to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies. Twenty million of our patients across the country stand to lose their health care coverage, including 400,000 Californians who will be priced out of their insurance plans if these subsidies are not extended. Congress also needs to immediately reverse the worst of H.R. 1, especially the over $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid. Despite the fact that the hospital where I work is in a congressional district that has 67 percent Medicaid recipients, our Republican member of Congress still voted to cut Medicaid in favor of giving tax breaks for the super rich. Nurses know that the only real fix for our broken healthcare system, more broken now than ever, is to pass Medicare for All and ensure all our patients get the healthcare they need when they need it,” said Sandy Reding, RN, President of the California Nurses Association, Vice President of National Nurses United.

“When premiums rise, many patients will be forced to drop their coverage and delay care. They won’t, however, drop their chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. I don’t see this as a political issue,” said Dr. Rachel Ruiz, Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Santa Clara Medical Center and Valley Physicians Group Chair. “From my perspective — in the exam room and at my patient’s bedside — this is about the stark choice between prevention and catastrophe. Our patients are not a line item on a budget; they are the essential workers, parents, and grandparents who make our community run. The ACA tax credits are preventive medicine for our community. They are a stabilizing force that allows tens of thousands in our county and hundreds of thousands throughout the state to stay connected to their doctors and medications and to remain healthy, without the fear of one illness or one hospitalization bankrupting them. Despite today’s outcome, my colleagues and I will remain steadfast. But without these credits, practicing medicine will feel like working in quicksand and we will be forced to make impossible choices with limited resources.”

After Republicans shut down the government for 43 days rather than address Americans’ rising cost of living and health care, Padilla slammed Republicans’ unserious, last-minute proposal that fails to extend the subsidies and increases premiums and deductibles for tens of millions of Americans while promoting junk plans to families across the nation.

Senator Padilla consistently slammed President Trump and Senate Republicans for rejecting Democrats’ bill to avert a government shutdown and protect health care coverage for millions of Americans. Yesterday, he called on Republicans to pass Senate Democrats’ proposal to extend the ACA tax credits for three years before they expire next month. In September, Senator Padilla joined California health care leaders in Los Angeles to call on Congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to protect health care coverage for nearly 2 million California residents and avoid a Republican-caused government shutdown. In July, Padilla blasted Senate Republicans’ passage of their tax bill that will kick 15 million Americans off their health care, shutter rural hospitals across the country, gut critical programs, and explode the debt by over $3.5 trillion.

Video of the full virtual press conference is available for download here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-calls-on-republicans-to-pass-democratic-proposal-to-keep-health-care-costs-from-skyrocketing-for-millions-of-americans/,WATCH: Padilla Calls on Republicans to Pass Democratic Proposal to Keep Health Care Costs From Skyrocketing for Millions of Americans,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor, blasting Congressional Republicans for creating a health care crisis in California and across the nation. With just three weeks until the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits expire at the end of the year — which will cause health care premiums to skyrocket for over 20 million Americans and 1.7 million Californians — he called on Republicans to pass Senate Democrats’ proposal to extend these credits for three years.

Padilla emphasized that the Trump Administration already made the biggest cuts to Medicaid in history and is inflicting rising housing, energy, and grocery costs on millions of Californians and Americans across the country, all while President Trump calls affordability a “con job” and a Democratic “hoax.” After Republicans shut down the government for 43 days rather than extend lifesaving health care subsidies, Padilla warned that Americans may be forced to forgo health insurance. Four million Americans, including 400,000 Californians, may have to give up their health insurance entirely.

As Padilla underscored, one month after the shutdown, Republicans still have not put forward a serious plan. Republicans’ last-minute plan allows the ACA tax credits to expire while increasing premiums and deductibles for tens of millions of Americans and forcing them to pay thousands in out-of-pocket expenses.

The overwhelming majority of Americans support extending the ACA tax credits as costs of living balloon and President Trump’s approval rating on the economy craters. With the upcoming vote on a three-year extension of the tax credits, Padilla urged Republicans to protect Americans’ health care and address their affordability crisis.

Key Excerpts

“We’re here today just about a month after the longest shutdown in American history. You all remember the 43 days that we went without a fully functioning federal government. Let’s remember why that happened. Plain and simple, it was because our Republican colleagues refused to take steps to save health care for millions of Americans.”

“I find it hard to take the word of the Republican majority that they’re committed to addressing health care costs and to expand coverage to more Americans when they just kicked 15 million Americans off their insurance. And so yes, just about a one month after this longest shutdown in American history, we now find ourselves three weeks away from the expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credits that so many of us are talking about.”

“Don’t let health coverage lapse for millions of Americans. This isn’t a game. We’re three weeks away from the catastrophic spike of cost in health insurance for so many.”

“The fact of the matter is our Republican colleagues don’t have a serious plan. Look no further to the fact that it’s the 11th hour now, and they’ve put forward a proposal that wouldn’t lower premiums for a single American. In fact, it would make the problem worse.”

“Americans are demanding that we do something about the cost of health care and the cost of living overall. … They’re fed up. They’re demanding that their government do something to help them get by, to help them survive in many cases, to address the affordability crunch.”

“I urge everybody to vote ‘yes,’ and let’s help millions of Americans keep their health care come the new year because we know that a ‘no’ vote will only rip that care away from millions of families. The choice, the contrast couldn’t be any more clear.”

Senator Padilla consistently slammed President Trump and Senate Republicans for rejecting Democrats’ bill to avert a government shutdown and protect health care coverage for millions of Americans. In September, Senator Padilla joined California health care leaders in Los Angeles to call on Congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to protect health care coverage for nearly 2 million California residents and avoid a Republican-caused government shutdown. In July, Padilla blasted Senate Republicans’ passage of their tax bill that will kick 15 million Americans off their health care, shutter rural hospitals across the country, gut critical programs, and explode the debt by over $3.5 trillion.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-urges-special-counsel-to-complete-hatch-act-investigation-into-trump-administrations-partisan-redistricting-push/,Padilla Urges Special Counsel to Complete Hatch Act Investigation Into Trump Administration’s Partisan Redistricting Push,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Padilla highlights new violations of federal records laws in Republican redistricting pushes, including in Indiana

Indiana State Senator on White House redistricting push: “[T]he underling who reached out to me is trying to influence the election on my dime. … That’s a violation of the Hatch Act. He’s a federal employee. He works in the White House. But does anyone care about the rules anymore? Not that I can tell.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, urged the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to move forward with its investigation into Hatch Act violations committed by senior Trump Administration officials at the White House and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) who have repeatedly pressured states to redistrict for partisan gain. The follow-up letter to his July inquiry calling for a Hatch Act investigation provides new evidence of White House officials violating the Hatch Act by pressuring Republican-states’ legislators and governors’ offices to pass additional partisan gerrymandering for their own partisan benefit, including in Indiana and Texas.

Padilla also highlighted evidence that White House officials are illegally using encrypted, private messaging services like Signal that automatically delete conversations in their partisan redistricting pressure campaign, violating federal records laws, and demanded that the OSC and the White House Counsel take immediate corrective action.

It is illegal under the Hatch Act for executive branch officials to use their public office to advance partisan political activities, which could include a partisan mid-cycle redistricting effort to advantage a political party. In response to Padilla’s previous letter that outlined Hatch Act violations in Texas and other Republican-led states, the Hatch Act Unit at the OSC confirmed in July they would open a file to address this potential violation. However, despite mounting evidence of additional violations, the OSC has yet to provide an update. Trump previously fired the Senate-confirmed OSC Special Counsel in February.

“Throughout the year, White House senior officials and others in the Trump Administration have been clearly and openly engaged in a political campaign to gain seats for the Republican Party in Congress via a rare and controversial mid-decade redistricting efforts in Texas and many other states,” wrote Senator Padilla. “Such efforts appear to violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits political activity, including ‘activity directed at the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group.’”

“Your offices have a duty to act, not only to ensure that Administration officials follow the law, but to protect these public servants across the country from bearing the brunt of this apparently illegal activity in the current heighted political threat environment,” continued Senator Padilla.

Shortly after the OSC confirmed their investigation, President Trump told CNBC on August 5 that “we are entitled to five more seats,” referring to Republican Congressional districts in Texas. The Administration has also enacted an extreme partisan effort to pressure Indiana state legislators to redraw the Congressional map in favor of Republicans. Since then, at least 11 Indiana Republican elected officials have faced bomb and “swatting” threats. A Republican Indiana State Senator has refused White House staff’s requests to meet, publicly stating that their pressure campaign violates the Hatch Act, saying:

“[T]he underling who reached out to me is trying to influence the election on my dime. That individual works for me. He works for you. He’s on my payroll, he’s on your payroll, and he’s campaigning on company time. That’s a violation of the Hatch Act. He’s a federal employee. He works in the White House. But does anyone care about the rules anymore? Not that I can tell.”

Senator Padilla and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) are leading the Redistricting Reform Act of 2025 to establish independent redistricting commissions nationwide and neutralize Republican efforts to implement partisan racial gerrymanders before the next census. In July, Padilla convened a Rules and Judiciary Committee Democrats spotlight forum focused on racial gerrymandering and voter suppression. During the forum, he questioned former Attorney General Eric Holder on the Trump Administration’s efforts in Texas and other states to implement mid-decade racial redistricting for partisan political purposes.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Mr. Baldis and Warrington:

On July 29, 2025, four U.S. Senators wrote to request U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) investigate senior White House and Trump Administration officials for potential violations of the Hatch Act by engaging in partisan political activities while on official duty in the pursuit of mid-decade redistricting in various states across the country. On July 30, OSC confirmed receipt of the letter and informed my staff that they have opened a case file regarding these allegations. Today, I request an update on the status of that investigation and also bring attention to new potential violations of federal records laws associated with this partisan political effort.

Since that letter of July 29, there has been a steady stream of new evidence of ongoing engagement by senior White House staff in partisan political activities related to redistricting. The situation has escalated to such a level that the Office of Special Counsel and the Office of White House Counsel must take immediate action to ensure that senior Trump Administration officials cease this apparently illegal behavior.

On August 5, 2025, President Trump stated that “we are entitled to 5 more seats” regarding Republican congressional districts in Texas. Throughout the year, White House senior officials and others in the Trump Administration have been clearly and openly engaged in a political campaign to gain seats for the Republican Party in Congress via a rare and controversial mid-decade redistricting efforts in Texas and many other states. Such efforts appear to violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits political activity, including “activity directed at the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group.”

In Texas, the Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to partisan requests and involved itself in mid-decade redistricting by participating in searching for Texas legislators who were not attending state legislative proceedings. In Indiana, the Administration is currently engaging in an extreme political pressure campaign targeting state legislators, which is associated with a rash of bomb and “swatting” threats against state elected officials.

The situation in Indiana is urgent and the credibility of the OSC is at stake. One state senator is publicly refusing to meet with White House staff because he understands that the effort is a violation of the Hatch Act. The State Senator stated:

“I refused (the invitation), but the underling who reached out to me is trying to influence the election on my dime. That individual works for me. He works for you. He’s on my payroll, he’s on your payroll, and he’s campaigning on company time. That’s a violation of the Hatch Act. He’s a federal employee. He works in the White House. But does anyone care about the rules anymore? Not that I can tell.”

This state legislator said he would have reported the alleged violation to federal authorities if he thought that there “was anyone of integrity in Washington that would follow through on my accusation.” Your offices have a duty to act, not only to ensure that Administration officials follow the law, but to protect these public servants across the country from bearing the brunt of this apparently illegal activity in the current heighted political threat environment.

In February, President Trump fired the last Director of the Office of Special Counsel, despite him being confirmed by the Senate in 2024 to serve a 5-year term to lead this independent office in a non-partisan way. In June, President Trump nominated Paul Ingrassia, an unfit and unqualified political loyalist, to that position. The Senate rejected that attempt on a bipartisan basis, highlighting the importance of this office’s mission and its independence. OSC should heed this message and act to ensure senior Trump officials follow the Hatch Act.

In addition, strong evidence shows that White House staff are engaging in these apparently unlawful partisan activities using official communications in violation of federal records laws. A Texas Republican political operative provided sworn testimony in federal court that the White House staff communicated about redistricting with state officials via the encrypted messaging application Signal, which can be set to automatically delete messages. A failure to preserve federal records and a failure to report the unlawful destruction of these records to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) are serious violations of law.

It is likely that Trump Administration staff are replicating these unlawful political activities, using unlawful means of communication, in many other states across the country, including Missouri, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Kansas and more. OSC and White House leadership should not tolerate or encourage repeated, blatant violations of the Hatch Act and federal records laws in pursuit of this unprecedented mid-decade redistricting campaign.

Thank you for your attention to these potential violations of federal law in pursuit of partisan mid-decade redistricting. Please respond by December 15, 2025, with an update on OSC’s investigation and any corrective action that the White House is taking regarding the Hatch Act and the Presidential Records Act.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-condemns-trump-dhs-unconstitutional-arrests-of-u-s-citizens/,WATCH: Padilla Condemns Trump DHS’ Unconstitutional Arrests of U.S. Citizens,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined a bicameral spotlight forum to denounce the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) unlawful arrests of U.S. citizens. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, convened the forum to receive testimony from five of these American citizens, including three Californians, whom DHS agents have violently arrested and detained.

DHS continues to lie about its treatment of American citizens. In October, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem falsely claimed, “[t]here’s no American citizens that have been arrested or detained,” and the account @DHSgov posted just last week, “ICE does NOT arrest or deport U.S. citizens.” On the contrary, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in California and across the country have repeatedly arrested and detained American citizens, including veterans, at times using violent physical force.

Padilla emphasized that the Trump Administration’s militarization of American cities, starting with Los Angeles, to conduct indiscriminate immigration enforcement was the test case for President Trump’s mass deportation campaign across the country. ICE and CBP agents have repeatedly violated due process rights and profiled individuals — including U.S. citizens — who they claim “look like” noncitizen enforcement targets.

Padilla asked all five U.S. citizens at the spotlight forum what they would say if President Trump, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, or other Trump Administration officials were in front of them. He heard emotional pleas from California witnesses to stop scapegoating immigrants and racially profiling American citizens. The witnesses included:

Javier Ramirez (California): Mr. Ramirez was violently assaulted by DHS agents and held for four days, where he was denied adequate treatment for diabetes, leading to severe complications.

George Retes (California): Mr. Retes is a U.S. Army veteran who was violently arrested and detained during a raid at his job site in Southern California and detained for three days, during which he was refused the ability to contact his family and missed his daughter’s birthday.

Andrea Velez (California): Ms. Velez was on her way to work in downtown Los Angeles when she got caught up in an immigration raid and was falsely charged with assaulting an officer, a charge that was later dropped.

Wilmer Chavarria (Vermont): Mr. Chavarria, a school superintendent, was detained after returning to the United States from visiting family overseas, interrogated for hours, and even faced demands to search his personal and school district devices, which contained sensitive information about students and faculty.

Dayanne Figueroa (Illinois): Ms. Figueroa was sideswiped while driving to work and then violently pulled from her car by DHS agents who pointed guns at her; while detained for hours, she suffered internal trauma, having recently undergone two kidney surgeries weeks before the incident, as well as injuries to her wrists from being handcuffed.

Padilla also heard from Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Senior Fellow at the American Immigration Council, about how the Trump Administration’s diversion of resources to immigration enforcement makes all Americans less safe.

Key Excerpts:

PADILLA: If you had the Administration up here, if you had Donald Trump, if you had the Secretary of Homeland Security, if you had other officials from the Trump Administration up here, what would you tell them?

WILMER CHAVARRIA: I would say that we’ve seen this before. We see it right through you. We’ve seen leaders dehumanize entire communities, entire races, entire peoples. And we know why you dehumanize us. And I will say, we will come out of this, and we will come out of it stronger.

JAVIER RAMIREZ: They should be ashamed of themselves. I don’t want to raise my kids in an America where they have to be careful, you know, just by being their skin color.

PADILLA: Mr. Melnick, I know you come to this conversation from a different perspective given your role and expertise. Let me ask you a different question. … The argument from the Administration is that they’re going after the worst of the worst. We see in reality that that’s far from the case. The fear and intimidation they’ve stoked in so many communities across the country is clear in my mind. Has this mass deportation agenda made any community or country safer?

MELNICK: There’s no evidence that this is making us more safe. In fact, it’s the other way around. I testified in front of Congress on this issue before. By diverting resources away from child exploitation, by turning ICE Homeland Security Investigations into just one other arm of ICE’s enforcement and removal operations, they are making us less safe. They are taking counterterrorism operatives and telling them to go out on the street and arrest migrants. They’re taking people whose job it is to investigate pedophiles preying on children, and telling those officers to go round up dishwashers instead. And that doesn’t make us safer.

Video of Padilla’s remarks and questioning is available here.

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s cruel and indiscriminate mass deportation agenda. He has denounced the Trump Administration’s stops, arrests, detentions, and deportations of U.S. citizens and pressed Secretary Noem on the wrongful targeting of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. In July, Padilla joined a Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee hearing to set the record straight on President Trump and Stephen Miller’s cruel mass deportation campaign, blasting the Administration for intentionally stoking fear and scapegoating immigrants. In September, Padilla joined 60 of his Senate and House colleagues in opening a new investigation into the Trump Administration’s arrests, detentions, and deportations of noncitizen service members, veterans, and military families.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-pushes-for-passage-of-bipartisan-bill-to-compensate-artists-for-radio-broadcasts/,WATCH: Padilla Pushes for Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Compensate Artists for Radio Broadcasts,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property hearing on his bipartisan American Music Fairness Act to ensure artists and music creators are paid for the use of their songs on AM/FM radio. The legislation, co-led by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), would bring corporate radio broadcasters in line with all other music streaming platforms, which already pay artists for their music.

Padilla questioned witnesses including Kiss frontman Gene Simmons on the need to compensate artists for their individual creations as a crucial matter of fairness, especially with the costs of living rising across the country. He heard from Simmons about the importance of following the American tradition that if you work hard, you get paid for that work.

Padilla also heard from Michael Huppe, President & CEO at SoundExchange, about the benefits that artists, record labels, studio producers, background musicians, background vocalists, and engineers would receive from these royalties.

The United States is the only democratic country in the world in which artists are not compensated for the use of their music on AM/FM radio. By requiring broadcast radio corporations to pay performance royalties to creators for AM/FM radio plays, the American Music Fairness Act would close an antiquated loophole that has allowed corporate broadcasters to forgo compensating artists for the use of their music for decades.

Padilla emphasized that the bill does not diminish his strong support for local radio, which plays an essential role from facilitating emergency responses to uplifting local culture and news. In recognition of the important role of locally owned radio stations in communities across the United States, the American Music Fairness Act also includes strong protections and exemptions for small, college, and non-commercial stations.

Key Excerpts

PADILLA: I think there’s a misperception in the general public that most artists, if they kind of recognize the name, they must have made it, they’re all on top of Mount Olympus. But that’s not the case. So what I want to hear from you is to kind of reflect back to the earlier stages of your career. What would these type of royalty payments mean for emerging artists who are trying to build their careers?

GENE SIMMONS: Every little bit helps. At the outset, I understand that a brand-new artist isn’t necessarily going to help a radio station get to a point. But perhaps, I scratch your back, when they get bigger, they’ll be more appreciative of WXRP or whatever that’s called and say, you were there for me then. … It’s about relationships. But if you work hard, the American way is you must get paid. You cannot verbally or otherwise ethically, morally, and perhaps, once this bill is passed, legally validate the notion that somebody who works hard is going to get nothing, while a corporate entity, well-meaning though it may be, is receiving $14 billion just this last year.

PADILLA: We’ve focused on radio station owners, the broadcasters, we’ve focused on artists, are there other folks in the industry who stand to benefit from this bill, as Mr. Simmons says, not if but when it is passed and signed into law? Do producers get impacted one way or the other, engineers, other behind-the-scenes folks?

MICHAEL HUPPE: The answer, Senator, is yes, this impacts the entire recorded side of the business. Many people participate in the creation of a recording. It’s a huge part, it’s a huge investment for the industry. It’s what we all listen to when we turn on the radio. It’s artists and record labels, studio producers, background musicians, background vocalists, engineers. It’s a very hard job to bring a successful recording to the world. And all of those folks would benefit from this bill.

The American Music Fairness Act is endorsed by the Recording Academy, SAG-AFTRA, the American Association of Independent Music, the MusicFirst Coalition, the Recording Industry Association of America, SoundExchange, and the American Federation of Musicians.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-lummis-wyden-sheehy-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-extend-tax-relief-for-wildfire-victims/,"Padilla, Lummis, Wyden, Sheehy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Extend Tax Relief for Wildfire Victims",2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Extension Act to permanently ensure wildfire survivors are not taxed on compensation they receive for losses and damages suffered during a fire.

This bipartisan legislation would extend and make permanent Padilla and Lummis’ bill signed into law last year, which excluded wildfire-related settlement payments from federal income tax calculations. This includes payments that cover living expenses, lost wages, or compensation for injury, death, or emotional distress. The bill was signed into law as part of the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which ensured taxes paid on payments made from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Fire Victim Trust for three major California fires in 2015, 2017, and 2018 were refunded and not taxed.

However, this exclusion, which received unanimous support in the Senate, is set to expire at the end of the 2025 calendar year. Failure to extend this provision means any wildfire-related settlement payments beginning in 2026 will again be subject to federal income tax obligations. With utility-caused fires on the rise, more and more states have qualifying settlements or active litigation, including again in California with the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County. This bill would allow wildfire survivors to put the full amount of their settlement money toward recovering from devastating losses.

“When a fire survivor is wading through the ashes of their former home, and thinking about how to rebuild their life, the last thing they should have to worry about is how they’re going to afford to pay taxes on any settlement they receive,” said Senator Padilla. “Last year, we finally fixed our outdated tax code to make sure that individuals, families, and entire communities who have suffered from utility-caused wildfires aren’t taxed on the compensation they need to recover. But with this important provision set to expire at the end of the year, and with devastating wildfires on the rise, we must make this commonsense, bipartisan solution permanent to protect Americans during one of the most difficult times in their lives.”

“Wyoming is not immune to the devastation that wildfires cause. In the aftermath of these disasters, the damage is catastrophic, and the families and communities affected should be able to focus on healing and rebuilding, not on setting aside part of their insurance to cover taxes,” said Senator Lummis. “The Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Extension Act ensures every dollar of wildfire insurance is used to help people recover and restore what they’ve lost, not line Washington’s pockets.”

“When Oregonians are rebuilding their lives after a wildfire, the last thing they need is to get clobbered with a big tax bill on their financial settlements,” said Senator Wyden. “This is a commonsense way of making sure wildfire survivors can use every settlement dollar they receive to repair their homes and businesses. It’s also a smart way to pump more resources back into devastated communities that need all the help they can get. My colleagues and I are going to fight to get this passed as soon as possible, because making this tax relief permanent is a no-brainer.”

“In addition to strengthening our wildland firefighting apparatus, we must provide victims of catastrophic wildfire the support they need to rebuild their lives, homes, and communities,” said Senator Sheehy. “No tax on wildfire disaster settlement compensation is common sense, and I’m proud to deliver much-needed relief with this bill as we continue working to prevent future tragedies with comprehensive wildfire reform.”

Additionally, the Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Extension Act would allow victims to claim the exemption in the year they receive payments rather than to amend prior tax returns for a refund.

Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.-01) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04) are leading similar legislation in the House of Representatives.

This extension represents a bipartisan and bicameral commitment to ensuring wildfire survivors receive the help they need without facing additional financial barriers. By extending this landmark tax relief, this bill would give individuals the certainty they deserve while they work to recover and rebuild after devastating fires.

Last year, Senator Padilla spoke on the Senate floor following the unanimous passage of the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which included his Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Act. After the bill was signed into law, Padilla, Thompson, and LaMalfa urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to take immediate actions to implement their bipartisan legislation to provide critical tax relief and get money back into the hands of wildfire survivors.

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-huffman-lead-california-lawmakers-in-condemning-trumps-plan-to-allow-oil-drilling-along-californias-pristine-coastline/,"Padilla, Huffman Lead California Lawmakers in Condemning Trump’s Plan to Allow Oil Drilling Along California’s Pristine Coastline",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"28 California lawmakers to President Trump, Secretary Burgum: “Further industrialization off our coast will inevitably pollute our beaches, spelling disaster for California’s economy and detrimentally impacting the rest of the country, which relies on California as an economic engine.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02) led 26 members of the California Democratic Congressional delegation in condemning the Trump Administration’s official draft 2027-2032 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program that includes six lease proposals off the coast of Northern, Central, and Southern California. The plan proposes opening vast swaths of previously protected federal waters — including the California coast — to new oil and gas drilling for the first time in over 40 years, disregarding bipartisan opposition.

The Trump Administration’s overwhelmingly unpopular proposal directly targets areas former President Joe Biden withdrew from future leasing in January 2025, when he protected 625 million acres. In their letter to President Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the lawmakers stressed that this plan would undermine state laws that prohibit new offshore drilling along its 1,110-mile coastline and ban new leases for oil and gas infrastructure in state waters.

“We stand united with the overwhelming majority of Californians who fundamentally oppose any proposal that would expand offshore drilling and risk our state’s invaluable, ecologically unique coast,” wrote the lawmakers. “This proposal, coupled with ongoing efforts to reduce federal staffing and funding for agencies that protect our environment, including for safety and oil spill response, is not only dangerous but outright reckless.”

“As we have repeatedly seen in California and other parts of the country, offshore drilling is a ticking time bomb,” continued the lawmakers. “Any expansion of offshore drilling in the waters off the coast of California and the spills that would inevitably accompany it would be devastating to the communities we represent.”

The lawmakers emphasized the devastating impacts new oil and gas leasing would have on California’s environment, military readiness, and diverse coastal economy, threatening the state’s tourism, recreation, fisheries, deepwater port commerce, and defense infrastructure industries. California’s marine economy accounted for $51.3 billion in GDP and $26.7 billion in wages, and pollution off its coast would significantly damage the state’s world-leading economy, hurting the entire country.

California began efforts to block offshore drilling in 1969 when an oil rig off the coast of Santa Barbara leaked 3 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean, blanketing beaches with a thick layer of oil and killing thousands of marine mammals and birds. It was the largest oil spill in U.S. history until the Exxon Valdez spill 20 years later. In the past decade, the 2015 Refugio State Beach oil spill and the 2021 Huntington Beach oil spill have further demonstrated the immense risks of offshore drilling expansion.

In addition to Senator Padilla and Representative Huffman, the letter was also signed by Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11), and Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Lou Correa (D-Calif.-46), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.-29), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.-32), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-14), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), and Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52).

Senator Padilla and Representative Huffman have been leading the charge against offshore oil and gas leases. Last month, Padilla and Huffman issued a joint statement and hosted a press call condemning the Trump Administration’s sell-off to Big Oil immediately after it was announced. In October, Padilla and Huffman led over 100 lawmakers in demanding President Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum immediately cease any plans to open new offshore oil and gas leases in U.S. federal waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, in the Arctic Ocean and northern Bering Sea off of Alaska, and in the Eastern Gulf.

On Earth Day, Padilla and Huffman, along with Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Representative Frank Pallone (D-N.J.-06), announced a pair of bills to permanently protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling. Padilla and Huffman’s West Coast Ocean Protection Act would permanently prohibit new oil and gas leases for offshore drilling off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. In 2021, Senator Padilla joined West Coast Senators in calling on Senate leadership to include the West Coast Ocean Protection Act in the Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill after an estimated 126,000 gallons of oil spilled off the coast of California.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Mr. President and Secretary Burgum:

We write in strong opposition to the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program. We specifically want to express our strongest opposition to the inclusion of the Northern California OCS Planning Area, the Central California OCS Planning Area, and the Southern California OCS Planning Area in the DPP for oil and gas leasing disposition.

We stand united with the overwhelming majority of Californians who fundamentally oppose any proposal that would expand offshore drilling and risk our state’s invaluable, ecologically unique coast. This proposal, coupled with ongoing efforts to reduce federal staffing and funding for agencies that protect our environment, including for safety and oil spill response, is not only dangerous but outright reckless. As we have repeatedly seen in California and other parts of the country, offshore drilling is a ticking time bomb. Any expansion of offshore drilling in the waters off the coast of California and the spills that would inevitably accompany it would be devastating to the communities we represent.

In April 2025, California officially became the fourth-largest economy in the world, behind only the United States, China, and Germany in global rankings. Our economy is diverse and robust, including sectors such as tourism, recreation, fisheries, deepwater port commerce, and Department of Defense infrastructure. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), California’s marine economy alone accounted for $51.3 billion in GDP and $26.7 billion in wages in 2021. The economic well-being of these sectors is dependent upon a healthy and clean coastline. Further industrialization off our coast will inevitably pollute our beaches, spelling disaster for California’s economy and detrimentally impacting the rest of the country, which relies on California as an economic engine.

California is all too familiar with the devastating impacts of oil spills. The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill remains the largest in our state’s history—and one of the landmark spills in U.S. history. Immediate damage to birds, intertidal organisms, beaches, and the economy was severe. That experience galvanized Californians and secured an unshakable commitment to protecting our coastline. The more recent 2015 Refugio oil spill and 2021 Huntington Beach oil spill reinforced our strong opposition to any offshore drilling expansion.

Our Congressional delegation, state leaders, and dozens of California municipalities and Tribes have expressed their opposition through resolutions or comment letters, along with state groups and citizens. The bipartisan consensus against expanded offshore drilling has been clear and consistent over five decades. This has resulted in current state laws that include a permanent ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling along California’s 1,110-mile coastline and a prohibition on new leases for oil and gas infrastructure in state waters that enable increased oil and gas production from federal waters. As stated in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)’s Request for Information and reinforced by the comments BOEM received from our state, “As a result of Congressional moratoria, subsequent Presidential actions, and consistent opposition by the States of Washington, Oregon, and California to any activity off their coasts, the Pacific OCS has not been included in any National OCS Program since the 1987–1992 Program.”

In addition to the economic and environmental reasons for not expanding drilling off California’s coasts, our national defense would be better served by keeping additional oil rigs away from our shores. California’s waters and coastline are strategically vital, hosting a significant number of military installations, key logistics routes, and special-use airspace. Allowing oil and gas development, or the risk of spills, in areas where our servicemembers routinely operate would undermine military readiness and pose risks to national security.

For these reasons and more, we write in strong opposition to the Proposed Program (DPP) for the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program. We specifically want to express our strongest opposition to the inclusion of the Northern California OCS Planning Area, the Central California OCS Planning Area, and the Southern California OCS Planning Area in the DPP for oil and gas leasing disposition. We appreciate your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-colleagues-call-on-mcmahon-to-reverse-illegal-moves-to-dismantle-the-department-of-education/,"Padilla, Schiff, Colleagues Call on McMahon to Reverse Illegal Moves to Dismantle the Department of Education",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined 34 of their Senate colleagues in slamming the Department of Education’s recent announcement that it signed interagency agreements (IAAs) to illegally outsource core Department functions that students and their families rely on and calling on Secretary Linda McMahon to reverse these latest steps to dismantle the Department of Education.

The Senators emphasized that the IAAs are unlawful and jeopardize funding and federal support for tens of millions of students and educators. They also outlined that appropriations law prohibits the transfer of funds to another agency unless expressly authorized in appropriations law (which was not the case for these IAAs). The first IAA signed earlier this year between the Education and Labor Departments that focused on career and technical education and adult education has faced major difficulties, such as funding delays, confusion, and increased bureaucratic delays.

The lawmakers also detailed how the departmental responsibilities McMahon is now seeking to spin off to other agencies will risk support, funding, and oversight that U.S. laws provide to students and families across America. These agencies lack the expertise, capacity, and legal mandate to successfully administer key programs.

“The actions you announced on November 18th to continue hollowing out the U.S. Department of Education are outrageous, illegal, and will jeopardize the funding and support that tens of millions of students, teachers, and families across the country rely on,” wrote the Senators. “Your brazen attempt to dismantle the Department by transferring to other federal agencies complex and foundational responsibilities that Congress specifically charged to the Department — including more than half of all federal funds for elementary and secondary education programs and billions in higher education funding — will undermine public education.”

“Let’s be very clear: You are choosing to create even more bureaucracy that states, school districts, and educational institutions across America will have to expend time and resources navigating at the expense of students and families,” continued the Senators. “We urge you to immediately reverse course and to focus your time and attention on actions that actually help states, school districts and educational institutions improve educational outcomes and support for students.”

The letter was led by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). In addition to Padilla and Schiff, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The Senators made clear that, as McMahon has previously acknowledged, dismantling the Department would require an act of Congress, which has not been proposed — or even seriously pursued — by the Administration. They pushed Secretary McMahon to fulfill her constitutional duties to work with Congress to improve public education and reiterated that education appropriations have been authorized on a bipartisan basis for decades.

Senator Padilla has been a leading advocate opposing the Trump Administration’s continued assault on the Education Department. In July, Padilla and Schiff slammed the Administration’s decision to illegally withhold over $6 billion in Congressionally appropriated education funds, including approximately $928 million from California. Earlier this year, Padilla joined 37 Democratic colleagues in expressing outrage at the Administration’s reckless and illegal firing of half of the workforce at the Education Department. Last month, Senators Padilla, chair of the Senate Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucus, and Schiff, along with U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), and Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), led 34 members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation in strongly opposing the Education Department’s decision to rescind $350 million in funding from Minority-Serving Institutions.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary McMahon:

The actions you announced on November 18 to continue hollowing out the U.S. Department of Education (“the Department”) are outrageous, illegal, and will jeopardize the funding and support that tens of millions of students, teachers, and families across the country rely on. Your brazen attempt to dismantle the Department by transferring to other federal agencies complex and foundational responsibilities that Congress specifically charged to the Department—including more than half of all federal funds for elementary and secondary education programs and billions in higher education funding—will undermine public education. This is the latest example of this administration’s complete lack of regard for our laws and its failure to provide the certainty, clarity, and stability that students and schools deserve when it comes to the federal government’s approach and commitment to properly implementing federal education laws and appropriations.

Let’s be very clear: You are choosing to create even more bureaucracy that states, school districts, and educational institutions across America will have to expend time and resources navigating at the expense of students and families. We urge you to immediately reverse course and to focus your time and attention on actions that actually help states, school districts and educational institutions improve educational outcomes and support for students. We expect you to work with Congress to pursue any ideas to streamline programs and improve public education, as the law and the Constitution require, and you have yourself stated you would do in your confirmation hearing.

The Department of Education is the only federal agency whose sole mission is to help children learn and improve their educational outcomes. The Department delivers much-needed federal funding and enforces basic educational guardrails and civil rights protections so that every child can get the quality public education that they are entitled to under the law, no matter who they are or where they live. Congress has unambiguously authorized dozens of education programs to be administered by the Department through numerous laws and has clearly appropriated funding on a bipartisan basis for decades to the Department to carry out those programs. Appropriations law prohibits the transfer of funds to another federal agency unless expressly authorized in appropriations law, which it has not done in this case. When Congress wants another agency to administer a program or function, it has expressly said so—and in some cases, it has provided authority to transfer funds to allow this to happen. By contrast, Congress has not expressly authorized any other agency to administer the programs established under the previously mentioned laws, nor has it provided the authority for the Department to transfer these programs and associated funding to another agency.

The November 18 announcement outlines six interagency agreements (IAAs) with the Departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State to transfer major responsibilities out of the Department of Education. The authorities cited in the IAAs do not enable the Department to do an end-run around the relevant authorizing and appropriating statutes. For example, the Department cites the Economy Act to justify its use of the IAA framework. While the Economy Act is routinely used by other federal agencies to enter into IAAs for the procurement of discrete goods and services that a particular agency might have expertise in and authority to provide, such as DOJ’s fingerprinting authority, this authority was never contemplated to allow the transfer of major program functions or entire offices to another agency with the express stated purpose of eventually dismantling the agency or putting the Secretary “out of a job.” Federal resources outlining the purpose of the Economy Act make this clear. This view is further affirmed by the Department’s inability to cite a single instance of using this statute or any others in a similar way prior to this year.

You have expressed your interest in working with Congress on these issues, but these IAAs were developed in secret without outside input. The fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department makes no reference to administering these programs at other agencies and the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), for example, makes no reference to administering them either. The Secretaries of Labor, Interior, State, and HHS have similarly never testified to Congress on how they would carry out and administer these critical education programs.

Since you were nominated to lead the Department, you have routinely misled the public about the level of involvement the Department has long had in the day-to-day management of schools—inaccurately suggesting that the Department was depriving states and families from making choices about their children’s education, shackling teachers with burdensome regulations and paperwork and causing K-12 and college students to experience “drudgery caused by administrative burdens.” On the basis of these false assertions, you have strangely claimed that we need to “Return Education to the States.” In fact, states and local communities have—since the founding of our republic—had the primary responsibility for educating our students and the establishment of the Department in 1979 did nothing to change that fact. In fact, there are numerous federal laws that prevent the Department from being involved in the day-to-day decision making in schools and colleges as it relates to curriculum, teaching, and programs.

Until your arrival at the Department, its role has been to provide funding, support, and oversight as authorized by federal education laws to ensure students from all walks of life and in every part of the country can get a high-quality public education. The Department’s programs ensure that parents get timely, accessible information about how their kids’ schools are doing. They ensure students with disabilities’ rights are enforced, so that they can get the education they are entitled to. The Department administers programs to help under-resourced rural school districts and allocates Impact Aid for more than 1,000 school districts with a reduced revenue base or increased costs due to a federal presence, such as a military base. It also administers programs to help first-generation and low-income students pursue and succeed in college. These are just a select few examples of the indispensable supporting role that the federal government—and the Department, in particular—plays in advancing educational outcomes for students.

To justify these new IAA’s, you say federal funding will keep flowing to states, school districts, and colleges. But we have already seen funding held up and seriously delayed because of this administration’s chaotic changes—and its extreme policies—and the moves you announced last week are certain to further jeopardize these funds.

You claim these actions will improve student achievement, yet your actions will significantly weaken federal monitoring of states’ K-12 accountability and school improvement systems. Before Congress mandated that states develop these systems with key guardrails in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, several states had weak or no school improvement systems, which allowed vulnerable students to slip through the cracks. As part of ESEA and subsequent appropriations directives, Congress has charged OESE with improving state compliance in state and local school report cards requirements, school improvement, and more. But without the staff expertise from OESE, it is likely that DOL will be ineffective in holding states accountable for improving student outcomes.

The Department also provides deep policy expertise to ensure programs support improved student outcomes, such as through expert guidance to colleges and universities to improve college access, retention, and completion through programs like TRIO, GEAR UP, the Postsecondary Student Success Grant Program, and others. Now, DOL, who lacks the necessary expertise, is tasked with managing these programs and students will suffer as a result.

DOL has no prior experience in administering education programs at this scale and complexity and will need to develop the capacity and processes to allot billions of dollars in funding to state and local educational agencies. States will also have to make changes to receive any funds distributed through DOL’s grant system while continuing to draw down prior year grant funding in the Department’s system. Your IAA also seems to suggest the Department will still retain some authorities over Title I-A, which means that states will now have to work with two federal agencies when they need help navigating this complex and absolutely critical program. These changes solve exactly zero problems but manage to create an onslaught of new ones. We are very concerned that these changes will mean funds our constituents rely on will not continue to flow as intended under federal education laws.

In addition to its scope and complexity, the Title I-A program primarily funds instruction and activities in elementary schools. We do not believe kindergartners or other elementary school students should be the focus of efforts to integrate workforce programming and education activities, activities that are better suited to older students. Instead of improving students’ readiness for the workforce, the move of Title I-A to DOL is much more likely to deprive states and school districts of the technical assistance and support they need to effectively implement federal education funding in their schools and provide high-quality educational opportunities to all students.

DOL already has a comprehensive workload to support the nation’s workers and workforce programs. It is authorized and funded to administer workforce training and enforce worker protection programs for which Congress appropriates $13.5 billion in discretionary funding annually, including for roughly a dozen workforce training grant programs totaling approximately $4 billion in annual funding. In addition to lacking the subject area expertise needed to administer the Department’s programs, DOL does not have the grant administration capacity to take on the work outlined in the IAA; the approximately $30 billion in the Department’s funding across approximately 50 discrete formula and competitive education grant programs that you seek to transfer now to DOL dwarf its current grant administration and oversight work. Transferring basic and significant responsibilities for administering education programs to DOL creates very significant risks of delays in funding and other administrative challenges for states, school districts, institutions of higher education, and other organizations through Impact Aid, rural education programs, afterschool programs, TRIO, and foundational education formula grant programs that tens of thousands of schools count on to help provide a quality education to millions of students.

Unfortunately, we have already seen negative consequences for states, schools, colleges, and students as these IAAs roll out: the first IAA inked earlier this year between the Department and DOL on career and technical education and adult education has been plagued with serious challenges—and it is but a small fraction of what is now being transferred to DOL. In fact, as your own staff reportedly concluded in its analysis after this transfer, “The size and scope of OCTAE’s programs are miniscule [sic] compared to other [Education Principal Operating Components] and programs…Larger formula grants and competitive grants are going to be much more difficult to migrate.” States and districts faced delays in accessing their Perkins CTE funding, and advocates report delays in guidance and training issued by DOL. Moreover, a CTE expert recently testified before the House of Representatives, “At a time of scarce resources, it’s hard to understand why the Department is paying Labor to do work that it can do for itself.” The fiscal year 2025 funding level for Perkins CTE and adult education was $2.18 billion, whereas the other programs DOL will now be responsible for are funded at roughly $30 billion. If the administrative costs balloon under these new IAAs as the administrative costs under the CTE IAA have, not only will these IAAs be terrible for students, their families, and educators, they will also be a catastrophic waste of time and money for the American taxpayer.

The Department has provided no substantive detail or even basic information about how the significant changes envisioned by these IAAs would be implemented. The other federal agencies that will suddenly have significant responsibilities in administering billions in education funding—have provided no information about their roles or their capacity to carry out these programs and activities. The plan seems clear—to jam these changes through for a talking point, whatever the consequences may be for states, school districts, schools, students, and families.

We once again demand that you reverse these detrimental plans and refocus your efforts on supporting state and local efforts by properly implementing federal laws intended to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all students, especially those who count on the Department doing its job most.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-joins-durbin-to-introduce-the-dream-act-to-provide-permanent-protections-for-dreamers/,WATCH: Padilla Joins Durbin to Introduce the Dream Act to Provide Permanent Protections for Dreamers,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in introducing the Dream Act of 2025. The legislation would allow noncitizens without lawful status who were brought to the United States as children and meet certain education, military service, or work requirements to earn lawful permanent residence and a pathway to citizenship. Padilla, Durbin, and U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a press conference today alongside Dreamers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and immigration experts to call on Congress to pass a pathway to citizenship for the young people who contribute so much to our country and are facing the Trump Administration’s unprecedented attacks.

These young people, known as Dreamers, have lived in America since they were children, built their lives here, and are American in every way except for their immigration status. However, under current law there is often no chance for them to ever become citizens and fulfill their potential. Today’s event was organized in collaboration with the Home Is Here coalition, including FWD.us, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), United We Dream, and partner organizations.

“For decades, gridlock and partisan politics have forced Dreamers to live in limbo. And under the Trump Administration, they now have to fear being swept up in Trump’s cruel mass deportation campaign at any moment,” said Senator Padilla. “Dreamers are our friends, neighbors, and loved ones who are proud to call America the only home they’ve ever known and fuel our economy. Senator Durbin has fought tirelessly for nearly 25 years to pass the Dream Act, and I’m honored to join him in calling on Congress to finally provide a pathway to citizenship for the Dreamers who contribute so much to our country.”

“I first introduced the Dream Act 24 years ago, and over those years I’ve met hundreds of amazing young men and women—Dreamers—who are American in every sense of the word except on paper. They are teachers, nurses, doctors, and small business owners throughout our communities and in all 50 states. But because DACA hangs by a thread in the courts, and many are not covered by DACA, they live each day in fear of deportation. It is clear that only Congress can give them the stability they crave and deserve,” said Senator Durbin. “This is a matter of simple American fairness and justice. To the Dreamers who have been with me in this fight: I promise to do everything in my power to fight for you and your future every day. And to Senator Murkowski, I want to thank you for your longtime support of Dreamers and your partnership in this important bipartisan effort.”

The Dream Act of 2025 would allow these young people to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship if they:

Came to the U.S. as children and are without lawful status;

Graduate from high school or obtain a GED;

Pursue higher education, work lawfully for at least three years, or serve in the military;

Pass security and law enforcement background checks and pay a reasonable application fee;

Demonstrate proficiency in the English language and a knowledge of United States history; and

Have not committed a felony or other serious crimes and do not pose a threat to our country.

Durbin has introduced the Dream Act every Congress since 2001 to give young immigrants the chance to earn U.S. citizenship. Nearly 2 million Dreamers live in our country today, and as of September 2024, roughly 530,000 people had active DACA status.

Senator Padilla is a leading voice in Congress for providing long-term undocumented immigrants with pathways to citizenship or permanent legal residence. In September, Senators Padilla, Durbin, and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) led 38 Senate Democrats in pressing U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on the Trump Administration’s wrongful targeting of DACA recipients in its cruel mass deportation scheme. Padilla previously introduced legislation to expand a pathway to lawful permanent residency for millions of long-term U.S. residents, including Dreamers. As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and mass deportation assaults intensified in Los Angeles, Padilla marked the 13th anniversary of the DACA policy by urging Congress to take immediate action to deliver permanent protections for millions of families, parents, and individuals who are increasingly at risk amid President Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

Video of Senator Padilla’s remarks at today’s press conference is available here and can be downloaded here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-mullin-bill-strengthening-cybersecurity-for-the-988-suicide-crisis-lifeline-signed-into-law/,"Padilla, Mullin Bill Strengthening Cybersecurity for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Signed Into Law",2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the Senate Mental Health Caucus, announced that his bipartisan legislation to strengthen the cybersecurity protocols for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was signed into law. The 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act became law as part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes key public health programs focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery for patients with substance use disorder.

The bill comes in response to previous outages that resulted in a day-long 988 Lifeline outage for those in crisis. Padilla led the bipartisan legislation alongside U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).

“People calling the 988 Lifeline shouldn’t be met with disruptions or service outages when struggling with life-threatening mental health issues,” said Senator Padilla. “With our bipartisan bill becoming law, we can better identify and prevent cyberattacks so people in crisis have access to the Lifeline whenever they need it. I will keep working across the aisle to tear down the stigma surrounding mental health and provide lifesaving support for people suffering in silence.”

“I’m grateful to President Trump for his continued support in our critical efforts to strengthen cybersecurity measures for the 988 Lifeline. Suicide is a heartbreaking tragedy, and every life lost is one too many. This bill will keep the lifeline secure to ensure that those experiencing a mental health crisis have access to the resources and support they need when they need it most,” said Senator Mullin. “Though our bill crossed the finish line today, our fight against suicide and the mission to increase awareness, continues.”

Since its launch in July of 2022, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has been contacted over 16.5 million times. The Lifeline’s services are critically important and must stay secure. The cyberattack on the 988 Lifeline in December of 2022 exposed vulnerabilities in the system where individuals who tried to call the suicide prevention hotline were instead greeted with a recorded message informing them of the service outage.

Specifically, Padilla and Mullin’s 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act will increase coordination with the Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to better protect the 988 Lifeline from cybersecurity attacks and to eliminate known vulnerabilities. The Lifeline’s network administrator will also be required to notify the government of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents within 24 hours of discovery. Lastly, the Government Accountability Office will be required to conduct a study evaluating cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities in the 988 system.

The 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act is supported by the following groups: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Psychiatric Association, Crisis Text Line, Inseparable, Mental Health America, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, National Alliance on Mental Illness, The Jed Foundation, and Vibrant Emotional Health.

Last year, Padilla applauded the Federal Communications Commission’s adoption of his bipartisan Local 9-8-8 Response Act of 2023, making critical improvements to the 988 Lifeline to help callers access localized, lifesaving behavioral health resources.

Any person in crisis and in need of help can dial 9-8-8 to reach free and confidential professional support 24/7 or can visit 988lifeline.org/chat/ to start a free and confidential conversation. Click here to learn more about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-davids-lead-88-lawmakers-in-urging-protection-of-electric-vehicle-investments-in-bipartisan-surface-transportation-negotiations/,"Padilla, Davids Lead 88 Lawmakers in Urging Protection of Electric Vehicle Investments in Bipartisan Surface Transportation Negotiations",2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Sharice Davids (D-Kan.-03) led 88 lawmakers in pushing Senate Environment and Public Works and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership to protect electric vehicle (EV) investments while reauthorizing bipartisan surface transportation legislation.

The lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting a similar bipartisan surface transportation process to the historic passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but they stressed that the reauthorization cannot truly be bipartisan if it furthers the Administration’s attacks on electric vehicles. Since taking office, the Trump Administration has sought to dismantle federal EV programs, including freezing the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program and rolling back other Congressionally authorized initiatives.

The lawmakers emphasized that bipartisan programs like NEVI, the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) discretionary grant program, the Carbon Reduction Program, the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities (RTEPF) program, and the Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low No) expand consumer choice, create American jobs, lower costs, and strengthen U.S. competitiveness. They warned that undermining EV programs puts significant economic and workforce gains at risk, while undermining long-term planning and ceding progress on EVs to China.

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) represented a historic investment in strengthening and building out our national infrastructure. We have a unique opportunity to not only reauthorize this foundation but bolster many of the highly popular and effective transportation programs authorized by the IIJA,” wrote the lawmakers. “Attempts to eliminate investments in cleaner transportation run counter to the cooperative spirit this process depends on. While we understand that reforms may be necessary and that legislating inherently requires compromise, we urge you to ensure that this reauthorization process does not take a partisan tenor replete with extraordinary attempts to undercut zero-emission technologies, investments, and American innovation.”

“Eliminating dedicated investments in EV and alternative fueling technologies would represent a departure from the bipartisan cooperation that has always driven surface transportation legislation,” concluded the lawmakers. “We remain committed to advancing American transportation innovation, safety, and excellence, and we hope the reauthorization process will maintain that same spirit of partnership.”

More than $200 billion has been invested in domestic EV manufacturing capacity since 2022, expected to create over 160,000 jobs across the country in charging manufacturing alone. These investments have been made on a bipartisan basis: 22 of the 25 Congressional districts with the greatest share of EV manufacturing capacity investment are represented by Republicans. In California, the zero-emission vehicle industry supports over 70,000 jobs across more than 360 companies.

In addition to Padilla and Davids, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), as well as Representatives Gabe Amo (D-R.I.-01), Becca Balint (D-Vt.-AL), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Ami Bera (D-Calif.-06), Don Beyer (D-Va.-08), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.-02), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), André Carson (D-Ind.-07), Sean Casten (D-Ill.-06), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.-14), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.-05), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.-09), Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.-04), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.-01), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.-01), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.-17), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas-37), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.-03), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.-03), Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.-04), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.-04), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.-10), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.-02), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.-05), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.-04), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.-01), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio-01), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.-02), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.-05), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.-01), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.-09), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.-02), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.-03), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.-08), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.-17), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-14), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.-13), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.-02), Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.-20), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.-05), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.-24).

CALSTART and the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) expressed their strong support of the lawmakers’ letter.

“The Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act delivered transformative investments to accelerate the low- and no-emission vehicle industry. These investments have created jobs, improved public health, and strengthened the global competitiveness of the U.S. transportation sector as advanced vehicle technologies rapidly grow worldwide,” said CALSTART Head of Policy, Trisha DelloIacono. “We applaud the congressional leaders who signed this letter and who recognize the need to build on the progress initiated in 2021. These members understand that continued investment in a diverse mix of fueling and vehicle technologies is essential to maintaining – and expanding – America’s share of the global transportation market. CALSTART looks forward to working with Congress as this legislation advances and to ensuring members understand the importance of including electrification funding in the next infrastructure package.”

“Negotiations for the surface reauthorization bill have a long history of bipartisan collaboration that has resulted in many popular programs and initiatives to modernize and advance transportation in the United States,” said Albert Gore, Executive Director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association. “This has included creating an investment-friendly environment that has resulted in billions of dollars worth of investment in our nation’s EV and battery supply chains that are expected to create more than 160,000 new manufacturing jobs. It has also included investments in our nation’s infrastructure to expand the charging network and help millions of drivers choose electric transportation. As members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure move forward with negotiations for the upcoming bill to reauthorize surface transportation programs, we appreciate this letter highlighting the importance of continued public policy to support ongoing investment in the U.S. and the drivers that are choosing alternative drivetrains.”

Earlier this year, Senator Padilla joined all Democratic members of the Committee in demanding answers from Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy about the abrupt cutoff of funds for the NEVI Formula Program, illegally jeopardizing $384 million for critical zero-emission vehicle infrastructure along California’s highways.

Senator Padilla has consistently fought to reduce emissions across the transportation and freight sectors. Last year, Padilla successfully pushed the Biden Administration to launch a National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy to guide the national deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty freight transportation vehicle (ZE-MHDV) charging and fueling infrastructure, which followed his efforts to call on the Joint Office to prioritize the deployment of ZE-MHDV as part of its core mission. Since 2024, Senator Padilla has announced over $440 million for zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure from the CFI grant program. In 2023, Padilla, Senator Booker, and Representative Barragán introduced the bicameral EVs for All Act, legislation that would increase access to zero-emission vehicles for residents of public housing across the nation.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Chair Capito, Ranking Member Whitehouse, Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen,

As the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee develop the surface transportation reauthorization bill, we write to reaffirm our commitment to the bipartisan collaboration these committees are known for. At the same time, we want to make clear that a reauthorization bill that undermines critical investments in zero-emission vehicles and associated charging and fueling infrastructure would not meet the standard of bipartisan cooperation that has always driven surface transportation legislation. This process should begin with upholding the agreements made in the last authorization bill and safeguard congressionally authorized and appropriated funding from rescission, reprogramming, or impoundment – particularly when it comes to vehicle electrification programs.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) represented a historic investment in strengthening and building out our national infrastructure. We have a unique opportunity to not only reauthorize this foundation but bolster many of the highly popular and effective transportation programs authorized by the IIJA. Attempts to eliminate investments in cleaner transportation run counter to the cooperative spirit this process depends on. While we understand that reforms may be necessary and that legislating inherently requires compromise, we urge you to ensure that this reauthorization process does not take a partisan tenor replete with extraordinary attempts to undercut zero-emission technologies, investments, and American innovation.

Programs like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) discretionary grant program, the Carbon Reduction Program, the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities (RTEPF), and the Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low No) were the product of bipartisan negotiation. They expand consumer choice, reduce costs, and strengthen U.S. leadership in transportation technology. None of these programs or the projects they fund constitute a mandate. In fact, programs like NEVI and CFI provide the roadway infrastructure needed to refuel or recharge advanced vehicles, enabling consumers to choose vehicles that best meet their needs without being constrained by range anxiety or refueling gaps. The CFI program in particular supports refueling infrastructure for a range of technologies, including hydrogen, electric, natural gas, and propane. Eliminating or repurposing funding for these programs would undercut the multi-year bipartisan surface reauthorization process, which is essential to giving states and localities the stability they need to plan long-term infrastructure projects. That stability is lost when Congress cedes its constitutional powers to the Executive Branch.

Federal investments in electric vehicles (EVs) have also created well-paying American manufacturing, construction, and maintenance jobs, reinforced by the existing strong Build America, Buy America requirements. Since 2022, more than $200 billion has been invested in domestic EV manufacturing capacity. Notably, 22 of the 25 congressional districts with the greatest share of this investment are represented by Republicans. These projects are expected to create over 160,000 jobs in charging manufacturing alone. Stripping financial support for the infrastructure that sustains these industries jeopardizes both the success of these investments and the economic mobility of our constituents. Moreover, abandoning these commitments cedes the industries of the future to China and undermines American competitiveness in the global economy.

We urge your committees to approach surface transportation negotiations collaboratively, incorporating and standing by key priorities from both sides of the aisle. However, eliminating dedicated investments in EV and alternative fueling technologies would represent a departure from the bipartisan cooperation that has always driven surface transportation legislation. We remain committed to advancing American transportation innovation, safety, and excellence, and we hope the reauthorization process will maintain that same spirit of partnership.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ranking-members-padilla-durbin-raskin-jayapal-trump-admin-too-cowardly-to-defend-shocking-decision-to-abandon-refugees/,"Ranking Members Padilla, Durbin, Raskin, Jayapal: Trump Admin Too Cowardly to Defend Shocking Decision to Abandon Refugees",2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, issued the following statement after Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. refused to meet their legal obligation to consult with Congress on the Administration’s refugee admissions plan — sending deputies to stage a charade consultation instead:

“51 days after the legal deadline, the Trump Administration today came to Capitol Hill in response to our monthslong demands that they follow the law and consult with Congress on their refugee admissions plan.

“It is outrageous that Secretaries Noem, Rubio, and Kennedy were too cowardly to come before us and explain their shocking decision to abandon nearly 130,000 vetted, approved refugees facing persecution and violence abroad. Instead, they sent their deputies, in brazen violation of the law which explicitly requires a consultation by ‘Cabinet-level representatives of the President.’

“The Trump Secretaries ignored their legal obligations to face us because their policy is indefensible. It is impossible to defend leaving desperate families — men, women, and children who were promised a lifeline — twisting in the winds of global violence. It is impossible to justify a policy that abandons America’s historic commitment to offering safe harbor to the persecuted. Trump’s team has slashed refugee admissions to the lowest level in our nation’s history and reserved the bulk of the few remaining slots for white South African Afrikaners. They didn’t show up because their betrayal is unspeakable.

“The U.S. Refugee Resettlement program has always been a bipartisan matter of pride for our country, and a critically important tool in our toolbox for achieving multiple goals that are critically important to American interests. The destruction of the program will hurt our humanitarian and diplomacy efforts for decades to come.

“After months of evasion, diversion, and invoking the Republican shutdown as an alibi, the Administration thought they’d pacify us with more disrespect for the law. They were sorely mistaken.

“The Secretaries couldn’t be bothered to come to Congress today, but they should at least learn the route: they’ll be spending plenty of time here when Democrats retake the gavel.”

Last month, Padilla, Durbin, Raskin, and Jayapal slammed the Trump Administration’s decision to slash refugee admissions to 7,500 — almost entirely limited to white Afrikaners from South Africa — without the legally required consultation with Congress. In September, the lawmakers blasted the Trump Administration’s blatant violation of federal law in refusing to consult Congress on refugee admissions.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-padilla-schiff-resolution-congratulating-los-angeles-dodgers-on-back-to-back-world-series-championships/,"Senate Passes Padilla, Schiff Resolution Congratulating Los Angeles Dodgers on Back-to-Back World Series Championships",2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their resolution congratulating the Los Angeles Dodgers on their World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, their second straight championship and third in the past six years. The resolution applauds the Dodgers’ historic championship run, becoming the first team in 25 years to earn back-to-back World Series titles.

The resolution celebrates the dedication and teamwork of the entire Dodgers roster and staff who made their comeback Game 7 World Series victory possible. It specifically highlights the contributions of World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Yoshinobu Yamamoto, National League Championship Series MVP Shohei Ohtani, Game 7 heroes Will Smith and Miguel Rojas, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

“In a season defined by grit, the Dodgers closed out a historic championship run with an instant Game 7 classic that will echo through baseball forever,” said Senator Padilla. “From global superstars like Shohei and Yamamoto to unsung heroes like Miggy Ro and Will Klein, every single player played a pivotal role in cementing a Dodgers dynasty to keep Los Angeles atop the baseball world. Congratulations to Dave Roberts and the entire Dodgers organization on earning their third title in six years and giving Angelenos a lifetime of memories to cherish.”

“For the second year in a row, the Dodgers are World Champions, and in this year’s World Series, the Boys in the Blue fought hard and proved their championship mettle. Thank you to the players, coaches, and staff for a season we’ll never forget and for pouring your hearts and soul into the game. The Dodgers have once again given Angelenos countless memories to celebrate, and with this resolution, we honor their tremendous accomplishments,” said Senator Schiff.

The Dodgers’ victory in Game 7 of the World Series marked the ninth World Series championship for the Dodgers franchise and their eighth title since moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958. The team won their 12th National League West Division title in the last 13 seasons before defeating the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays en route to their World Series title.

Full text of the resolution is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-booker-call-on-dhs-to-provide-information-on-hiring-standards-and-training-protocols-for-newly-hired-ice-agents/,"Padilla, Booker Call on DHS to Provide Information on Hiring Standards and Training Protocols for Newly Hired ICE Agents",2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, demanded answers from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leadership on the hiring standards and training protocols for newly hired ICE agents. The Senators argued that by significantly lowering hiring and training standards for new federal agents, the Administration has already compromised the integrity, professionalism, or operational readiness of the federal immigration law enforcement workforce.

In their letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott, the Senators pushed for answers on DHS’ changes to its hiring and training policies to rebuild the public’s trust and ensure integrity in law enforcement.

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bears full responsibility for ensuring that every individual placed in a position of federal authority has undergone thorough vetting, comprehensive training, and is subject to robust oversight. The authority to detain and use force, including, in extreme circumstances, deadly force, is not a game, and it is not a performance,” wrote the Senators. “Deploying personnel who lack the qualifications and training long required of federal officers all but guarantees breaches of constitutional, statutory, and regulatory obligations, threatens public safety and civil rights, endangers officers, risks repeating historical abuses of federal power, and undermines the legitimacy of law enforcement and democracy.”

“In addition to lowering hiring standards, public reports of misconduct among current officers call into question the Department’s ability to adequately train thousands of new hires on an accelerated timeline. American citizens and noncitizens alike are already experiencing the consequences of DHS’s undermining of accountability and failure to maintain even basic professional standards,” continued the Senators.

Reporting last month indicated that ICE dismissed more than 200 newly hired recruits after they failed to meet even the newly lowered hiring requirements. Many of these issues arose during training after many of the recruits admitted that they had not been fingerprinted or drug tested. This revelation raises concerns that other recruits already on the job were not properly vetted, threatening public safety.

Senators Booker and Padilla demanded answers to a series of questions regarding the Department’s vetting, training, and supervision protocols for all current, newly hired, and reassigned personnel so that Congress can assess whether DHS is meeting its constitutional obligations.

“DHS has a duty to ensure that all officers — both new and currently in service — are properly trained, effectively supervised, and held accountable for their actions. In only months, DHS’s failure to meet its obligations has tarnished the reputation of federal law enforcement, endangered and victimized the public, and eroded public trust in the rule of law. This is unacceptable, and DHS must act swiftly to correct these failures, uphold the rule of law, and respect the Constitutional rights of all people in America,” concluded the Senators.

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s cruel and indiscriminate mass deportation agenda, including against his unprecedented, illegal militarization of Los Angeles and other American cities. Yesterday, Padilla walked out of Senate Republicans’ unserious subcommittee hearing entitled “ICE Under Fire: The Radical Left’s Crusade Against Immigration Enforcement,” in protest of the Trump Administration’s violent immigration enforcement actions across the country. In July, Padilla and Senator Booker introduced the VISIBLE Act to require immigration enforcement officers to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement actions.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Noem, Acting Director Lyons, and Commissioner Scott,

We write regarding the surge in hiring of thousands of new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers by the end of 2025. Given the magnitude and pace of this expansion of federal law enforcement forces, we are seeking information on the hiring standards and training protocols in place to ensure that this rapid expansion does not compromise the integrity, professionalism, or readiness of the federal immigration law enforcement workforce. Of particular concern is the potential deployment of inadequately trained or insufficiently vetted enforcement officers in cities across the country.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bears full responsibility for ensuring that every individual placed in a position of federal authority has undergone thorough vetting, comprehensive training, and is subject to robust oversight. The authority to detain and use force, including, in extreme circumstances, deadly force, is not a game, and it is not a performance.

Deploying personnel who lack the qualifications and training long required of federal officers all but guarantees breaches of constitutional, statutory, and regulatory obligations, threatens public safety and civil rights, endangers officers, risks repeating historical abuses of federal power, and undermines the legitimacy of law enforcement and democracy.

For decades, federal law enforcement officers have been held to the highest eligibility standards, often exceeding those of state and local agencies, and have undergone a stringent vetting process. Once hired, they have received extensive training to ensure they meet baseline performance standards required for law enforcement. By all accounts, since the beginning of this year, DHS, ICE, and CBP have dropped the eligibility criteria and training requirements to dangerously low levels, creating the potential for a poorly trained force consisting of thousands of new officers, deployed in communities across America, with the legal authority to use deadly force. Last month, reports indicated that more than 200 newly hired recruits were dismissed after failing to meet ICE’s own hiring requirements. Many of the issues surfaced during training only after the recruits admitted during training that they had not been fingerprinted or drug tested, raising the alarming possibility that individuals who did not disclose such lapses may already be on the job. This amounts to government malpractice that endangers public safety.

Since January, the Administration has significantly expanded ICE and CBP operations, deploying officers to communities nationwide to locate and deport noncitizens. More than 70 percent of detained noncitizens have no criminal record, and many were actively engaged in the process to legalize their status. ICE and CBP personnel have been further supplemented by agents diverted from other federal agencies that do not conduct immigration enforcement. However, the Administration’s quota of 3,000 arrests per day – in addition to fueling indiscriminate arrests of immigrants – has created a demand for thousands more officers. To fulfill this “mission,” ICE has received $170.1 billion for immigration enforcement and the hiring of 10,000 officers under the Republican spending bill deceptively titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” making it the highest funded federal law enforcement agency in history. This infusion of funds has seemingly triggered a hiring frenzy that raises serious concerns about DHS’s recruitment standards and training protocols. In August, Secretary Noem announced that ICE planned to end all age restrictions by changing the minimum age for ICE agents from 21 years old to just 18 years old, a move widely criticized as reckless and politically motivated.

In addition to lowering hiring standards, public reports of misconduct among current officers call into question the Department’s ability to adequately train thousands of new hires on an accelerated timeline. American citizens and noncitizens alike are already experiencing the consequences of DHS’s undermining of accountability and failure to maintain even basic professional standards. In September, an ICE officer violently threw a woman to the ground at a New York immigration court. Although he was placed on administrative leave pending investigation, he was back in the field within days and faced no disciplinary action. Just weeks later, ICE officers grabbed and shoved journalists reporting from a hallway outside a New York City immigration court, hospitalizing one of the journalists. Poor training has also jeopardized federal law enforcement officers. In October, an ICE officer discharged their firearm, injuring two people including a United States Marshal. These incidents reveal systemic deficiencies that necessitate immediate and comprehensive review and reform to prevent endangering the public. They also raise questions about the effectiveness of supervisory structure, training of supervisors themselves, and the robustness of accountability systems to address misconduct. It is imperative to ensure that officers, particularly those hired under diminishing standards, are not granted unchecked authority to use unnecessary and excessive force or physical aggression.

Rather than prioritizing comprehensive training and effective supervision, the Department reportedly is cutting corners and loosening its training requirements. In August, ICE ended its five-week mandatory in-person Spanish language course in favor of unspecified translation technologies. On August 8, Secretary Noem suggested DHS plans to open new training centers in cities across the country to meet the demand created by the unprecedented influx of new recruits that cannot, despite DHS’s claims to the contrary, be met by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. ICE leadership has also suggested that the agency is exploring additional ways to streamline training in its rush to deploy new recruits into the field. Alarmingly, while ICE officers previously received nearly five months of training, reports indicate they now receive just 47 days, a number chosen for its symbolic connection to President Trump being the 47th President, not any legitimate law enforcement metric to assess. This failure to adequately train officers strongly suggests that the Department is demonstrating deliberate indifference to the rights and safety of the individuals with whom ICE officers interact.

The credibility of ICE and CBP as law enforcement agencies depends on the quality and professionalism of their officers. Strong recruitment standards and rigorous training are essential not only to prepare officers for the challenges of the job but also to foster public confidence in the agency’s mission. We urge your agencies to commit to the highest possible standards for all officers, both newly hired and already in the field, and particularly for officer recruitment and training. Accordingly, we request detailed responses to the questions below regarding the Department’s vetting, training, and supervision protocols for all newly hired or reassigned personnel within 14 days, so that Congress can assess whether DHS is meeting its constitutional obligations. For each question, please provide information for recruit training and in-service training.

1. What specific changes have been made to the eligibility requirements for new ICE and CBP officers, and what is the rationale for those changes?

2. Have minimum educational or prior law enforcement experience requirements been altered, and if so, how? What is the rationale for those changes?

3. Have drug testing standards been modified, and if so, how? What is the rationale for those changes?

4. Have ICE or CBP changed the social media screening practices for applicants? Do social media screening practices include looking for and excluding applicants who hold any extremist views? Please describe the screening process and factors that may disqualify an applicant.

5. What modifications have been made to the training curriculum, and how do they differ from prior standards? Please specify the topics covered, changes to the training modules, including method of delivery, and the total duration of the training prior to and after the hiring surge.

6. What on-the-job training with a field officer did new recruits receive prior to the hiring surge? Under the hiring surge, do new recruits still receive this training?

7. What training or other resources have replaced the formerly mandatory five-week Spanish language course to ensure effective communication between officers and individuals who speak Spanish?

8. Please describe the existing training program for any ICE contractors who directly interact with detained people. Include details on the topics covered, training modules, including method of delivery, and the total duration of the training.

9. Are there proposals to streamline the training for these contractors? If so, please describe those proposals and provide the rationale for the changes proposed.

10. What specific changes have been made to metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of ICE and CBP officer training, and what is the rationale for these changes?

11. How will you ensure that any recent changes to performance and training metrics do not compromise officer preparedness or public safety?

12. What training do ICE and CBP provide to employees from other federal agencies reassigned to immigration enforcement operations? When are these employees required to complete such training? Include details on the topics covered, training modules, including method of delivery, and the total duration of the training.

13. For each of the following topics, (i) confirm whether officers from other federal law enforcement agencies assigned or reassigned to immigration enforcement receive training related to that topic; (ii) provide the number of hours of required training; and (iii) identify the platform on which these trainings will be delivered (e.g., classroom, scenario-based, virtual):

1. Constitutional law

2. Immigration law

3. Criminal law

4. Investigations

5. Witness interviews

6. Interactions with youth

7. Report writing

8. First aid and safety training

9. Crisis intervention

10. Firearms

11. Use of force

12. Deescalation

13. First amendment protected activity

14. Stops, searches, and arrests

15. Misconduct reporting

This Administration has been actively flaunting an aggressive, militarized approach to immigration enforcement, sending the message that it can use federal force against communities with impunity. At the center of this effort are thousands of officers who appear to lack the professionalism, tactical skill, and judgment required of federal law enforcement, yet have been given broad authority to operate unchecked, while the Department ramps up recruitment and hiring of an unprecedented number of new officers. DHS has a duty to ensure that all officers – both new and currently in service –are properly trained, effectively supervised, and held accountable for their actions. In only months, DHS’s failure to meet its obligations has tarnished the reputation of federal law enforcement, endangered and victimized the public, and eroded public trust in the rule of law. This is unacceptable, and DHS must act swiftly to correct these failures, uphold the rule of law, and respect the Constitutional rights of all people in America.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-huffman-denounce-trump-administrations-plan-to-sell-off-californias-pristine-coastline/,"Padilla, Huffman Denounce Trump Administration’s Plan to Sell Off California’s Pristine Coastline",2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Draft proposal seeks six California lease sales despite clear legal limits and decades of bipartisan coastal protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02) released the following statement condemning the Trump Administration’s draft 2027-2032 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The plan proposes opening vast swaths of previously protected federal waters — including the California coast — to new oil and gas drilling for the first time in over 40 years.

“With this draft plan, Donald Trump and his Administration are trying to destroy one of the most valuable, most protected coastlines in the world and hand it over to the fossil fuel industry.

“They didn’t listen to Californians. They didn’t listen to communities up and down the West Coast. Instead, Trump wants to take a wrecking ball to our communities while trampling over anyone who stands between him and what billionaires demand.

“These lease areas are not only irreplaceable, but allowing drilling in these areas would undermine military readiness and pose risks to national security. But Trump doesn’t care. Californians remember every spill, every dead dolphin and sea otter, every fishing season wrecked by contamination. We built stronger, cleaner, more resilient coastal communities — and a burgeoning $1.7 trillion coastal economy — in spite of all that. And we’re not going to stand by and watch it get destroyed by Trump’s oil and gas pet projects.

“This plan targets California and the whole West Coast because they think we will roll over. They are wrong. We’re going to fight this with everything we have.”

The Trump Administration’s draft 2027 to 2032 Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing plan released on November 20 marks the most aggressive push in decades to open all of the California coast to oil and gas drilling.

The proposal includes six lease sales off California between 2027 and 2030, the first attempt to drill in these waters in more than 40 years. This move directly targets areas President Biden withdrew from future leasing in January 2025, when he protected 625 million acres in the Pacific, Atlantic, Eastern Gulf, and Arctic. Trump tried to wipe out those protections on his first day back in office, repeating the same maneuver a federal court rejected in 2017 when he attempted to undo President Obama’s Arctic and Atlantic withdrawals.

Senator Padilla and Representative Huffman have been leading the charge against offshore oil and gas leases. Last month, Padilla and Huffman led over 100 lawmakers in demanding President Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum immediately cease any plans to open new offshore oil and gas leases in U.S. federal waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, in the Arctic Ocean and northern Bering Sea off of Alaska, and in the Eastern Gulf.

On Earth Day, Padilla and Huffman, along with Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Representative Frank Pallone (D-N.J.-06), announced a pair of bills to permanently protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling. Padilla and Huffman’s West Coast Ocean Protection Act would permanently prohibit new oil and gas leases for offshore drilling off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. In 2021, Senator Padilla joined West Coast Senators in calling on Senate leadership to include the West Coast Ocean Protection Act in the Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill after an estimated 126,000 gallons of oil spilled off the coast of California.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-joins-bill-to-repeal-senate-republicans-cash-grab-in-government-funding-bill/,Padilla Joins Bill to Repeal Senate Republicans’ Cash Grab in Government Funding Bill,2025-11-19,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, joined Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and 25 other Senate colleagues in introducing the Anti-Cash Grab Act, legislation that would repeal a provision — quietly added into the Senate government funding bill at the last minute by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) — that allows certain Senate Republicans to sue to collect taxpayer funds from the Department of Justice (DOJ). This secretive provision could enable some Senators to sue to collect $500,000 for each instance in which DOJ acquired their phone records during lawful investigations.

These provisions will specifically benefit eight Republican Senators, each of whom could collect at least $1 million in taxpayer money.

“As Americans across the country struggled to feed their families and saw their health care costs skyrocket, Senate Republicans were trying to line their pockets with taxpayer funds,” said Senator Padilla. “President Trump and his allies are turning the Justice Department into their personal ATM while turning a blind eye to working families. We cannot allow these Senate Republicans to carry out their cash grab behind closed doors.”

“While Democrats were fighting to make health care more affordable and help working families put food on the table, Senate Republicans were focused on taxpayer-funded windfalls for themselves. Let’s be crystal clear: negotiating a $500,000 windfall for yourself while refusing to help everyday Americans is wrong and deserves to be called out,” said Senator Heinrich. “Our bill is about accountability, transparency, and fighting for working families. The Senate must take this bill up and pass it now.”

“While we were fighting to lower health care costs and keep food on the table for hardworking Americans, Senate Republicans were slipping a taxpayer-funded payout for themselves into the government funding bill,” said Senator Kelly. “It’s a political cash grab — plain and simple, and our bill puts an end to it. Republicans and Democrats should be able to agree that ripping off American taxpayers is bad policy.”

Specifically, the Anti-Cash Grab Act:

Repeals section 213 of division C of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026.

Removes a private right of action allowing Senators to retroactively collect $500,000 or more for data that federal investigators legally obtained.

Blocks millions in taxpayer-funded cash kickbacks to Senate Republicans.

This bill does not preclude making legitimate reforms to notification requirements regarding Senate data in future, separate legislation.

In addition to Senator Padilla, the Anti-Cash Grab Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-walks-out-of-sham-immigration-subcommittee-hearing-on-attacks-by-the-radical-left/,WATCH: Padilla Walks Out of Sham Immigration Subcommittee Hearing on Attacks by the “Radical Left”,2025-11-19,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, spoke at Senate Republicans’ subcommittee hearing titled, “ICE Under Fire: The Radical Left’s Crusade Against Immigration Enforcement.” Padilla emphasized that violence against law enforcement is never acceptable, but Republicans’ partisan hearing was an outrageous attempt to deflect from the Administration’s consistent excessive use of force and racial profiling during immigration enforcement actions across the country, while parroting the Administration’s unsubstantiated claims to justify President Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

Without any government witnesses to testify or data to back up the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) claims of a large spike in assaults on its officers and agents, Padilla reiterated that the hearing was “not a serious attempt to protect law enforcement” or conduct oversight. Padilla has submitted requests to DHS for months to back up their statements of a “500%,” “1,000%,” and now “8,000%” increase in assaults and death threats against their agents and officers, but DHS has refused to provide the underlying data.

At the same time, Padilla stressed that while DHS claims to be going after “the worst of the worst” violent criminals, over 70 percent of those currently detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody have no criminal record. Yet ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continue violently abusing their power against individuals, including American citizens and hardworking long-term immigrants, in cities throughout the nation.

Video of Padilla’s remarks before walking out of the hearing can be seen here and can be downloaded here.

Padilla’s full remarks, as delivered, are available below:

Good afternoon, thank you Mr. Chairman.

Let me first say that violence against law enforcement is never okay.

I speak for all my Democratic colleagues on the committee and the Senate for that matter in saying so. Violence against law enforcement is never okay.

And I will continue to emphasize that as we have in the past, we will today, and in the future if for no other reason because many of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle suggest and accuse Democrats of believing otherwise.

But for today’s hearing, let me begin with a very simple question: Why are we here?

Are we here truly to conduct oversight and find ways to actually improve the situation and public safety in our communities? Or are we simply here to throw more fuel on the political fire?

Today’s hearing title tells us all we need to know: “The Radical Left’s Crusade Against Immigration Enforcement.”

That doesn’t exactly set the stage for a productive, serious conversation about how we both protect law enforcement officials and improve public safety.

It’s the title of the next exercise in Republican political theater. That’s really what’s happening here.

So let me once again say that violence against law enforcement is never okay.

But I refuse to sit back as this committee attempts to use or condone the use of law enforcement as a shield for abuses of power by this Administration.

If today’s hearing was indeed a serious effort to protect our law enforcement, we would have government witnesses testifying before us today and fielding our questions as a committee.

But that’s not the case.

If today’s hearing was a serious effort, those government witnesses would be providing facts and data behind the numbers that the Department of Homeland Security so often cites to claim an increase in assaults on its officers and agents.

But even after repeated requests, months and months of request from my office and from others to the Department of Homeland Security to back up their claims of — is it “500%?” Is it “1,000%?” Now we’re even hearing claims of up to “8,000%” increase in assaults or death threats — they have refused to provide them.

Mr. Chairman, you’re very well aware of this. You and I discussed this last week. And as far as I can tell, they’ve even refused your requests for data and statistics.

Why am I insisting on this? Why am I making this point?

Because that data is critical. Not only would it allow us to actually verify their claims, but that data would be critical to informing our policy response.

So no, today’s hearing is not a serious attempt to protect law enforcement.

It’s designed to fuel the propaganda machine and encourage even more brutal immigration enforcement operations.

It’s designed to cover up for the fact that after President Trump pledged to go after the worst of the worst, this we do know from DHS statistics: over 70 percent of those currently detained in ICE custody have no criminal record.

If they were simply focused on those truly dangerous, violent criminals, there would be no objection, there would be no debate, there would be no discussion. But the reality is far from their claims.

At the same time, what we are seeing every day is new acts of brutality and misuse of force in communities across the country.

But my guess is that today, you won’t be hearing about the Department of Homeland Security’s violent take downs of peaceful, hardworking long-term immigrants who don’t have that violent criminal record that the Administration wants you to believe.

And I’m not just making this up. There’s case after case, including a deaf DACA recipient who had his hands cuffed and his phone taken away so he couldn’t communicate as he was shoved into the back of a car.

You won’t hear about the journalists who were threatened and assaulted, one so severely in New York they had to be hospitalized.

You won’t hear about the clergy being shot in the head with a pepper ball or arrested for attempting to administer the sacrament of communion to the faithful at a detention facility.

And you won’t hear about the 170 American citizens — there’s probably more, but that’s what’s been documented — caught up in these chaotic immigration raids. American citizens caught up in these raids.

Even as Secretary Noem lies and … when she says that no American citizens have been detained, every week, we read new reports about another American who’s had their neck kneeled on, their door blown off, or their window smashed, and even a pregnant woman in Florida — a United States citizen — who was thrown to the ground during an arrest, and who later miscarried. This is happening every day across the country.

Masked agents have become so emboldened that even a Reagan-appointed federal judge recently wrote, and I’ll quote: “In all our history we have never tolerated an armed masked secret police … carrying on in this fashion.”

Now, this Administration ignores the fundamental rights to due process every day as it carries out this authoritarian enforcement agenda, and instead has replaced it with the idea that if you look or talk a certain way, that’s enough for you to be detained or even deported before you have a day in court.

That’s not just morally wrong; it’s an attack on our fundamental liberties and the rule of law in the United States of America.

But again, Republicans don’t want to discuss any of this. Why? Out of fear of crossing the President and his outrage machine.

Americans have had enough.

They’re sick of masked agents disrespecting daycares, schools, and churches, disappearing loved ones, and intimidating our communities.

Americans are demanding that we do something.

So, Mr. Chairman, it’s clear to me that this hearing will not be a serious or constructive conversation.

And for that reason, I refuse to give oxygen to the fire of disinformation and propaganda that this hearing was set up to ignite.

And I refuse to be part of this charade.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-merkley-schiff-wyden-demand-election-commissioner-correct-dangerous-voting-misinformation-or-resign/,"Padilla, Merkley, Schiff, Wyden Demand Election Commissioner Correct Dangerous Voting Misinformation or Resign",2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators to EAC Commissioner McCormick: “If you do not disavow these comments immediately, we urge you to resign your position to protect the integrity of the Commission and its important nonpartisan work.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) demanded that Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Commissioner Christy McCormick either rescind her dangerous and false statements about noncitizen voting or resign immediately. During a recent panel at the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute, McCormick spread a conspiracy theory that Democrats “need open borders, they need illegal citizens to increase their votes […] And this is why they’re fighting so adamantly against us.”

The EAC’s stated mission is to “help election officials improve the administration of elections and help Americans participate in the voting process.” However, President Trump has repeatedly tried to weaponize the agency through his illegal anti-voter executive order and other actions beyond Executive Branch authority, including his attempts to require burdensome documentary proof of citizenship, to unilaterally rewrite voting system standards, and to preclude states from counting mail-in ballots according to state law. The Senators condemned McCormick’s abuse of her role on the bipartisan EAC to promote harmful, baseless misinformation that threatens election officials and the security of American elections.

“This is deeply dangerous to voters, our election system, and more broadly to our democracy,” wrote the Senators. “EAC Commissioners carry an extra level of responsibility when speaking about election administration, and if you stand by your public statements about widespread voter fraud without any evidence, we urge you to resign immediately.”

“It is completely unacceptable for an individual who was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve on a bipartisan commission with this mission to make inflammatory, false, and partisan claims of voter fraud conspiracy theories,” continued the Senators. “This rhetoric of significant noncitizen voting is used — without evidence — to advance false claims around the security of our elections and anyone who willingly espouses it both undermines election officials, sows distrust in our system and is regularly weaponized to further suppress eligible voters.”

Contrary to McCormick’s claims, voting by noncitizens is extremely rare and is already a federal crime punishable by up to one year in prison, as eligible voters must attest under penalty of perjury that they are citizens. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud, but baseless accusations by President Trump and his allies have real consequences, including increased threats against local election workers.

Senator Padilla has led the charge opposing President Trump’s unlawful attempt at a Presidential power grab through his anti-voter executive order and weaponization of the EAC. Earlier this year, Padilla led 14 Democratic Senators in calling on President Trump to revoke his illegal executive order that would disenfranchise millions of Americans. Additionally, Padilla and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25) warned officials at the EAC about the dangerous implications for elections following President Trump’s executive order purporting to bring independent regulatory agencies under total control of the White House.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Commissioner McCormick,

We write to condemn your October 29, 2025, remarks before the America First Policy Institute in which you claimed that Democratic opposition to restrictive voting laws is because “They need open borders, they need illegal citizens to increase their votes […] And this is why they’re fighting so adamantly against us.” These comments are indefensible and bring into question whether you are fit to serve as a commissioner on the Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

This is deeply dangerous to voters, our election system, and more broadly to our democracy. EAC Commissioners carry an extra level of responsibility when speaking about election administration, and if you stand by your public statements about widespread voter fraud without any evidence, we urge you to resign immediately.

The mission statement of the EAC states that it serves to “[help] election officials improve the administration of elections and helps Americans participate in the voting process.” It is completely unacceptable for an individual who was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve on a bipartisan commission with this mission to make inflammatory, false, and partisan claims of voter fraud conspiracy theories. This rhetoric of significant noncitizen voting is used – without evidence – to advance false claims around the security of our elections and anyone who willingly espouses it both undermines election officials, sows distrust in our system and is regularly weaponized to further suppress eligible voters.

As you know, voting by noncitizens is exceedingly rare, and there are already checks in place to ensure that noncitizens do not register to vote, as eligible voters attest to their citizenship under penalty of perjury and voting for noncitizens in federal elections is a federal crime, punishable by up to one year in prison. While the President and his allies continually repeat such false claims, and denies the outcome of the 2020 election, there is no evidence of significant voter fraud, including fraud involving noncitizen voters.

Our opposition to efforts at the EAC to restrict voter access stems from the President’s illegal attempts to exert authority over elections that the Executive Branch lacks under our constitution. Efforts to modify voter registration procedures to require burdensome documentary proof of citizenship, to direct your Commission to condition federal funds on compliance with registration of ballot counting procedures, to prevent states from counting mail ballots received after Election Day, or to direct voting system standards fall far outside of what the President is able to do and under the Elections Clause, clearly belong to Congress and the States to decide.

Again, it is unacceptable for an EAC Commissioner to make public statements amplifying partisan election conspiracy theories. If you do not disavow these comments immediately, we urge you to resign your position to protect the integrity of the Commission and its important nonpartisan work.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-announce-nearly-300-million-for-low-emission-california-commuter-buses/,"Padilla, Schiff Announce Nearly $300 Million for Low-Emission California Commuter Buses",2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded over $297 million to 24 California projects to help transition to low-emission bus models across the state. The funding comes through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Low or No Emission (Low-No) grant program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities program. Padilla and Schiff supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s substantial increase in funding for these programs.

The Low-No program helps transit agencies buy or lease U.S.-made low- or no-emission buses and make critical facility, station, and charging upgrades to facilitate this transition. The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities program provides federal funding for transit agencies to buy and rehabilitate buses and vans and build and modernize bus facilities. California will receive $267.70 million from the Low-No program and $29.68 million from the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities program.

“Growing up in Pacoima, I experienced firsthand the harmful health and environmental impacts communities along busy transit corridors face from poor air quality,” said Senator Padilla. “This nearly $300 million investment in our transition to low-emission buses will improve public health and promote a cleaner commute for millions of Californians. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, California commuters are benefiting from a more reliable, modernized, and sustainable transportation system.”

“Putting new, clean air buses on California’s streets will improve commutes, cut pollution, and enhance the quality of life for communities from Alameda to Yuba and all across our state. Even years after its passage, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is continuing to deliver for California,” said Senator Schiff.

Recipients of funding from the Low-No and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities programs include:

Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) — $63.95 million for the LAVTA BIG BUS Project

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency — $39.80 million to procure 40-foot hybrid diesel electric motor coaches to replace an aging fleet

Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) — $39.67 million for the Revitalizing Sacramento’s Transit Fleet Project

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) — $20.31 million for the Fleet and Facility Modernization Project

North County Transit District (NCTD) — $16.77 million for the Bus Replacement Project to Enhance Safety and Reliability

City of Fresno — $16.69 million for the FAX Bus and Bus Facilities Rehabilitation and Replacement Project

Culver City Municipal Bus Lines — $14.45 million for the Culver City Bus Replacement Project

Yuba-Sutter Transit Authority — $12.71 million for the Next Generation Bus Operations, Maintenance and Administration Facility Project

Golden Empire Transit District — $11.79 million for Advancing Sustainable Transit

San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) — $10.33 million for the RTD’s Low Emission Transition Project and Zero Emission Hydrogen Fuel Cell Station Expansion Project

The full list of awards for California is available here.

Senator Padilla has championed the transition from diesel-powered buses to zero-emission vehicles, including through his bicameral Clean Commute For Kids Act. Last year, Padilla announced over $233 million for 16 California projects through the Low-No and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities programs. He previously applauded over $184 million from the Low-No program and the FY 2023 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities program to support the transition to zero- and low-emission buses.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-curtis-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-create-first-ever-respiratory-protection-requirements-for-federal-firefighters/,"Padilla, Schiff, Curtis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Create First-Ever Respiratory Protection Requirements for Federal Firefighters",2025-11-17,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Federal firefighters were prohibited from wearing respiratory protections while fighting wildfires, this bill would create the first-of-its-kind standard to change that

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Wildfire Caucus, joined Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and John Curtis (R-Utah.) in introducing the Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act, bipartisan legislation to create the first-ever respiratory protection standards for wildland firefighters.

For decades, federal firefighters were prohibited from wearing respiratory protection despite a growing body of evidence warning about long-term health risks of wildfire smoke. This bill would ensure the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) take long overdue steps to protect the health of these heroes. This legislation is also cosponsored by Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).

“Wildland firefighters deploy in the most extreme conditions to combat wildfires, preserve vital ecosystems, and save lives. These heroic men and women should not be forced to face long-term illness or premature death due to smoke exposure on the job. Our bill ensures that firefighters are given the critical protective equipment they need to stay healthy during the long, grueling hours on the front lines protecting us all,” said Senator Padilla.

“Firefighters are heroes, and it’s critical that we do everything possible to ensure they’re protected from the health risks associated with wildfires. I am proud to introduce this long-overdue bipartisan bill with my Senate colleagues to minimize the toxic exposures that firefighters face when they’re bravely defending our communities and public lands. I’m going to push for Congress to pass this commonsense proposal,” said Senator Schiff.

“Our wildland firefighters already face some of the most grueling, dangerous conditions imaginable. The least we can do is ensure access to materials that will protect them from the long-term health consequences of breathing toxic smoke. This bill ensures we bring common sense, science, and basic decency to how we equip our firefighters,” said Senator Curtis.

Federal wildland firefighters often work 16-hour shifts in grueling conditions, inhaling toxic smoke. Despite this, federal wildland firefighters were prohibited from wearing respiratory protection despite evidence warning about health risks of wildfire smoke. Studies have shown exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to adverse health impacts, including more than a dozen kinds of cancer. The life expectancy of firefighters is 10 years less than the average adult due to lung damage.

In September 2025, USFS posted guidance acknowledging for the first time that respiratory protections can protect firefighters against harmful particles in wildfire smoke and reversing a decades-long rule that banned federal wildland firefighters from wearing respiratory protection while performing wildland firefighting activities. The legislation reinforces this action to ensure the agencies develop respiratory protections for firefighters.

The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act specifically would:

Direct USFS and DOI to work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to develop appropriate respiratory protections that take into account the unique needs of wildland firefighters.

Direct USFS and DOI to provide protection to wildland firefighters and require its use when smoke exposure exceeds NIOSH and OSHA exposure limits.

The bill is endorsed by National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, FireGen Collaborative, and former U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell.

“We strongly support this legislation to modernize and standardize respiratory protection for wildland firefighters. As wildfire seasons grow longer and more dangerous, our federal wildland firefighters deserve safety standards that reflect the extreme conditions they face. Equally important is the bill’s mandate to determine appropriate equipment and regularly review and update all relevant PPE standards. This ensures that respiratory protection keeps pace with evolving science, operational demands, and the realities of modern fire behavior. Wildland firefighters risk their lives to protect our communities. Establishing clear exposure parameters and reliable respiratory protection is the least we owe to those who stand between our nation and catastrophic fire,” said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM).

“FireGen Collaborative strongly supports the Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act of 2025. As early career fire personnel, we understand the health disparities we face, and the importance of protecting our health to maintain our longevity and livelihoods. Yet, wildland firefighters face some of the most hazardous working conditions in public service, including chronic exposure to smoke and particulates. This legislation takes a crucial step to ensure that those who protect our communities are protected themselves, with strategies and evidence-based safety standards for protective equipment. We commend Congress for prioritizing the well-being of wildland firefighters and we urge swift passage of this critical measure,” said Ryan Reed, Program Director, FireGeneration Collaborative.

In the aftermath of the Southern California fires, Padilla introduced the bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to protect wildland firefighter pay and provide long-term workforce stability.

In 2023, Padilla and a bipartisan group of Senators urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to avoid mass resignations within the wildland firefighter ranks by ensuring the prompt passage of their bipartisan legislation. Padilla and a bipartisan group of Senators also urged the Biden Administration to establish a special pay rate for federal wildland firefighters to prevent staffing shortages and strengthen wildfire response efforts in 2022. Following that request, the Administration announced a temporary pay raise. Padilla and the late Senator Dianne Feinstein previously called on the Administration to increase wildland firefighter pay in 2021.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-republican-spending-proposal-that-fails-to-protect-americans-health-care/,Padilla Statement on Republican Spending Proposal That Fails to Protect Americans’ Health Care,2025-11-09,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after Republicans proposed another continuing resolution that fails to address the health care crisis they created:

“This does nothing to stop the Republican-made health care crisis. It does nothing to stop premiums from doubling for millions of Americans.

“Democrats are fighting to make health care more affordable and hold this corrupt and lawless administration accountable.

“We can’t end this fight now. I will be voting no.”

Senator Padilla has consistently slammed President Trump and Senate Republicans for rejecting Democrats’ bill to avert a government shutdown and protect health care coverage for millions of Americans. In September, Senator Padilla joined California health care leaders in Los Angeles to call on congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to protect health care coverage for nearly 2 million California residents and avoid a Republican-caused government shutdown. In July, Padilla blasted Senate Republicans’ passage of their tax bill that will kick 15 million Americans off their health care, shutter rural hospital across the country, gut critical programs, and explode the debt by over $3.5 trillion.

Californians and Americans across the country are facing the largest health insurance premium increases in 15 years and rising costs as a result of President Trump’s chaotic tariffs and catastrophic economic agenda, but Republicans are refusing to extend essential Affordable Care Act tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. These credits helped a record 24 million Americans enroll in Affordable Care Act exchanges this year.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-58-democrats-introduce-bicameral-bill-to-ensure-individuals-in-dhs-custody-can-speak-to-a-lawyer-contact-their-families/,"Padilla, Schiff, 58 Democrats Introduce Bicameral Bill to Ensure Individuals in DHS Custody Can Speak to a Lawyer, Contact Their Families",2025-11-07,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.-03), and 56 of their Senate and House colleagues in introducing the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, a bill to ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows detained noncitizens to contact legal counsel and their families.

The bill comes after months of credible reporting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have deprived detained individuals — including children and longtime legal residents — of the ability to access a lawyer, sometimes for months at a time. People have also been taken into custody and, in some cases, reportedly transferred to facilities in other countries, without being allowed to contact their families.

“Every noncitizen should be able to call their family and access legal representation while in detention,” said Senator Padilla. “Yet under Donald Trump, ICE and CBP have repeatedly denied detained individuals due process or the ability to talk to a lawyer, even disappearing them to other countries without letting them alert their families. Our bill would restore commonsense, humane protections for noncitizens in detention that were established during the first Trump Administration to ensure the basic dignity of being able to contact legal counsel or their families.”

“As the Trump administration continues to indiscriminately detain and deport noncitizens without due process, this bill is more important than ever. Families deserve to know where their loved ones are and detained immigrants should be able to access an attorney. I will keep pushing for Congress to pass this legislation,” said Senator Schiff.

“For months now, Americans have watched the horrific videos of CBP and ICE agents violently snatching people off the street at schools, workplaces, and grocery stores. But what happens after people are taken into custody is equally disturbing,” said Senator Murphy. “DHS has repeatedly refused to allow people to contact their families and lawyers, traumatizing children and families who are left searching for answers when their loved one suddenly misses after-school pickup or just doesn’t come home for dinner. It’s heartless and deeply un-American. This bill protects the basic right of people in this country to call their family – which often includes American citizens – when they are taken into custody. DHS has proven time and again they cannot be trusted to follow basic humanitarian principles, and it’s on Congress to step in and hold them accountable.”

“I saw with my own eyes the reality of Trump’s immigration system: a mother and her four U.S. citizen children disappeared and locked in a windowless cell unable to contact a lawyer or their loved ones. The inhumanity was staggering. If we allow this to continue, we will lose who we are,” said Representative Dexter. “I’m proud to join Senator Chris Murphy in defending the simple truth that access to legal counsel and communication with loved ones isn’t a luxury, it is a fundamental human right.”

The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas-16), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Becca Balint (D-Vt.-AL), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas-07), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), Jesus “Chuy” García (D-Ill.-04), Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.-10), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.-04), Julie Johnson (D-Texas-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.-02), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.-02), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.-10), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.-09), Emily Randall (D-Wash.-06), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.-10), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii-02), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.-05), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.-24).

Civil rights groups including the American Immigration Lawyers Association, National Immigration Law Center, National Immigrant Justice Center, Stop AAPI Hate, and New Haven Legal Assistance Association have endorsed the Restoring Access to Detainees Act.

“Nothing is more vital to ensuring a fair day in court than ensuring access to legal counsel for people deprived of their liberty who are trying to understand complex immigration laws. The ‘Restoring Access to Detainees Act’ is exactly the kind of good government reform that not only makes the immigration system more fair but also improves the courts’ efficiency. The American Immigration Lawyers Association applauds Senator Murphy and his cosponsors for leading the way,” said Gregory Z. Chen, Esq., Senior Director of Government Relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Specifically, the Restoring Access to Detainees Act would ensure noncitizens detained by DHS:

Have the ability to call their families to let them know where they are;

Have an opportunity to speak confidentially with their legal counsel or to find competent legal counsel while in custody;

Have an opportunity to communicate confidentially with existing oversight entities, if applicable; and

Have access to these basic communication needs through the restoration of a program from the first Trump Administration, which established a process for noncitizens to call their families while they are in deportation proceedings.

Notable instances of the Trump Administration cutting off detained individuals from legal counsel include:

Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old Columbia University graduate and U.S. permanent resident, was arrested without a warrant and transferred across three states — from New Jersey to New York to Louisiana — where he spent more than three months in a detention center with limited access to legal counsel.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old from El Salvador living in Maryland, was arrested without a warrant and detained in Texas. Days later, he called his wife to tell her that he was being sent to El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT — which turned out to be the last time his family heard from him until his return to the United States in June.

Jackie Merlos, a 44-year-old mother with a U-deferred visa and her four U.S. citizen children, who were detained for weeks in a windowless cell without access to legal counsel and unable to contact family or friends.

A 13-year-old Brazilian national was arrested in Everett, Massachusetts and transferred to a Virginia detention center. His family and lawyers were left in the dark for days about his location or the reason for his arrest.

Luis Peralta, who has lived in the United States since he was a child, was detained and transferred from Miami to Tacoma. Officers denied him access to his personal documents, leaving him unable to contact his family or attorney.

George Retes, a U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE agents and held incommunicado, leaving him unable to contact his family — who only learned what happened to him after his release.

Ramon Eduardo Contreras-Hernandez was denied access to legal representation after being transferred from an ICE detention center to a county jail, cutting him off from information about his own case.

A ProPublica investigation found that more than 20 U.S. citizens have reported being detained for over a day without being able to call their loved ones or an attorney.

Civil rights attorneys representing detained individuals in “Alligator Alcatraz” filed for a temporary restraining order against the detention center, citing systemic violations of detained individuals’ constitutional rights to legal representation and due process.

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s cruel and indiscriminate mass deportation agenda, including standing up for noncitizens’ due process rights. Earlier this year, Padilla introduced the Access to Counsel Act to ensure that U.S. citizens, green card holders, and other individuals with legal status can consult with an attorney, relative, or other interested parties to seek assistance if they are detained by CBP for more than an hour at ports of entry, including airports. He and his colleagues also demanded the Trump Administration protect Congressionally mandated legal representation for unaccompanied children in the immigration system.

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-durbin-slam-trump-administrations-unlawful-plan-to-seize-private-voter-data-to-purge-voter-rolls/,"Padilla, Durbin Slam Trump Administration’s Unlawful Plan to Seize Private Voter Data to Purge Voter Rolls",2025-11-06,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, slammed the Department of Justice’s (the Department or DOJ) unlawful efforts to force states to surrender their voter registration lists to the Department to build an unauthorized national voter registry and pressure states to remove eligible voters from the rolls. The Senators condemned DOJ’s lawsuits against eight states, including California, for their refusal to surrender unrestricted access to their states’ sensitive voter information and registration lists.

In their letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Senators warned that DOJ’s demands for private voter information lack basic transparency, create serious privacy and national security concerns, and exceed their legal authority over elections. They outlined how DOJ is using the data to help the Trump Administration build a national voter database, likely to compel states to purge voters using the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recently overhauled and untested Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to sift through voter rolls.

“We write to raise serious objections to the Department of Justice’s … ongoing efforts to force states to provide state voter rolls and private voter information to the Department,” wrote the Senators. “We strongly oppose DOJ’s efforts to pursue litigation against states that have refused to surrender unfettered access to their sensitive voter registration lists, which include personally identifiable information (PII). We are especially concerned that these actions pose serious risks to voter privacy and national security, and we stand with election officials who are ready to fight back against misuse of the data in calls for baseless purges or meritless challenges to election results.”

“Put simply, it is neither the Department’s job nor its skillset to micromanage how election officials purge voters from state voter rolls,” continued the Senators.

The Senators highlighted that the U.S. Constitution unequivocally gives the states and Congress — not the executive branch — authority over elections, and emphasized that DOJ’s lawsuits violate the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act. Instead, DOJ is operating with “blind allegiance to the President’s unlawful and unconstitutional” anti-voter executive order to build a massive voter database in line with Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, which he continued to make during the recent 2025 state elections.

The Senators sounded the alarm that DOJ’s national citizenship registry — combined with DHS’ efforts to run sensitive voter information through its SAVE program, potentially with DOJ involvement — could be used to purge state voter rolls. The information of more than 33 million voters has already been screened through this new system, leading to potential voter roll errors for Americans born before 1978 or naturalized citizens.

Furthermore, DOJ’s efforts to build a centralized national voter database violate the Privacy Act of 1974, create national cybersecurity risks, and would provide U.S. adversaries with a new central target to exploit. The Senators also emphasized that the Department still has not issued a legally required System of Records Notice or a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for its ongoing efforts to collect state voter registration list data.

The Senators demanded accountability from DOJ and requested answers to a series of questions on DOJ’s efforts to amass state voter data, including on the Department’s supposed legal authority, the privacy and national security risks of their actions, and the risk that the Department will coerce states to purge eligible citizens from their voter rolls. They also pushed DOJ to provide a briefing on its state voter roll involvement to the Senate Rules and Judiciary Committees ahead of the 2026 elections.

“The Department is wasting significant time and energy on a dangerous ‘solution’ in search of a nearly non-existent problem rooted in election denial conspiracy theories. Voter fraud is extremely rare, and noncitizen voting is even rarer, according to all available data,” added the Senators. “… The Administration’s few public justifications for this unprecedented interference in state voter registration lists and purges of eligible voters echo the President’s election denial.”

Senator Padilla has led the charge in opposing the Trump Administration’s thinly veiled attempts to purge voter rolls and investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, including his letter with Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) opposing the reckless expansion of the SAVE program. Yesterday, Padilla delivered remarks on the Senate floor sounding the alarm on the Trump Administration’s repeated attacks to undermine future elections. Padilla and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-03) also recently announced the Voter Purge Protection Act to prevent the Trump Administration’s ongoing voter purge efforts, including by prohibiting the removal of individuals from the voter rolls due to changes in residence or not voting in previous elections.

Last month, Padilla and Senator Peters also filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit opposing the Trump Administration’s illegal ongoing attempts to purge state voter rolls across the country by developing a massive interagency database of Americans’ sensitive personal data. In September, Padilla condemned DOJ’s lawsuits against states for seeking to protect their sensitive voter information.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

We write to raise serious objections to the Department of Justice’s (the Department or DOJ) ongoing efforts to force states to provide state voter rolls and private voter information to the Department. We strongly oppose DOJ’s efforts to pursue litigation against states that have refused to surrender unfettered access to their sensitive voter registration lists, which include personally identifiable information (PII). We are especially concerned that these actions pose serious risks to voter privacy and national security, and we stand with election officials who are ready to fight back against misuse of the data in calls for baseless purges or meritless challenges to election results.

The Department Lacks Legal Authority to Force State Voter Purges and is Desperately Trying to Implement the Legally Flawed Executive Order 14248

Regardless of President Trump’s attempted power grabs, the Constitution of the United States makes clear that states and Congress have primacy over federal elections. As such, when Congress wrote and passed the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), 52 U.S.C. § 20510 et seq., and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), 52 U.S.C. § 20901 et seq., it was deliberate in entrusting the details of voter list management to the “discretion” of the states. This is well understood by bipartisan Secretaries of State and chief election officials across the country who regularly conduct voter list maintenance according to state law.

Put simply, it is neither the Department’s job nor its skillset to micromanage how election officials purge voters from state voter rolls. The Department claims that it is pursuing these adversarial tactics pursuant to NVRA and HAVA, but its sweeping demands go far beyond the statutes’ purpose of enabling federal oversight of state list-maintenance practices. The Department is also invoking the Civil Rights Act of 1960, which was designed to prevent deprivation of the right to vote and other discriminatory practices, to demand state voter files in an unprecedented way.

DOJ appears to be driven by blind allegiance to the President’s unlawful and unconstitutional Executive Order 14248. Of course, much of this executive order has been preliminarily enjoined by federal courts, and these actions by the Department have likely now made additional sections of the executive order ripe for review. The Department’s largely unsuccessful track record in court with respect to the executive order, coupled with the Department’s most recent legally suspect decisions, likely forecast similar findings by federal courts with respect to additional provisions of the order. The Department should cease these unprecedented activities until the legality of the executive order has been fully determined by the courts.

Demands for a National Voter Database Create Serious National Security and Privacy Risks

The Trump Administration’s demands for vast amounts of voter data, aggressive tactics, and the greater potential for a centralized database of sensitive personal information pose an immense cybersecurity risk. In 2017, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Election Integrity requested that states provide voter records, including the names, addresses, birthdates, partial Social Security numbers, party affiliation, conviction status and other data for every registered voter. Even then, bipartisan Secretaries of State and chief election officials pushed back against such requests, citing concerns with providing confidential information, and national security experts cautioned “the bigger the database, the greater the payoff from a potential breach.” Our adversaries have attempted to undermine U.S. election integrity before, and the Department is creating a new potential target for them to exploit.

On top of these serious security risks, the Department’s demands lack the necessary legal transparency and pose a serious risk to Americans’ data privacy. The Department has failed to issue or update any System of Records Notice (SORN) under the Privacy Act of 1974 or any Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) in connection with its ongoing efforts to obtain voter registration list data from all 50 states. These basic data management disclosures include what data the Department is seeking, who has access to it, how the Department plans to secure it, and what the Department plans on doing with it. If the Department’s motives are legitimate, then it should follow legal requirements to notify Congress and the public about its activities and provide full responses to congressional oversight requests. DOJ’s inexplicable failure to do so is a troubling sign of incompetence, willful disregard of the law, or suspicious intent.

Despite the lack of public transparency, credible reports indicate that the Administration plans to use sensitive state voter information to create a national voter database, without any direction from Congress or guardrails on how the information in the database will be used. Additional reports found that the Administration has already run the information of more than 33 million voters—likely with the Department’s involvement—through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Systemic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database program. In fact, statements by official DOJ and DHS spokespeople have confirmed that the agencies are “sharing information” to “scrub” state voter roll data so that it is “being screened for ineligible voter entries.” Unfortunately, many of the voters who may be purged as a result of these actions are unaware, given the lack of official information about which states have already handed over voter data.

Federal Efforts to Urge Purges of Eligible American Voters are Unreliable and Based on Conspiracy Theories, not Legitimate State and Local Election Administration Needs

The Department’s litigation efforts combined with DHS’s abuse of the SAVE program run the serious risk of states purging voter rolls of eligible voters, even if doing so would violate state and federal law. American citizens born before 1978 and naturalized citizens are the most at risk from inaccuracies in the SAVE program. In addition, the SAVE program may also generate non-matches due to missing or inconsistent citizenship information for a variety of reasons, including sloppy matching protocols and new errors introduced into the system by this Administration and DOGE’s recent updates.

The Department is wasting significant time and energy on a dangerous “solution” in search of a nearly non-existent problem rooted in election denial conspiracy theories. Voter fraud is extremely rare, and noncitizen voting is even rarer, according to all available data. Nevertheless, President Trump has continued to spread conspiracy theories about millions of noncitizens voting in our elections and make false claims about how he would have won the State of California three times despite losing it by a combined 12.5 million votes in the last three elections. The Administration’s few public justifications for this unprecedented interference in state voter registration lists and purges of eligible voters echo the President’s election denial.

The Department’s claims of improving election administration are difficult to believe, given the Administration’s lack of support for the critical resources that state and local election officials actually need. President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request proposed a 40 percent cut for the Election Assistance Commission and the complete elimination of its Election Security Grants, along with the complete elimination of the Election Security Program at DHS’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Making matters worse, DOJ’s demands and litigation against states will perversely divert time and resources away from the critical work that those states are already doing to ensure the accuracy of their voter lists.

Importance of Full Responses to Congressional Oversight Requests

You and others in Department leadership have sworn an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution, which unequivocally gives the states and Congress, not the Executive Branch, authority over elections. The Department also has a constitutional responsibility to be responsive to official congressional correspondence and oversight requests. As part of its written response to this letter, we expect the Department to fully answer the following questions, along with additional questions at a briefing.

A. Legal Authority:

(1) What specific constitutional and statutory authorities give DOJ the right to engage in this unprecedented level of federal intrusion into state voter registration list maintenance, including the effort to take possession of state voter registration lists and voter PII?

(2) Why is DOJ seeking information such as political party registration, which is wholly irrelevant to any legal inquiry?

(3) How is the Department in compliance with federal court injunctions on implementation of E.O. 14248?

(4) Please provide the names and titles of the relevant White House and Department of Homeland Security officials with whom you consulted on this request for sensitive voter information and any records or materials related to this consultation.

B. Privacy and National Security Risks:

(1) How is the Department complying with the Privacy Act of 1974 and its requirements to notify the public and Congress about how records of individuals are collected, maintained, used, and disseminated, along with other federal privacy requirements?

(2) What safeguards are in place to protect state voter registration lists, including voter PII, both from unauthorized use within the federal government and from external data breaches?

(3) What damage could criminal organizations or adversarial foreign nations inflict with unauthorized access to a national voter database?

(4) Please provide the names and titles of the relevant White House and Department of Homeland Security officials with whom you consulted on this request for sensitive voter information and any records or materials related to this consultation.

C. Risks of Voter Purges:

(1) The Civil Rights Division seems to have an interest in this data as a stalking horse for other Divisions within the Department or for other federal agencies. How will state voter data be used by the Department internally?

(2) How does the Department plan to share this information internally and with other federal agencies?

(3) How will the Department ensure eligible voters are not misidentified for removal from voter rolls as it runs 33 million voters and counting through new, unreliable, and untested federal databases?

(4) Will the Department commit to not using this information to coerce states to purge eligible voters via lawsuits or to challenge election results based on debunked conspiracy theories?

(5) Please provide the names and titles of the relevant White House and Department of Homeland Security officials with whom you consulted on this request for sensitive voter information and any records or materials related to this consultation.

Given the unprecedented nature of these actions by the Department and the threat of voter purges to millions of eligible American voters, we demand a thorough written response no later than November 20, 2025. We also request a briefing for the Senate Rules and Judiciary Committees on or before December 6, 2025, on the Department’s activities regarding state voter rolls ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-the-retirement-of-speaker-emerita-nancy-pelosi/,Padilla Statement on the Retirement of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi,2025-11-06,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11) announced she would retire at the end of her current term, ending nearly 40 years representing San Francisco in Congress and capping her career as one of the most powerful political figures in American history:

“For nearly four decades, Nancy Pelosi has fought for fundamental rights and freedoms not just for her beloved city of San Francisco, but for all Americans. And as a torchbearer of Democratic and California values, Speaker Pelosi stood as our nation’s chief defender against Donald Trump’s attacks on our democracy.

“She broke glass ceilings as the first woman to be Speaker of the House, worked relentlessly to pass the Affordable Care Act, and championed transformative legislation to invest in our nation’s infrastructure. And from her roots in San Francisco through her trailblazing tenure in Congress, Speaker Pelosi was a champion for LGBTQ+ rights, fighting to guarantee the right to marry who you love and helping lead San Francisco through the AIDS crisis that devastated the city.

“Through our country’s greatest triumphs and biggest tests, Speaker Pelosi has always been a voice of the People and a champion for children. It has been an honor to serve alongside her. She always called on us to ‘organize, not agonize.’ Now it’s up to us to carry on her legacy.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-slams-9th-circuit-nominee-eric-tung-for-extreme-ideology-loyalty-to-trump/,"WATCH: Padilla Slams 9th Circuit Nominee Eric Tung for Extreme Ideology, Loyalty to Trump",2025-11-05,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, strongly opposed Eric Tung’s nomination ahead of his confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, headquartered in San Francisco, denouncing his extreme conservative ideology and derogatory comments toward women and organized labor. Tung was confirmed to the lifetime position by a vote of 52-45.

Padilla called out Tung’s nomination as part of a broader pattern in which President Trump prioritizes partisan loyalty and extreme conservative ideology over independence and judicial temperament. He emphasized that he and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) had told the White House months earlier that they were willing to work together to identify less extreme Republican candidates — including those Trump had previously nominated for District Court seats — instead of Tung.

Tung has made a series of reprehensible sexist and anti-labor comments, including criticizing the “dissolution of the family,” and saying he believes “in gender roles and that women are simply better than men at some things. When these radical feminists try to blur gender roles, they undermine institutions like marriage — institutions which hold society together.”

Tung also played a leading role organizing anti-labor demonstrations where protesters pushed messages including “end mandatory maternity leave — it hurts women,” and “workers of the world, get back to work!” Talking to the Yale campus, Tung said that “unionized labor hurts consumers,” while proudly holding a sign that read “Union NO.”

Padilla stressed that Tung’s extreme ideological record “calls into question his ability to apply the law fully and fairly.” As Trump prioritizes unwavering loyalty to the Oval Office over independence and fairness, Padilla strongly­­ urged his colleagues to vote against Tung’s confirmation.

Key Excerpts:

What we’ve seen happening to the federal judiciary over the last nine months is beyond concerning. It’s corrupting. We’ve seen nominees who are deeply partisan and deeply ideological. We’ve seen nominees who under any other Administration would be roundly criticized and rejected by this body. ­­­And we’ve seen nominees whose chief qualification is nothing other than loyalty to and relationship to Donald Trump.

This is a lifetime appointment to the federal bench, colleagues. An appellate court nominee in particular should have the judgment, the independence, and the respect for precedent worthy of the position. But instead, Mr. Tung, the nominee before us, is not here because of his independence or his judicial temperament. He’s here because of his ideology.

Mr. Tung embraces an extreme and rigid view of the Constitution that rejects both equality and liberty. He’s made clear that, under his constitutional philosophy, there’s no protection for rights that most Americans take as fundamental, including the rights to reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and even private, consensual relationships. That’s not constitutional interpretation. It’s a radical blueprint for rolling back decades of progress on individual freedom and equality.

We were willing to try to find that common ground. But clearly, the White House wasn’t interested. Because whether it’s the Department of Justice, the FBI, U.S. Attorneys, or the federal bench, the Trump White House is showing us what they truly care about: unwavering loyalty.

I’ll remind my colleagues that when we reference the judiciary, it’s the American people’s judiciary. And all the decisions that we make today will affect our justice system — the people’s judiciary — for years if not decades.

Video of Senator Padilla’s full remarks is available here.

At Tung’s nomination hearing in July, Senator Padilla pressed him on his extreme conservative ideology, but Tung dodged Padilla’s questioning on his past comments and refused to say when his viewpoints changed on women’s role in the workplace.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-sounds-the-alarm-on-trump-administrations-threats-to-2026-election/,WATCH: Padilla Sounds the Alarm on Trump Administration’s Threats to 2026 Election,2025-11-05,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — A day after Democrats’ landslide state electoral victories across the country, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) held the Senate floor alongside their Senate colleagues, leading a warning to Americans about the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to rig election rules one year out from the 2026 midterms. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) also delivered remarks.

As Trump’s tariff wars raise grocery and energy prices and as Republicans refuse to protect health care and SNAP benefits, Padilla emphasized that the President and his party would rather undermine future elections by laying the groundwork to purge state voter rolls and by instituting partisan mid-decade redistricting than change their harmful policies.

Padilla highlighted California’s overwhelming passage of Proposition 50 in response to Texas’ partisan racial gerrymander, which Governor Abbott pushed through to create five additional Republican seats at President Trump’s direction. Padilla emphasized that he and Democrats across the country have offered Republicans an offramp from the redistricting arms race through his bicameral bill to prohibit states from mid-decade redistricting and require every state to adopt nonpartisan, independent redistricting commissions.

Continuing his usual habit of false claims and election denial, President Trump baselessly claimed yesterday that the Proposition 50 vote was “rigged” and called on Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to ban mail-in voting and pass other “voter reform.” The White House is also drafting a new executive order to ban mail-in voting and further restrict access to the polls to complement Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order, much of which has already been blocked by federal courts.

Padilla blasted the Trump Department of Justice’s (DOJ) illegal ongoing attempts to pressure states to purge voter rolls and restrict the right to vote across the country by suing states for voter information and developing a massive interagency database of Americans’ sensitive personal data. DOJ has sent letters to at least 40 states demanding information about state voter maintenance practices, while recently filing targeted lawsuits against eight states, including California, for their refusal to hand over unfettered access to their state’s sensitive voter information and registration lists to the federal government.

As Trump and Republicans continue to spread mis- and disinformation about voter fraud and the 2020 election, Padilla also warned that the White House is hiring prominent election deniers and that President Trump is being pressured to declare a fake “national emergency” to unlawfully influence state elections. Padilla made clear that he would force a vote on the Senate floor to stop any unjustified election-related emergency.

He concluded by calling on his colleagues to stand up to Trump’s attacks on elections and urging the public to continue exercising their fundamental right to vote.

Key Excerpts:

Enough of the Republican chaos, enough of the power grabs, enough of the corruption, and enough of Trump’s billionaire assault on working families.

But even after the success of last night, let’s also be clear about this: one free and fair election does not guarantee the next one. We have to fight to ensure future elections. We have to keep asking ourselves: What do we do between now and next November to protect the next election? Because at this very moment, the President and his allies are doing everything they can to rig the rules of the game.

Americans … are fired up. They’re angry at a president and a party that are looking out for themselves more than they’re looking out for the country as a whole. But … instead of changing their policies before the midterm elections, President Trump and Republicans would rather change the rules. And we have a responsibility to sound the alarm before it’s too late.

When we knew what Texas was going to do — a midterm partisan redistricting — Californians knew right away that enough was enough. And that’s what yesterday was all about: leveling the playing field.

I invite my Republican colleagues to join me, to join us, in supporting true nationwide redistricting reform. And yes, we do have a bill to do just that. … But no. Republicans would rather try to cling to power by changing the rules of the game.

Donald Trump is also staffing up the White House with likeminded election deniers and conspiracy theorists, hinting at future actions that could disenfranchise even more voters. Of course, the President’s been slandering places like California and our elections practices for years, and he did it once again just yesterday on Election Day. … The President lies and shouts ‘fraud’ without a shred of evidence.

Members of Congress can and must stand up to every one of Trump’s unconstitutional power grabs over state election authority. I’m committed to doing my part: if the Trump White House tries to declare some fake national election emergency to create a pretense for federal intervention, I will force a vote here in the Senate to stop it.

But no matter what happens, voters cannot lose hope. That’s what’s most important. We need Americans to keep showing up each and every election, and show up in overwhelming numbers, just as they did yesterday, just as they did for hundreds of years prior, and make clear that it will be the people and only the people who will determine the future of our democracy.

Watch Padilla’s full remarks here. Video of Senator Padilla’s remarks can be downloaded here.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections, Senator Padilla has led the charge opposing President Trump’s attempts to restrict the right to vote across the country. Padilla and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-03) recently announced the Voter Purge Protection Act to prevent the Trump Administration’s ongoing voter purge efforts, including by prohibiting the removal of individuals from the voter rolls due to changes in residence or not voting in previous elections. Last month, Padilla warned that Trump may declare an election-related national emergency after the White House alarmingly hired former “Stop the Steal” and Trump campaign lawyer Kurt Olsen as a “special government employee” to “investigate” the 2020 election again, five years later. Padilla has also co-authored an amicus brief and letter expressing serious concerns that recent changes to and the expanded use of the insufficiently tested Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program could purge eligible citizens from state voter rolls. In September, Padilla condemned DOJ’s lawsuits against states for seeking to protect their sensitive voter information.

Additionally, Senator Padilla and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) are leading the Redistricting Reform Act of 2025 to combat Republican efforts to rig the rules and implement partisan racial gerrymanders before the next census. In July, Padilla convened a Rules and Judiciary Committee Democrats spotlight forum focused on racial gerrymandering and voter suppression, during which he questioned former Attorney General Eric Holder and Loyola Law School Professor Justin Levitt on the Trump Administration’s efforts in Texas and other states to implement mid-decade racial redistricting for partisan political purposes.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-costa-lofgren-tran-california-democratic-delegation-criticize-education-departments-diversion-of-funding-for-minority-serving-institutions/,"Padilla, Schiff, Costa, Lofgren, Tran, California Democratic Delegation Criticize Education Department’s Diversion of Funding for Minority-Serving Institutions",2025-11-03,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, chair of the Senate Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucus, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), along with U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), and Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), led 34 members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation in strongly opposing the Department of Education’s decision to rescind $350 million in funding from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).

The lawmakers voiced their disappointment and disagreement with the Department of Justice’s July 25th determination that Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) apply “racial quotas” in a manner that is “unconstitutional,” especially since no court has found the MSI program unconstitutional or instructed the Department of Education to reprogram this funding. The signatories also warned that the Department’s actions would disproportionately harm Californian students and weaken California’s — and America’s — long-term competitiveness.

“To be clear, diverting resources away from these schools will disproportionately harm California students and students across the nation who depend on MSIs as the most accessible and affordable pathway to a degree,” wrote the lawmakers. “It would also weaken proven engines of upward mobility, deprive our workforce of diverse talent, and undercut the nation’s long-term competitiveness.”

“Rather than reallocate scarce dollars from MSIs to HBCUs and TCCUs, we urge you to allocate funding as intended by Congress to support all MSIs, HBCUs, and TCCUs. … Equitable, sustained funding across the spectrum of MSIs, HBCUs, and TCCUs will ensure that more institutions can continue broadening opportunity, reducing inequities, and powering the American economy,” continued the lawmakers. “Our collective goal must be to invest in all students, no matter which institution they attend.”

There are over 800 federally recognized MSIs, including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTIs), and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). MSIs enroll over 5 million students, many of whom are first-generation college students. These institutions rely on federal funding to provide vital supports and services for students to help them complete their degrees. The Trump Administration’s decision to end funding for MSIs could threaten the institutions’ ability to adequately serve all the students they enroll.

Earlier this year, Tennessee filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education to challenge the eligibility requirements necessary to receive a federal HSI designation. In July, the Department of Justice decided to not defend the constitutionality of the program in the ongoing litigation. Despite no ruling or court instructions, the Department of Education announced during HSI week on September 10th that it would end and reprogram $350 million in discretionary grants for HSIs and other MSIs. On October 10, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee allowed the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and LatinoJustice Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (LatinoJustice PRLDEF) to intervene in the litigation, ensuring affected campuses can help defend the programs.

California has the largest concentration of MSIs in the country. The state is home to 170+ HSIs and 85 eligible AANAPISIs. In addition, MSIs enroll the majority of first-generation and low-income students in California and consistently demonstrate higher rates of economic mobility than non-MSI institutions. The Department of Education’s decision to reprogram funding from the MSI program undermines the ability of these universities to serve communities that have long been underrepresented in higher education.

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, Costa, Lofgren, and Tran, the letter was also signed by Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Ami Bera (D-Calif.-06), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Lou Correa (D-Calif.-46), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Josh Harder (D-Calif.-09), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.-29), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.-38), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-14), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), and George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27).

As chair of the Senate HSI Caucus, Senator Padilla has led the fight opposing the Trump Administration’s attacks against MSIs. Last month, Senators Padilla, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), alongside 21 Senate colleagues, demanded Education Secretary Linda McMahon immediately reverse course on the Trump Administration’s harmful decision to end $350 million for MSIs. In September, Padilla and U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), co-chair of the House HSI Caucus, issued a statement slamming this decision. Additionally, Padilla and Castro previously condemned the Trump Administration’s letter declaring that they will no longer defend the $350 million HSI annual grant program in court, effectively ending the program.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary McMahon,

As members of the California Congressional Delegation, we write to express our strong opposition to the Department of Education’s (EDs) decision to rescind federal resources from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) – including Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs), Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTIs), and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs).

California is home to the largest concentration of MSIs in the country. Our state has 85 eligible AANAPISIs, serving large numbers of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students, as well as more than 170 HSIs, educating nearly two million students of all backgrounds. For example, twenty-one of twenty-two California State University campuses are federally designated HSIs, and five University of California campuses have reached HSI status. California’s community colleges – our primary access point to higher education – are overwhelmingly HSIs, with over 90 percent already meeting the federal threshold. Collectively, MSIs enroll the majority of first-generation and low-income students in California and consistently demonstrate higher rates of economic mobility than non-MSI institutions. The Department’s decision to reprogram funding from the MSI program undermines the ability of these universities to serve communities that have long been underrepresented in higher education.

We are disappointed in and disagree with the Department of Justice’s July 25th determination that HSIs apply “racial quotas” in a manner that is “unconstitutional.” No court has found the MSI program unconstitutional, nor has a court instructed the Department of Education to reprogram this funding. We note that on October 10, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee granted Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and LatinoJustice PRLDEF the right to intervene in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. U.S. Department of Education, ensuring that affected institutions have a voice in defending these programs. To be clear, diverting resources away from these schools will disproportionately harm California students and students across the nation who depend on MSIs as the most accessible and affordable pathway to a degree. It would also weaken proven engines of upward mobility, deprive our workforce of diverse talent, and undercut the nation’s long-term competitiveness.

Rather than reallocate scarce dollars from MSIs to HBCUs and TCCUs, we urge you to allocate funding as intended by Congress to support all MSIs, HBCUs, and TCCUs. We are encouraged that affected institutions can now participate in the judicial process to ensure these programs are fully and fairly defended. In light of these developments, we would welcome the opportunity to work with the administration to increase investments in MSIs, HBCUS, and TCCUs. Equitable, sustained funding across the spectrum of MSIs, HBCUs, and TCCUs will ensure that more institutions can continue broadening opportunity, reducing inequities, and powering the American economy. Our collective goal must be to invest in all students, no matter which institution they attend.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-durbin-raskin-jayapal-condemn-trump-administrations-unlawful-refugee-cap/,"Padilla, Durbin, Raskin, Jayapal Condemn Trump Administration’s Unlawful Refugee Cap",2025-10-31,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s decision to slash refugee admissions to 7,500 — almost entirely limited to white Afrikaners from South Africa — without the legally required consultation with Congress:

“The Trump Administration just announced that it will gut the United States’ refugee admissions program — slashing the annual cap to a mere 7,500 refugees, an astonishing 94% cut over last year and the lowest level in our nation’s history. To add insult to injury, the Administration is skipping over the tens of thousands of refugees who have been waiting in line for years in dire circumstances to come to the United States and it is instead prioritizing a single privileged racial group — white South African Afrikaners — for these severely limited slots.

“This bizarre presidential determination is not only morally indefensible, it is illegal and invalid. The Administration has brazenly ignored the statutory requirement to consult with the House and Senate Judiciary Committees before setting the annual refugee admissions ceiling. That process exists to ensure that decisions of such great consequence reflect our nation’s values, our humanitarian commitments, and the rule of law, not the racial preferences or political whims of any one president.

“The reason for this evasion is evident: the Administration knows it cannot defend its egregious policy before Congress or the American people. While nearly 130,000 vetted, approved refugees — men, women, and children fleeing persecution and violence — wait in limbo after being promised a chance at safety, Donald Trump is looking to turn refugee admissions into another political giveaway for his pet projects and infatuations.

“We reject this announcement as both unlawful and contrary to America’s longstanding commitment to offer refuge to the persecuted. To twist our refugee policy into a partisan straightjacket is to betray both our legal obligations and our moral identity as a nation.”

Last month, Padilla, Durbin, Raskin, and Jayapal blasted the Trump Administration’s blatant violation of federal law in refusing to consult Congress on refugee admissions.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-senate-judiciary-democrats-denounce-trumps-corrupt-attempted-money-grab-for-230-million-from-justice-department-for-previous-investigations/,"Padilla, Senate Judiciary Democrats Denounce Trump’s Corrupt Attempted Money Grab for $230 Million From Justice Department for Previous Investigations",2025-10-31,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators highlight another attempt by Trump to weaponize his power for personal financial gain, as well as the inescapable conflicts of interest at DOJ in assessing these claims

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in condemning President Trump’s demands that the Department of Justice hand him $230 million of taxpayer dollars in alleged damages from previous investigations.

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Senators blasted the claims as “yet another attempt by President Trump to weaponize his position of power for personal financial gain at the expense of American taxpayers.” They highlighted serious conflicts of interest at the Trump Justice Department, noting that several of the officials who would review his settlement claims previously served as his personal lawyers.

“Setting aside the lack of merit in President Trump’s claims, there is an inescapable conflict of interest in Trump Administration officials assessing these claims while serving at the President’s pleasure. Moreover, the officials who have the authority to approve such a settlement pursuant to DOJ regulations — Deputy Attorney General (AG) Todd Blanche and Associate AG Stanley Woodward — have an even more acute conflict of interest because they defended President Trump and his co-defendant, respectively, in the classified documents case,” wrote the Senators.

“The American people deserve to understand how political appointees of the President whose claims they are assessing, including an appointee who previously defended the President in one of the matters at issue, can ethically assess the merits of his claims,” continued the Senators. “… As the American people grapple with the impacts of the Republican government shutdown, President Trump’s attempt to exploit the Justice Department and profit from taxpayer dollars cannot be overlooked.”

The Senators called out DOJ’s attempt to dodge questions on whether Blanche or Woodward would recuse themselves, citing the Department’s weak press statement invoking “career ethics officials” that DOJ terminated, instead handing their responsibilities to inexperienced political loyalists. They also criticized the firing of Joseph W. Tirrell, the Director of DOJ’s Departmental Ethics Office, which offers senior political appointees like Bondi, Blanche, or Woodward advice on conflicts of interest, recusals, and financial disclosures. Jeffrey Ragsdale, the lead official in charge of investigating DOJ attorney misconduct, was also previously removed.

In addition to Padilla and Durbin, the letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

Full text of the letter to Attorney General Bondi is available here and below:

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

President Trump has two administrative claims pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ), for which he is seeking approximately $230 million dollars of taxpayer money. In these claims, President Trump has alleged his rights were violated during the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) investigation into his 2016 campaign’s ties to Russia and during the course of his investigation and prosecution for allegedly mishandling hundreds of pages of classified documents. This is yet another attempt by President Trump to weaponize his position of power for personal financial gain at the expense of American taxpayers.

Setting aside the lack of merit in President Trump’s claims, there is an inescapable conflict of interest in Trump Administration officials assessing these claims while serving at the President’s pleasure. Moreover, the officials who have the authority to approve such a settlement pursuant to DOJ regulations—Deputy Attorney General (AG) Todd Blanche and Associate AG Stanley Woodward—have an even more acute conflict of interest because they defended President Trump and his co-defendant, respectively, in the classified documents case.

When asked by ABC News whether Deputy AG Blanche or Associate AG Woodward would consider recusing themselves, a DOJ spokesperson provided this response: “In any circumstance, all officials at the Department of Justice follow the guidance of career ethics officials.” However, as you know, the Trump Administration removed the senior career DOJ ethics officials who would provide this critical guidance and placed their duties in the hands of inexperienced political appointees who are beholden to you for their positions, an outrage we have repeatedly asked you to address to since February. Compounding this irresponsible move was the termination of Joseph W. Tirrell, the Director of DOJ’s Departmental Ethics Office, which provides advice on conflicts of interest, financial disclosures, and recusals to senior political appointees at DOJ, such as Deputy AG Blanche, Associate AG Woodward, and yourself. You have failed to address Committee questions regarding this indefensible episode for over three months now. This followed the removal of another Department guardrail—the firing of the Director of the Office of Professional Responsibility, Jeffrey Ragsdale, who was the senior official of the office responsible for investigating DOJ attorney misconduct.

The American people deserve to understand how political appointees of the President whose claims they are assessing, including an appointee who previously defended the President in one of the matters at issue, can ethically assess the merits of his claims. To that end, we request that you provide the following by November 12, 2025:

1. A thorough description of the process by which President Trump’s claims will be assessed, including a list of all the offices and officials involved.

2. A thorough description of the process by which all officials with any role in this matter will seek guidance on potential conflicts of interest and other ethical issues that may warrant recusal, including a list of all the offices and officials involved in providing such guidance.

3. Records relating to all communications between and among Department of Justice officials and White House officials concerning the submission and adjudication of these claims.

As the American people grapple with the impacts of the Republican government shutdown, President Trump’s attempt to exploit the Justice Department and profit from taxpayer dollars cannot be overlooked. We look forward to your full and immediate compliance with this request.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-slams-republicans-refusal-to-address-skyrocketing-health-care-premiums-ahead-of-open-enrollment/,Padilla Slams Republicans’ Refusal to Address Skyrocketing Health Care Premiums Ahead of Open Enrollment,2025-10-31,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of Affordable Care Act open enrollment starting tomorrow, November 1, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement on the spike in health care premium costs Californians and Americans across the country will face because of President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ refusal to negotiate with Democrats to keep health care affordable:

“Millions of Californians will see their health care costs double because Republicans in Congress put billionaire tax breaks ahead of making life more affordable for hardworking Americans. Trump’s tariff wars are hitting families with an extra $2,000 a year, but Republicans would rather shut down the government than protect families from losing their health care. And the nearly 2 million people who rely on Covered California are paying the price.”

Senator Padilla has consistently slammed President Trump and Senate Republicans for rejecting Democrats’ bill to avert a government shutdown and also protect health care coverage for millions of Americans. Last month, Senator Padilla joined California health care leaders in Los Angeles to call on congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to protect health care coverage for nearly 2 million California residents and avoid a Republican-caused government shutdown. In July, Padilla blasted Senate Republicans’ passage of their tax bill that will kick 15 million Americans off their health care, shutter rural hospitals across the country, gut critical programs, and explode the debt by over $3.5 trillion.

Californians and Americans across the country are facing the largest health insurance premium increases in 15 years and rising costs as a result of President Trump’s chaotic tariffs and catastrophic economic agenda, but Republicans are refusing to extend essential Affordable Care Act tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. These credits helped a record 24 million Americans enroll in Affordable Care Act exchanges this year.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-booker-huffman-pallone-demand-trump-reverse-plan-to-open-new-offshore-oil-and-gas-leases/,"Padilla, Booker, Huffman, Pallone Demand Trump Reverse Plan to Open New Offshore Oil and Gas Leases",2025-10-30,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Lead sponsors of West Coast Ocean Protection Act and Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act condemn efforts that would devastate coastal communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02) and House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.-06), led over 100 lawmakers in demanding President Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum immediately cease any plans to open new offshore oil and gas leases in U.S. federal waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, in the Arctic Ocean and northern Bering Sea off of Alaska, and in the Eastern Gulf. The lawmakers warned that opening these untouched coastlines to new offshore drilling would devastate coastal economies, jeopardize our national security, ravage coastal ecosystems, and put millions of Americans’ health and safety at risk, hurting people across the political spectrum.

By reversing long-standing legal protections for vulnerable coastal waters, new offshore leases would cause significant environmental damage to communities already reeling from natural disasters and recent oil spills. Oil spills not only cause irreparable environmental damage, but also suppress the value of coastal homes, harm tourism economies, and weaken coastal infrastructure. Already, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forced to respond to over 150 oil and chemical spills each year. One disastrous spill can cost taxpayers billions in lost revenue, cleanup costs, and ecosystem restoration.

These threats of expanded oil drilling come as the Administration already dismantled NOAA’s oil spill prevention and response programs, as almost 30 percent of the team in charge of addressing oil spills has been laid off or took early retirement. The Emergency Response Division team and the oil spill program are slated to lose half their funding from the Administration’s proposed FY 2026 budget.

“This is a matter of national consequence for coastal communities across the country, regardless of political affiliation. It puts our economies, national security, and our most vulnerable ecosystems at severe risk,” wrote the lawmakers. “… Expanded oil and gas leasing poses risks to the health and livelihoods of our constituents, jeopardizes our tourism, fishing, and recreation economies, and threatens the marine life that inhabits our coastlines.”

“The United States already leads the world in oil and gas production. The industry currently holds more than 2,000 offshore leases covering over 12 million acres of federal waters — yet fewer than 500 of those leases are actively producing oil and gas,” continued the lawmakers. “There is no justification for opening vast swaths of our oceans to leasing when existing leases remain largely unused, while imposing mounting environmental and economic costs on coastal communities.”

Additionally, the Department of Defense (DOD) previously warned that oil and gas leases in portions of the Eastern Gulf would impact areas critical to our military readiness, including for military training and testing opportunities and assets. DOD has also signaled that parts of the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas are “not compatible with oil and gas activities and infrastructure.”

The lawmakers condemned the potential expansion of offshore drilling while the Administration simultaneously curtails offshore wind and clean energy development. This year, the Trump Administration has withdrawn all outer continental offshore wind leases, rescinded all designated Wind Energy Areas, and eliminated $679 million in offshore-wind-related port infrastructure funding, including over $426 million for Humboldt Bay offshore wind infrastructure.

Specifically, the lawmakers demanded that President Trump and Secretary Burgum:

Halt any steps toward new offshore oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic, Pacific, off the coast the Arctic and Bering Sea coasts of Alaska, and the Eastern Gulf;

Limit offshore drilling, consistent with previous statutory and agency protections;

Prioritize coastal resilience, including expanded storm-surge and flood protection, restoration of wetlands and sand dunes, and early-warning systems, so that communities in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, New Jersey, Alaska, and beyond are better protected; and

Restore a credible pathway for offshore wind and other clean-energy projects by rescinding the OCS wind-leasing withdrawal and rescinded WEAs, enabling science-based projects that support jobs and coastal economies.

“Our coastal communities, fishermen, small business owners, Tribal Nations, tourism operators, and families cannot be sacrificed in the name of short-term drilling booms,” concluded the lawmakers. “Opening new offshore lease areas while cancelling clean energy progress is potentially illegal, a failure of leadership, and a dereliction of the public trust.”

In addition to Padilla, Booker, Huffman, and Pallone, the letter is also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11) and U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (D-R.I.-01), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Becca Balint (D-Vt.-AL), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Wesley Bell (D-Mo.-01), Donald Beyer (D-Va.-08), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.-05), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), André Carson (D-Ind.-07), Ed Case (D-Hawaii-01), Sean Casten (D-Ill.-06), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.-05), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.-09), Herbert Conaway (D-N.J.-03), Danny Davis (D-Ill.-07), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.-04), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.-01), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.-01), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.-03), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.-06), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.-03), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.-03), Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.-04), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-Ill.-04), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.-10), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.-02), George Latimer (D-N.Y.-16), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Sarah McBride (D-Del.-AL), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.-10), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.-04), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.-04), James McGovern (D-Mass.-02), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.-08), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.-06), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.-12), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.-02), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.-01), Eleanor Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.-14), Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.-02), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.-09), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.-05), Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), Emily Randall (D-Wash.-06), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.-29), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.-02), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.-08), Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.-03), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Adam Smith (D-Wash.-09), Darren Soto (D-Fla.-09), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.-03), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.-02), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii-02), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.-20), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.-03), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), James Walkinshaw (D-Va.-11), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.-24) also signed the letter.

Environmental advocates including Food & Water Watch, Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Surfrider Foundation, Earthjustice, and Alaska Wilderness League supported the letter.

“These reckless offshore drilling plans would put coastal communities and workers directly in harm’s way, risking new oil spills, worsening climate disasters, and erasing decades of progress toward clean energy,” said Jim Walsh, Policy Director for Food & Water Watch. “We cannot keep sacrificing people and places for fossil fuel profits. Protecting our coasts isn’t just sound policy, it’s a moral obligation necessary for a livable future.”

“Offshore drilling is a threat to the lifeblood of our coastal communities,” said Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon. “The people who live and work along our coasts depend on healthy oceans for their economic security and way of life. Oceana commends Sen. Padilla, Sen. Booker, Rep. Huffman, Rep. Pallone, and the many lawmakers across the country who are working to protect our coasts from more drilling and spilling. There’s too much at stake to gamble our future on deadly oil spills that can last for generations to come.”

“Selling off our ocean to the fossil fuel industry is wholly inconsistent with a livable future,” said Taryn Kiekow Heimer, Director, Ocean Energy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Despite the urgency of ramping down fossil fuel production to address the climate and biodiversity crises, Interior is putting forth an outrageous proposal to offer up our coastal waters from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and the Gulf to the High Arctic to Big Oil. It’s inconceivable we would put polluter profits above coastal communities and wildlife.”

“The federal administration’s offshore oil drilling plan will damage coastlines and communities, while threatening coastal recreation and tourism industries that contribute billions of dollars to our nation’s economy,” said Pete Stauffer, Ocean Protection Manager of the Surfrider Foundation. “New drilling will also increase the likelihood of yet another destructive oil spill off our coasts.”

“The Trump administration should abandon its misguided plan to force offshore drilling on coastal communities that have made it clear they don’t want it,” said Laura M. Esquivel, Senior Legislative Representative, Earthjustice. “This reckless proposal threatens the way of life, health, and livelihoods of millions of people along America’s coastlines—regardless of political affiliation. The last thing Americans need is yet another threat to their wellbeing and economic security. Voters will remember who tried to bring this deeply unpopular plan to their communities.”

“Alaska Wilderness League stands firmly against this Administration’s push for offshore drilling in Alaska’s coastal waters and the Arctic Ocean,” said Andy Moderow, Senior Director of Policy at Alaska Wilderness League. “For years, industry has shown no interest in drilling Arctic waters, and an oil spill in these fragile waters would be a global catastrophe with irreversible consequences for the coastal communities, marine wildlife, and the climate.”

On Earth Day, Padilla, Booker, Huffman, Pallone, and Reed announced a pair of bills to permanently protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling. Padilla and Huffman’s West Coast Ocean Protection Act would permanently prohibit new oil and gas leases for offshore drilling off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington, while Booker, Reed, and Pallone’s Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act would permanently prohibit the U.S. Department of the Interior from issuing leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil and gas in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. In 2021, Senator Padilla joined West Coast Senators in calling on Senate leadership to include the West Coast Ocean Protection Act in the Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill after an estimated 126,000 gallons of oil spilled off the coast of California.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Mr. President and Secretary Burgum:

We write to express our strongest opposition to any effort to open new offshore oil and gas leasing in federal waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, in the Arctic Ocean and northern Bering Sea off of Alaska, and in the Eastern Gulf. This is a matter of national consequence for coastal communities across the country, regardless of political affiliation. It puts our economies, national security, and our most vulnerable ecosystems at severe risk. These reported proposals would reverse long-standing protections that shield sensitive coastal waters from new drilling, including withdrawals under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, statutory moratoria, and agency restrictions.

Expanded oil and gas leasing poses risks to the health and livelihoods of our constituents, jeopardizes our tourism, fishing, and recreation economies, and threatens the marine life that inhabits our coastlines. Many of these communities are already reeling from compounded disasters: hurricanes, sea-level rise, storm surge, and the lingering legacy of oil-spill disasters. Since 1980, hurricanes alone have generated well over $1.5 trillion in damage in the United States. Expanding offshore leasing increases the likelihood that future storms, oil spills, or other disasters will impose even greater burdens on front-line coastal communities.

In addition to storms, the threat of oil spills remains real and costly. For example, the U.S. Coast Guard reported a spill of more than 30,000 gallons of “oily-watery mixture” off Louisiana’s coast earlier this year. Oil spill damage threatens not just the environment, but the value of coastal homes, the health of tourism economies, and the resilience of coastal infrastructure. A single catastrophic spill could cost taxpayers, states, and local communities tens of billions of dollars in cleanup costs, lost revenue, and degraded ecosystems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) already responds to over 150 oil and chemical spills in U.S. waters every year. Under the administration’s proposed plan, every part of the United States’ coastline would be at risk of disaster.

These risks are magnified by the administration’s dismantling of NOAA and its oil spill prevention and response programs. Nearly 30 percent of NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration Emergency Response Division staff—the team that addresses oil spills—were already laid off or took early retirement as part of the administration’s ongoing reductions in force. The administration’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget would cut in half funding for the oil spill program and the Emergency Response Division.

Under the administration’s reported plans, harmful seismic testing could take place across every coast. NOAA Fisheries recently concluded that oil and gas activities like seismic exploration in the Gulf of Mexico could drive the endangered Rice’s whale—of which only a few dozen individuals remain—to extinction. Seismic testing for oil and gas disrupts communication, navigation, and breeding among whales, fish, and other marine species, inflicting irreversible harm on ocean ecosystems.

The administration’s reported plans would also open up oil and gas leasing in areas the Department of Defense (DOD) has previously stated would be problematic for military readiness. Leaked documents report that the administration will conduct leasing in parts of the Eastern Gulf, which includes irreplaceable military training and testing opportunities and assets. The DOD has similarly labeled portions of the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas “not compatible with oil and gas activities and infrastructure.”

The United States already leads the world in oil and gas production. The industry currently holds more than 2,000 offshore leases covering over 12 million acres of federal waters —yet fewer than 500 of those leases are actively producing oil and gas. There is no justification for opening vast swaths of our oceans to leasing when existing leases remain largely unused, while imposing mounting environmental and economic costs on coastal communities.

While the administration prepares to expand offshore drilling, it is simultaneously undermining offshore wind and clean energy development, thereby reducing our ability to expand energy supplies and build resilient coastal economies. On January 20, 2025, the President issued a memorandum withdrawing all areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from offshore wind leasing, pending review. On July 30, 2025, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) rescinded all designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs). The Department of the Interior has issued directives curbing so-called “preferential treatment” for wind and solar, and the U.S. Department of Transportation withdrew $679 million in offshore-wind-related port infrastructure funding. These actions raise electricity costs for families, make our coastlines less safe, and our communities more vulnerable.

We therefore urge your administration to take the following actions to reverse course immediately:

1. Halt any steps toward new offshore oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic, Pacific, off the coast the Arctic and Bering Sea coasts of Alaska, and the Eastern Gulf;

2. Limit offshore drilling, consistent with previous statutory and agency protections;

3. Prioritize coastal resilience, including expanded storm-surge and flood protection, restoration of wetlands and sand dunes, and early-warning systems, so that communities in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, New Jersey, Alaska, and beyond are better protected; and

4. Restore a credible pathway for offshore wind and other clean-energy projects by rescinding the OCS wind-leasing withdrawal and rescinded WEAs, enabling science-based projects that support jobs and coastal economies.

Protecting our waters from offshore drilling is broadly supported by the American public. Nearly two-thirds of registered voters oppose new offshore drilling, and hundreds of municipalities along the Atlantic, Pacific, the eastern Gulf, and these regions of Alaska have passed formal resolutions against its expansion. These communities have made clear that safeguarding their coastal economies, fisheries, and way of life must take precedence over short-term fossil fuel interests. Our coastal communities, fishermen, small business owners, Tribal Nations, tourism operators, and families cannot be sacrificed in the name of short-term drilling booms. Opening new offshore lease areas while cancelling clean energy progress is potentially illegal, a failure of leadership, and a dereliction of the public trust.

We look forward to your prompt response detailing what specific steps the Administration will take to halt this course of action and recommit to safeguarding our nation’s shores, economy, and shared future.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-demand-trump-administration-cancel-partisan-deployment-of-election-monitors-to-california/,"Padilla, Schiff Demand Trump Administration Cancel Partisan Deployment of Election Monitors to California",2025-10-30,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators: “This deployment is clearly linked to President Trump’s continued perpetuation of lies relating to alleged fraud in our elections and his opposition to California’s Proposition 50.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and California’s former Secretary of State, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) demanded the Trump Administration call off its blatantly partisan plan to deploy Department of Justice (DOJ) staff to monitor state elections in California. The Senators warned that these highly unusual, unwarranted deployments could intimidate voters and perpetuate President Trump’s repeated election disinformation and contempt for state and local election officials.

Trump has already spewed conspiracy theories about the security of early and mail-in voting to lay the groundwork for disputing election results, including for California’s Proposition 50. Shortly after the announcement that DOJ election monitors would be deployed to California and New Jersey, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Watch how totally dishonest the California Prop Vote is!” California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the state will dispatch its own monitors to oversee DOJ’s election observers.

Alarmingly, the Department’s claim that its initiative would “promot[e] transparency and an open flow of communication between poll observers and election monitors” suggests that DOJ may coordinate with Republican candidates and election denier groups to lay the foundation for continued baseless attacks on election administration and results. The Senators also urged DOJ to clarify whether it is sending career Department staff or political appointees, and which other poll observers it is prioritizing open communication with.

“Since the President has been very clear about his motives and claims of power over the Department’s day-to-day law enforcement activities, this deployment runs the very real risk of intimidating voters and turning the Department into a tool of partisan and frivolous election-related challenges,” wrote the Senators to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“The circumstances around the Department’s planned deployment create a clear perception of a partisan motive and undermine the credibility of the Department to rely or act on the work of these observers. As a result, the deployment of Department staff to monitor upcoming elections in California should be canceled immediately,” continued the Senators. “At a minimum, the Department should provide greater transparency, coordinate with state and local election administrators, and ensure that its employees comply with federal and state law, Department policies, and ethical requirements to prevent any activities that may lead to voter intimidation or interference with elections.”

DOJ monitors were only ordered to be deployed to Democratic-led states at the request of Republicans in California and New Jersey, differentiating this effort from previous mobilizations to a large number of states. Despite claims by senior DOJ officials, election observers are rarely sent to monitor state level off-year elections, further raising suspicions.

Finally, the Senators criticized DOJ’s politicization of its election monitoring announcement, excluding all reminders of the Department’s impartiality and including a statement from Bill Essayli, former Acting U.S. Attorney of the Central District of California, who has been found by a federal court to be acting in that position unlawfully. One of DOJ’s election monitors reportedly being sent to California is a senior political appointee, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Gates, who has made numerous partisan and political social media posts, including attacks on vote by mail, while serving in his official role.

Senator Padilla has led the charge in opposing the Administration’s ongoing illegal efforts to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud and influence state election administration. Last month, Padilla condemned DOJ’s lawsuits against eight states, including California, for their refusal to surrender unrestricted access to their state’s sensitive voter information and registration lists. Earlier this month, Senator Padilla and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-03) announced the Voter Purge Protection Act to prevent the Trump Administration’s ongoing voter purge efforts, including by prohibiting the removal of individuals from the voter rolls due to changes in residence or not voting in previous elections. Padilla has also co-authored an amicus brief and letter expressing serious concerns that recent changes to and the expanded use of the insufficiently tested Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program could purge eligible citizens from state voter rolls.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

We write to demand the Department of Justice (the Department or DOJ) withdraw its planned deployment of staff to monitor state-level, off-year elections due to the Department’s blatantly partisan motivations.

Contrary to claims made by senior Department officials, this deployment of DOJ election observers is not consistent with usual practice. While the Department has previously used its authority to send election monitors to state-level, off-year elections, it is extremely rare.

We are further alarmed that this deployment is clearly linked to President Trump’s continued perpetuation of lies relating to alleged fraud in our elections and his opposition to California’s Proposition 50. Shortly after the DOJ’s deployment announcement, the President falsely posted, without evidence: “[w]atch how totally dishonest the California Prop [v]ote is[.]” This statement, in the context of all his repeated election conspiracy theories, is a stain on this deployment and any actions that the Department might attempt to take based on it.

The Department has also publicly confirmed that these monitors are being deployed only to California and New Jersey at the request of Republican party officials in these states. DOJ has tried to justify this decision by the thinnest of grounds, such as two California counties’ opposing unfettered access to protected voter data. This is also in contrast to numerous recent election monitoring efforts by DOJ which were not based on partisan affiliation. The last DOJ election monitor deployment in 2024 went to a wide range of states led by both Democrats and Republicans, as it did in 2022, 2016, 2014, and other prior years.

The DOJ’s announcement also stated: “[t]his initiative is aimed at promoting transparency and an open flow of communication between poll observers and election monitors” (emphasis added). This unusual statement indicates DOJ election monitors are planning to coordinate with third party election observers, which could include partisan actors or others who have worked to undermine confidence in elections, such as Cleta Mitchell’s Election Integrity Network. Given this Administration’s willingness to embrace individuals who attempted to overturn safe and secure elections, DOJ’s announcement indicates its staff on the ground intend to act in concert with party officials or election deniers.

In addition, the President has repeatedly asserted inappropriate control over the traditionally independent administration of the Department’s law enforcement powers to investigate and prosecute individuals. The Department’s announcement included a statement from the former Acting US Attorney of the Central District of California, another significant departure from prior DOJ communications, but failed to affirm the Department’s duty to be impartial and unbiased, especially in the context of elections. Since the President has been very clear about his motives and claims of power over the Department’s day-to-day law enforcement activities, this deployment runs the very real risk of intimidating voters and turning the Department into a tool of partisan and frivolous election-related challenges.

In sum, the circumstances around the Department’s planned deployment create a clear perception of a partisan motive and undermine the credibility of the Department to rely or act on the work of these observers. As a result, the deployment of Department staff to monitor upcoming elections in California should be canceled immediately.

At a minimum, the Department should provide greater transparency, coordinate with state and local election administrators, and ensure that its employees comply with federal and state law, Department policies, and ethical requirements to prevent any activities that may lead to voter intimidation or interference with elections.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-colleagues-warn-trump-may-declare-election-related-national-emergency-after-white-house-hires-prominent-election-denier-to-reexamine-2020-election-results/,"Padilla, Colleagues Warn Trump May Declare Election-Related National Emergency After White House Hires Prominent Election Denier to Reexamine 2020 Election Results",2025-10-29,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators: Kurt Olsen’s appointment seems “to be part of a scheme to convince the President to attempt a national emergency declaration to illegally claim unconstitutional federal powers over state and local election administration.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, led eight colleagues in condemning the White House’s alarming hiring of former “Stop the Steal” and Trump campaign lawyer Kurt Olsen as a “special government employee” to “investigate” the 2020 election again, five years later. The Senators emphasized that the White House’s hiring of Olsen follows a clear pattern of hiring 2020 election deniers and Trump loyalists to do election work, raising fears that senior White House staff may enable President Trump to declare a national emergency to illegally interfere in state and local election administration.

“The 2020 election was heavily litigated and closely examined, and there is no justification for White House staff in 2025 to waste taxpayer money on endlessly rehashing false 2020 election conspiracy theories,” wrote the Senators to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and White House Chief Counsel David Warrington. “Mr. Olsen is particularly ill-suited to lead such a probe, given that he advanced such conspiracy theories as he worked to prevent four battleground states from certifying the 2020 election.”

“Let us be clear: any attempt to declare a national emergency to interfere in state and local election administration would be illegal and unconstitutional,” continued the Senators. “While we are confident any such scheme would fail quickly in the face of judicial scrutiny, it still poses unacceptable risks of undermining future elections in this country. Therefore, we demand you closely oversee Mr. Olsen and other appointees to ensure they do not engage in illegal or unethical conduct in pursuit of an unconstitutional national emergency regarding elections.”

On President Trump’s 2020 campaign, Olsen worked to prevent the certification of valid election results in four states ahead of the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Since then, he has also been sanctioned by Arizona’s Supreme Court for lies he told to try to overturn the results in Kari Lake’s 2022 gubernational bid, and he pushed President Trump to make legal demands around voter data in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Georgia ahead of the 2024 election to set up future election challenges. Olsen’s position reportedly has “direct” access to the President, raising concerns after he said he wants to examine election machines and repeatedly spread unfounded misinformation that these machines are not secure, despite major news networks paying hundreds of millions in defamation settlements for similar lies.

Olsen’s hiring comes after other prominent election deniers like Heather Honey, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Election Integrity at the Department of Homeland Security, have pressured President Trump to declare a “national emergency” to unconstitutionally influence how states administer elections. Prior to her appointment, Honey advocated for Trump to seize “some additional powers that don’t exist right now,” bypass Congress’ authority, and “mandate that states do things,” predicating these changes on an investigation of the 2020 election and senior White House staff cooperation. Olsen’s appointment to rehash 2020 election conspiracy theories further raises alarm bells on the potential for Trump to declare a national emergency.

The Senators also condemned Trump’s anti-voter executive order illegally directing the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to revise voting system standards and rescind voting machine certifications, and they slammed the President’s threat to issue another illegal and unconstitutional executive order to ban mail-in ballots. They pushed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and White House Counsel David Warrington to also make sure Olsen and other appointees follow the bipartisan Help America Vote Act that established EAC as an independent entity outside of the White House’s unilateral control.

In addition to Senator Padilla, the letter was also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Senator Padilla has led the charge opposing President Trump’s unlawful attempt at a Presidential power grab through his anti-voter executive order. Earlier this year, Padilla led 14 Democratic Senators in calling on President Trump to revoke his illegal executive order that would disenfranchise millions of Americans. Padilla also led 11 Senators in introducing the Defending America’s Future Elections Act to repeal the order and prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive voter registration data and state records. Additionally, Padilla and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25) warned officials at the EAC about the dangerous implications for elections following President Trump’s executive order purporting to bring independent regulatory agencies under total control of the White House.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Ms. Wiles and Mr. Warrington,

We write with serious concern that Kurt Olsen has reportedly been hired by the White House as a “special government employee” to “investigate” the 2020 election.

While the 2020 election was nearly five years ago, Mr. Olsen’s appointment appears to be part of a scheme to convince the President to attempt a national emergency declaration to illegally claim unconstitutional federal powers over state and local election administration. Any such declaration would quickly fail to withstand legal scrutiny, but it would still represent a completely unacceptable attempt to undermine the U.S. Constitution and free and fair elections in this country. We write to remind you of your responsibilities to oversee any work conducted by Mr. Olsen, and other similarly minded appointees, to ensure they do not violate legal and ethical standards and undermine the future of free and fair elections in this country.

Unfortunately, these concerns are very real. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Election Integrity at the Department of Homeland Security Heather Honey has advocated for the Trump Administration to declare a “national emergency” to seize “some additional powers that don’t exist right now” in order to take “these other steps without Congress and we can mandate that states do things and so on.” Ms. Honey claimed that such an action could somehow be prefaced on an “investigation” of the 2020 election, the purpose for which Mr. Olsen has been hired at the White House. Notably, she stated: “I don’t know if that’s really feasible and if the people around the president would let him test that theory.” Ms. Honey is a veteran of the Election Integrity Network, the group founded by Cleta Mitchell, who supported Trump’s attempt to reverse the legitimate outcome of the 2020 election. Ms. Honey collaborated with Mr. Olsen in his efforts to support Kari Lake’s 2022 election loss in Arizona.

The 2020 election was heavily litigated and closely examined, and there is no justification for White House staff in 2025 to waste taxpayer money on endlessly rehashing false 2020 election conspiracy theories. Mr. Olsen is particularly ill-suited to lead such a probe, given that he advanced such conspiracy theories as he worked to prevent four battleground states from certifying the 2020 election. When all legal avenues were exhausted, he spoke with President Trump in the lead up to the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, where a violent mob assaulted the Capitol to prevent the counting of electoral votes. Since then, Mr. Olsen has received sanctions from the Arizona Supreme Court for “unequivocally false” claims made to overturn the 2022 Arizona governor’s race on behalf of Kari Lake. More recently, he encouraged President Trump to make unfounded legal demands of Arizona, Wisconsin, and Georgia relating to voting machine data, to lay the groundwork to challenge the results of the 2024 election if President Trump had lost again.

Mr. Olsen has also perpetuated false claims that voting machines were not properly secured during the 2020 election. Major news networks that carried such false claims have paid hundreds of millions in legal settlements brought by voting equipment companies for defamation. Meanwhile, the Administration has shown no concern for the actual needs of state and local election administration by proposing to slash election security grant funding and eliminating the election-related work at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Mr. Olsen’s appointment also raises concerns in light of Executive Order 14248 which purports to direct the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to revise voting system standards and, concerningly, “rescind all previous certifications of voting equipment based on prior standards.” You both have a duty to ensure that Mr. Olsen and other appointees follow the Help America Vote Act, which was enacted on an overwhelming bipartisan basis, and establishes the EAC as an independent entity that cannot be unilaterally directed from the White House.

In August, President Trump threatened to issue a second illegal and unconstitutional Executive Order on elections in an attempt to ban mail-in ballots. As you know, the President himself has voted by mail, as do millions of Republicans, Democrats and independents in numerous states according to state laws. The U.S. Constitution gives exclusive power over the administration of elections to the states and Congress, not the president, and we understand that this second Executive Order has not been issued following further internal discussions.

Let us be clear: any attempt to declare a national emergency to interfere in state and local election administration would be illegal and unconstitutional. While we are confident any such scheme would fail quickly in the face of judicial scrutiny, it still poses unacceptable risks of undermining future elections in this country. Therefore, we demand you closely oversee Mr. Olsen and other appointees to ensure they do not engage in illegal or unethical conduct in pursuit of an unconstitutional national emergency regarding elections.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-senate-democrats-take-action-to-stop-trump-administration-from-illegally-withholding-funding-for-nutrition-assistance-programs/,"Padilla, Schiff, Senate Democrats Take Action to Stop Trump Administration From Illegally Withholding Funding for Nutrition Assistance Programs",2025-10-29,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"President Trump: “We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible and bad for them like cutting vast numbers of people out. Cutting things they like, cutting programs they like.”

The Trump Administration is required by law to use billions in available funding to keep SNAP benefits flowing in November; USDA’s own guidance confirmed its authority to use available funds during a shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and the Senate Democratic Caucus in introducing the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025, legislation that prevents the Trump Administration from illegally withholding available funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The Trump Administration is choosing to withhold billions at its disposal to pay for SNAP, causing the program to lapse for the first time in history, which will be devastating for the 5.5 million Californians who depend on SNAP benefits (called CalFresh in California) to help afford their groceries.

Despite having billions of dollars ready and available for SNAP, the Trump Administration continues to play politics with the ability of Americans across the country to put food on the table. Not only does the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have the authority to release SNAP contingency funds, but the statute is clear: the Trump Administration is required by law to release these funds.

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 directs USDA to immediately release billions of dollars in available funds to ensure SNAP and WIC benefits continue uninterrupted for the remainder of this fiscal year. The legislation also requires the federal government to reimburse states for covering SNAP benefits during a shutdown. California has provided $80 million in state funds to stabilize food bank food distribution and offset delays in federal CalFresh benefits.

“Donald Trump is picking winners and losers in this shutdown, and unfortunately, he’s decided not to help the most vulnerable families. Trump is illegally withholding billions of dollars in SNAP emergency funds that help feed over 40 million Americans‚ including 5.5 million Californians,” said Senator Padilla. “At any moment, the President could end this manufactured crisis so that American families and children don’t go hungry, but he’d rather starve families to inflict as much pain as possible and score political points. Congress must take immediate action through this legislation to fulfill America’s promise to protect lifesaving food and nutrition assistance.”

“Donald Trump has the power to ensure 40 million people don’t go hungry during the shutdown. But he wishes to inflict the maximum pain on those who can least afford it. If he won’t fund food, then my colleagues and I will push legislation to force him to,” said Senator Schiff.

“Let me be clear: the Trump administration has the authority and the funds to keep SNAP running. No child, veteran, grandparent, or hardworking American should go hungry because of partisan politics,” said Senator Luján. “Congressional Republicans passed the largest cut to SNAP in history, and now the Trump administration is withholding billions in available funding to inflict maximum pain on the American people. 42 million Americans, including 1 in every 5 New Mexicans, relies on SNAP to feed their families. That’s why I’m leading my colleagues to introduce legislation that would ensure the Trump administration immediately releases available funds to keep nutrition programs running.”

“Every president before Trump—Republican or Democrat—kept food on the table during a shutdown. Trump and Senate Republicans are the first in history to make the cruel and unprecedented decision to let tens of millions of Americans go hungry,” said Leader Schumer. “This pain doesn’t need to happen: Trump is choosing to inflict it on American families. He’s choosing cruelty over compassion, politics over people. Democrats’ bill would make sure no child, no parent, no veteran misses a meal because of Trump’s shutdown—and Republicans should help us pass it now, and fund SNAP and WIC before this hunger crisis hits home.”

“Food assistance has never stopped going to Americans in need during a government shutdown, and it shouldn’t stop now,” said Senator Klobuchar, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. “The fastest way to ensure that American families receive the food assistance they need is for the Administration to use resources they already have at their disposal. Choosing not to is unacceptable. Our bill would ensure food assistance from SNAP and WIC are not interrupted if this shutdown continues. Hungry families should never be used as political bargaining chips.”

In addition to Padilla and Schiff, the legislation is cosponsored by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Last week, Senators Padilla and Schiff joined 44 Senate colleagues in calling on the USDA to release the billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure SNAP benefits continue in November. Earlier this year, Padilla joined a spotlight forum titled “Hunger by Design ­— The GOP’s Assault on SNAP” to question witnesses and expose President Trump and Republicans’ cruel budget proposal that cut nearly $200 billion in SNAP benefits while giving tax cuts to billionaires. He also repeatedly slammed Republicans’ billionaire-first budget reconciliation bill that is gutting critical programs like SNAP and devastating families in California and across the country. In June, Padilla joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in calling on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to reverse course on Republicans’ plan to take health care and food assistance away from millions of Americans — including seniors, children, people with disabilities, and veterans — to pay for tax breaks for ultra-wealthy Americans.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-wyden-lead-colleagues-in-slamming-rfk-jr-for-purging-staff-on-frontlines-of-opioid-crisis/,"Padilla, Wyden Lead Colleagues in Slamming RFK Jr. for Purging Staff on Frontlines of Opioid Crisis",2025-10-28,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Letter follows mass layoffs from Trump Administration during ongoing Republican government shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) led 15 Democratic Senate colleagues in slamming Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for firing federal employees at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) working on the frontlines of America’s opioid crisis. HHS has now terminated more than 100 SAMHSA employees since the start of the Trump Administration, reducing their staff to less than 50 percent capacity.

SAMHSA provides key addiction and mental health treatment services with a focus on rural and underserved areas and is responsible for programs like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Trump Administration’s layoffs of vital SAMHSA staff earlier this month as part of another government-wide reduction in force will lead to more Americans falling into addiction because they will be unable to access the agency’s critical addiction prevention and treatment services.

“Without cause, HHS terminated 125 employees, further decimating the agency that is a critical first responder on the frontlines of our nation’s ongoing substance use and mental health crises,” wrote the Senators. “… The firing of key staff at this agency threatens to undermine years of hard-won progress on the opioid crisis, and could not come at a worse time. Right now, communities across the country — in both red and blue states — continue to face record overdose deaths and escalating rates of mental health conditions and substance use disorder.”

“Your decision sends the wrong message to public health professionals — and to the families counting on them. It contradicts the administration’s own stated goals to tackle the fentanyl crisis, expand mental health services, and end the opioid epidemic. Terminating staff risks derailing the progress made by a workforce whose experience is irreplaceable,” continued the Senators.

Padilla and Wyden warned that these terminations will lead to more opioid-related deaths and illicit drugs flowing into communities across the United States. Kennedy’s decision to purge public health professionals not only derails progress made by a workforce with specialized experience, but it also contradicts the Administration’s pledge to tackle the fentanyl crisis, expand mental health services, and end the opioid epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 73,000 people died from overdosing from April 2024 to April 2025.

In addition to Padilla and Wyden, the letter to HHS was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

As co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, Senator Padilla previously condemned the Trump Administration’s proposed dissolution of SAMHSA as part of HHS’ restructuring plan and the White House Office of Management and Budget’s HHS budget proposal. Earlier this year, Padilla led 12 Democratic Senators in warning HHS Secretary Kennedy that additional staffing cuts at SAMHSA would have disastrous ramifications for millions of Americans struggling with mental and behavioral health challenges.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

We are deeply alarmed by the recent firings at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency under your jurisdiction at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Without cause, HHS terminated 125 employees, further decimating the agency that is a critical first responder on the frontlines of our nation’s ongoing substance use and mental health crises. The firings that took place on October 10, 2025, were on top of the hundreds of people HHS fired in April, leaving SAMHSA at about half the staff it had in January. The firing of key staff at this agency threatens to undermine years of hard-won progress on the opioid crisis, and could not come at a worse time.

Right now, communities across the country – in both red and blue states – continue to face record overdose deaths and escalating rates of mental health conditions and substance use disorder. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 73,690 overdose deaths from April 2024 to April 2025. The opioid epidemic remains an ongoing public health emergency in the United States. In addition, youth suicide rates have risen by over 60% to all-time highs, and one in five Americans live with a mental health condition. Now more than ever, the federal government must be strengthening all efforts to respond to these dual crises, in addition to cracking down on the influx of illicit fentanyl into our country.

It is important to highlight that SAMHSA’s programs not only save lives, they save money. Mental illness and substance use already cost the U.S. economy more than $1 trillion each year in lost productivity, health care spending, and premature deaths. Terminating the experts at SAMHSA who coordinate our national response will deepen both the human and economic toll and ensure devastating impacts from increasing supplies of illicit drugs flowing into communities across the country.

For years, SAMHSA has been a cornerstone of America’s public health response; implementing evidence-based solutions, expanding access to key services in rural and underserved areas, and launching critical tools like 9-8-8, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. These efforts enjoy broad bipartisan support, delivering real results on a crisis that transcends party lines.

Your decision sends the wrong message to public health professionals—and to the families counting on them. It contradicts the administration’s own stated goals to tackle the fentanyl crisis, expand mental health services, and end the opioid epidemic. Terminating staff risks derailing the progress made by a workforce whose experience is irreplaceable.

We have seen your agency course-correct before, reversing similar mass terminations at the CDC. That same logic must apply here. The administration should be bolstering SAMHSA’s mission, not undercutting it.

The public expects a health department that’s focused on solutions, not politics. I urge you to reverse these terminations immediately and reaffirm your department’s commitment to the people on the ground doing the hard work to keep Americans safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-colleagues-urge-trump-usda-to-immediately-release-november-snap-benefits/,"Padilla, Schiff, Colleagues Urge Trump USDA to Immediately Release November SNAP Benefits",2025-10-23,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Trump Administration jeopardizing food assistance for 5.5 million Californians on CalFresh

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), as well as 41 other colleagues, in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release the billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November. The letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins comes as the Trump Administration’s refusal to provide SNAP funding will force at least 25 states, including California, to delay essential food benefits at the start of next month.

Approximately 40 million low-income Americans — including 5.5 million Californians — depend on SNAP benefits to help afford their groceries, which has only grown more important amid skyrocketing food prices under President Trump. In response to USDA’s withholding of SNAP funding, Governor Gavin Newsom announced yesterday that he will deploy the California National Guard to support food banks across the state, similar to the emergency role the Guard played to facilitate nutrition assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. California will also fast-track over $80 million in state support to protect these vital benefits.

“We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will ‘run out of money in two weeks,’” wrote the Senators. “In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November.”

“In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance,” continued the Senators. “We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA’s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.”

The Democratic Senators raised the alarm about USDA’s failure to use available funding to continue SNAP, urging USDA to comply with the law by using contingency funding available for SNAP. They also urged USDA to use its interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that allows the agency to transfer funds from other USDA nutrition programs to SNAP, which they recently used to transfer funding to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), to protect important benefits during the government shutdown.

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, Booker, Klobuchar, and Luján, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Earlier this year, Senator Padilla joined a spotlight forum titled “Hunger by Design ­— The GOP’s Assault on SNAP” to question witnesses and expose President Trump and Republicans’ cruel budget proposal that cut nearly $200 billion in SNAP benefits while giving tax cuts to billionaires. He also repeatedly slammed Republicans’ billionaire-first budget reconciliation bill that is gutting critical programs like SNAP and devastating families in California and across the country. In June, Padilla joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in calling on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to reverse course on Republicans’ plan to take health care and food assistance away from millions of Americans — including seniors, children, people with disabilities, and veterans — to pay for tax breaks for ultra-wealthy Americans.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Rollins,

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is our nation’s largest food assistance program, serving 42 million people, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities. Any halt in SNAP funding will have devastating impacts for program beneficiaries, increasing food insecurity and undermining family budgets. Given the critical importance of SNAP benefits, the USDA must take all steps possible to ensure that families do not go hungry.

We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will “run out of money in two weeks.” In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November. First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown. In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November.

Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA’s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-lofgren-lead-california-democrats-in-blasting-trumps-unlawful-energy-projects-cuts-call-for-nearly-8-billion-to-be-reinstated/,"Padilla, Schiff, Lofgren Lead California Democrats in Blasting Trump’s Unlawful Energy Projects Cuts, Call for Nearly $8 Billion to be Reinstated",2025-10-23,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"California Lawmakers: This Administration “is focused on vindictive, destructive actions that will keep us dependent on innovations and expertise from foreign competitors and further raise costs for American families.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), along with Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), Chair of the California Democratic Congressional delegation, led 27 Democratic California lawmakers in denouncing the Department of Energy’s (DOE) cuts of $7.6 billion in critical grants for energy projects across California and the country. DOE’s list of cuts includes 79 projects and over $3.3 billion in investment across California, with over $2 billion in projects eliminated from Republican-represented districts in California. The funding for these projects was approved and appropriated by Congress, and the cuts violate existing bipartisan law while threatening to further raise energy costs.

In their letter to Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, the California lawmakers made clear that these vindictive cuts will weaken our electrical grids, harm American workers and manufacturing, and threaten communities who depend on these projects for reliable energy sources. They emphasized that these cuts fly in the face of the Administration’s stated priorities while abandoning their purported goal of securing “American energy dominance.”

“We write to express our outrage at the unlawful cancellation of nearly $8 billion of crucial Department of Energy grants supporting projects which, if reinstated, would make our country’s electric grids, industrial processes, and workforce stronger, safer, and more resilient,” wrote the lawmakers.

“Many of these projects had already begun implementation, and their cancellation abandons hardworking Americans for the sake of cheap, partisan retribution. The DOE’s $7.6 billion in cancellations do not bring our country any closer to American Energy Dominance. Instead, they threaten the country’s progress toward reliable, resilient, and affordable energy for all and undermine thousands of American jobs along the way,” continued the lawmakers.

These cuts targeting Democratic-led states like California were telegraphed earlier this year by reports of a DOE “hit list” of awards, contracts, and projects — many of which have already begun construction — that the Administration was considering canceling. The list contained California’s Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) hydrogen hub and other California projects for which the Trump Administration is intending to withhold funding, including all $1.2 billion for ARCHES.

The list of cut projects also includes important energy storage projects that would add “dispatchable capacity” to help meet energy demand, going back on DOE’s stated goals. For instance, one canceled project would provide $30 million to build long-duration energy storage capacity for Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, California, a critical Central Valley facility that that serves 1.3 million children. The project would have provided essential, dispatchable backup power for the hospital’s operations, but now the Valley’s only children’s hospital with either an emergency medicine facility or a Level IV NICU facility for critically ill newborns will be left vulnerable to grid failure.

Additionally, projects in Republican-represented districts have been canceled that would have supported grid reliability and affordability, bolstered cement and glass manufacturing, improved carbon capture and storage, and facilitated cleaner and safer oil and gas use and processing. These projects would improve air quality in neighboring communities and reduce carbon emissions, while creating good-paying jobs for Californians of all political backgrounds.

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, and Lofgren, the letter was also signed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11) and U.S. Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Ami Bera (D-Calif.-06), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.-29), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), and George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27).

Senators Padilla and Schiff have strongly opposed the Department of Energy’s recent project cuts. Earlier this month, Padilla and Schiff joined 35 Senators in demanding that Secretary Wright and Director Vought restore funding for 223 energy projects in Democratic-led states that the Trump Administration unlawfully canceled. The California Senators also blasted the Department’s cancellation of all $1.2 billion Padilla secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for California’s ARCHES hydrogen hub. Padilla, Schiff, and Representatives Whitesides and Levin previously led a bipartisan, bicameral delegation of 45 lawmakers in urging DOE to preserve funding for hydrogen production hubs, including ARCHES. Padilla, Schiff, and 25 other Democratic Senators also sounded the alarm on DOE’s “hit list” of key energy projects, demanding Secretary of Energy Chris Wright follow the law and preserve the hydrogen hub program. Additionally, Padilla questioned President Trump’s nominee for Deputy Secretary of Energy on the “hit list,” highlighting the importance of the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program to “jumpstart” the national hydrogen economy and urging him to protect vital funding for ARCHES.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Wright and Director Vought:

We write to express our outrage at the unlawful cancellation of nearly $8 billion of crucial Department of Energy grants supporting projects which, if reinstated, would make our country’s electric grids, industrial processes, and workforce stronger, safer, and more resilient.

On October 1, 2025, OMB Director Russell Vought claimed that the $7.6 billion cancellations were “Green New Scam” projects benefiting only Democratic climate priorities, yet over $2 billion in funding has been pulled from Republican-represented districts in California alone. These projects were set to promote energy reliability, affordability, and safety for Americans. Clearly, the administration is not really working toward a “Golden Era of American Energy Dominance”, and instead is focused on vindictive, destructive actions that will keep us dependent on innovations and expertise from foreign competitors and further raise costs for American families.

On October 3, 2025, California’s Senators decried the cancellation of one of the State’s most important projects for the next generation of energy technology: $1.2 billion for California’s Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy (ARCHES) Hydrogen Hub. The full list of cancelled grants and awards recently released by the Department of Energy (DOE) worsens this egregious, vindictive action by the DOE and cancels additional crucial projects, totaling almost $7.6 billion in investments toward energy reliability, innovation, and affordability.

In many cases, projects are being cancelled despite being aligned with the Administration’s stated priorities. For example, DOE is cancelling critical energy storage projects which would add “dispatchable capacity,” exactly what DOE has claimed it wants to prioritize. One such cancelled project would provide $30 million to build long-duration energy storage capacity for Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, CA. Valley Children’s is a critical facility in the Central Valley that serves 1.3 million children and provides the Valley’s only children’s hospital with an Emergency Medicine facility as well as the Valley’s only Level IV NICU facility for critically ill newborns. The cancelled project would have added vital, dispatchable backup power to critical hospital operations. Nevertheless, the DOE seems to believe that the welfare of children in the Central Valley is inconsistent with the Trump Administration’s priorities.

Cancelled projects also include critical improvements to grid reliability and affordability. For instance, $13 million was clawed back from Liberty Utilities’ Leapfrog program to improve service and reliability for communities, particularly rural communities. A number of these cancelled projects go beyond critical improvements to the grid. Some of the country’s most innovative industrial projects have also been axed, including groundbreaking improvements in cement and glass manufacturing aimed at protecting clean, breathable air in communities as well as providing key workforce development to create and train for good-paying jobs. These include $75 million for the Gallos Glass Project and $500 million for the National Cement Company of California’s Lebec Net-Zero Project. These projects in Republican-represented districts have not been spared from these unlawful terminations that will only hurt hard-working American families and leave us even further away from securing “Energy Dominance.”

Even projects intended to support clean, safe oil and gas use and processing to secure “firm, dispatchable capacity” are being threatened by the Administration’s reckless cancellations. Carbon capture and storage is a promising approach to reducing the emissions footprint of traditionally carbon-intensive processes and products. Projects like the Kern County Community College District’s Direct Air Capture hub have been unceremoniously cancelled despite providing research, workforce training, and technological support to this developing technology.

Many of these projects had already begun implementation, and their cancellation abandons hardworking Americans for the sake of cheap, partisan retribution. The DOE’s $7.6 billion in cancellations do not bring our country any closer to American Energy Dominance. Instead, they threaten the country’s progress toward reliable, resilient, and affordable energy for all and undermine thousands of American jobs along the way.

We urge you to reinstate funding for California’s projects. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-urge-federal-trade-commission-to-address-ai-chatbots-risks-to-children-and-teens/,"Padilla, Schiff Urge Federal Trade Commission to Address AI Chatbots Risks to Children and Teens",2025-10-22,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) are urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to address the full range of risks and potential harms that artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots pose to children and teenagers.

The Senators’ efforts on children’s safety follow the tragic death earlier this year of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, who took his own life after months of conversations with an AI chatbot in which he discussed his struggles with mental health and specific plans to commit suicide.

The FTC recently announced that the Commission will begin reviewing certain risks associated with AI chatbots. To prevent future harms and ensure AI systems are designed with children and teenagers’ safety in mind, the Senators are urging the FTC to broaden its review to include whether AI companies have adequate tools to detect and respond to signs of crisis, ensure access to strong parental supervision tools, disclose limitations of their safeguards, address deceptive marketing and sexual exploitation risks for children, and enforce penalties for companies failing to protect minors.

“AI-powered chatbots present an unprecedented and unique danger to minors engaged in longer and unsupervised interactions with these systems. This issue is both timely and urgent, as AI is rapidly shaping how Americans – including children – learn, communicate, and seek help. As the agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive practices, the FTC has a critical role to play in ensuring that AI companies build safety features that work reliably for children,” wrote the Senators.

“We request that you provide our offices with a briefing by October 31, 2025, on how the Commission will incorporate the unique risks to children in its upcoming review of AI chatbots. We also urge you to consider convening AI technologists, mental health experts, and child advocates to inform any study the FTC conducts into this issue,” continued the Senators. “We look forward to working with you to ensure that the promise of AI does not come at the expense of our children’s safety.”

Earlier this year, Senator Padilla and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) raised concerns regarding the mental health and safety risks posed to children using character- and persona-based AI chatbot and companion apps that have surged in popularity in recent years, pushing three leading AI chatbot companies to ensure their products do not contribute to self-harm or suicide of young users. Padilla warned about the safety of this emerging consumer product category during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, noting that AI chatbots have exposed kids to suggestive, sexual, or otherwise age-inappropriate themes.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Chairman Ferguson:

We are encouraged by the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent announcement that the Commission will be reviewing certain risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots.We write to urge the Commission to ensure its review adequately addresses the range of harms that AI chatbots pose to American’s, and particularly children’s, safety.

AI-powered chatbots present an unprecedented and unique danger to minors engaged in longer and unsupervised interactions with these systems. This issue is both timely and urgent, as AI is rapidly shaping how Americans – including children – learn, communicate, and seek help. As the agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive practices, the FTC has a critical role to play in ensuring that AI companies build safety features that work reliably for children.

Research has found that AI chatbots are easily accessible to children without checks for parental consent and generate harmful content, including willingness to engage with explicit sexual content and suicidal ideation. Additionally, safety measures can be easily bypassed and nearly half of prompts included suggestions designed to keep the user engaging in conversation.

The tragic death of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, underscores the stakes. In April, Adam took his own life after months of conversations with ChatGPT in which they discussed – over 3,000 times – his struggles with mental health and specific plans to commit suicide, including analyzing images of a noose and discussing whether it would “work”. His parents later discovered thousands of chats, documenting how the chatbot at times deepened his sense of hopelessness: assuring Adam that he did not owe his parents his survival and offering to draft a suicide note, advising Adam against leaving a noose out so that his parents would find it, and helping fortify the noose that Adam would ultimately use to take his own life. Adam’s death is not an isolated case but part of a disturbing pattern of AI tools engaging in unsafe ways with vulnerable youth.

To prevent future harms and ensure AI systems are designed with children’s safety in mind, we urge the Commission to broaden its review to include the following considerations:

Child-Specific Safeguards: Evaluate whether the leading AI companies have adequate, tested protocols to detect and respond to signs of crisis, particularly when minors are involved.

Parental Supervision Tools: Assess whether current parental disclosures and supervision tools are sufficient to ensure parents can meaningfully protect their children’s interactions with AI systems and are aware of related risks.

Transparency and Accountability: Require companies to disclose the limitations of their safeguards and to report failures to independent oversight bodies, including the FTC.

Deceptive Marketing to Children: Investigate whether AI platforms are being promoted as companionship tools for youth and the degree to which companies are designing models’ behaviors to keep young users engaged in potentially harmful conversations.

Sexual Exploitation and Grooming Risks: Assess whether AI systems expose minors to sexual exploitation, grooming, or sexually explicit content. Evaluate whether companies are implementing proactive safeguards to detect and block exploitative behaviors.

Algorithmic Amplification of Harm: Examine how design choices, including engagement-driven algorithms and reinforcement loops, may amplify harmful behaviors or prolong children’s exposure to dangerous content.

Enforcement and Penalties: Impose clear consequences for companies that fail to protect minors.

We urge the Commission to request that AI chatbot companies under review submit to the FTC aggregated data regarding instances of high-volume users, especially teens, who were flagged internally for self-harm by internal company systems who then abruptly stopped using the service.

We request that you provide our offices with a briefing by October 31, 2025, on how the Commission will incorporate the unique risks to children in its upcoming review of AI chatbots. We also urge you to consider convening AI technologists, mental health experts, and child advocates to inform any study the FTC conducts into this issue.

We look forward to working with you to ensure that the promise of AI does not come at the expense of our children’s safety.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-advances-fix-our-forests-act-marking-key-progress-to-combat-wildfires/,"Senate Advances Fix Our Forests Act, Marking Key Progress to Combat Wildfires",2025-10-21,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"One of the most significant steps forward in federal wildfire policy in recent decades streamlines processes to protect communities while restoring forest health

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Curtis (R-Utah), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) applauded the advancement of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act through the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, setting the pivotal fire and forestry legislation up for a vote by the full Senate. The bipartisan legislation would help combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient.

The comprehensive Senate bill reflects months of bipartisan Senate negotiations to find consensus on how to holistically respond to the wildfire crisis, best improve forest management practices, accelerate efforts to protect communities, advance watershed restoration, and strengthen partnerships between federal agencies, states, Tribes, and private stakeholders. The Senate version of the bill would also bolster coordination efforts across federal agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center, which would streamline the federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires.

A one-pager on the Senate Fix Our Forests Act is available here. A list of provisions particularly impactful for California is available here.

“The status quo around wildfires isn’t working and far too many Americans have paid the price,” said Senator Padilla. “The families I’ve met who have lost everything to the devastation in Los Angeles and in wildfire disasters across the country deserve action. That’s why we’re coming together to confront this crisis and rethink how we prevent and respond. Today’s advancement of our bipartisan bill is real progress toward protecting Americans and our environment through forward-thinking, practical wildfire solutions.”

“In Utah and across the West, we face a growing crisis of overgrown, unhealthy forests. Thanks to the cooperation of both parties, we are confronting the challenge head on and now one step closer to passing legislation that will deliver essential tools to combat wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive. I commend the Committee’s action and look forward to the bill’s swift passage by the full Senate,” said Senator Curtis.

“There is a wildfire crisis across much of the country – our communities need action now,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Wildfires won’t wait. After bipartisan committee passage, the next step is a full Senate vote. The Fix Our Forests Act will make our communities and environment more resilient.”

“Better stewardship of our forests is not a partisan issue; it’s an imperative to securing a stronger economy, healthier forests, and safer communities. I’m proud to see the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act move forward in the legislative process, and I’ll continue fighting alongside my colleagues to enact commonsense reforms that ensure proper forest management, unleash the resource economy, and protect American communities from the threat of wildfire,” said Senator Sheehy.

The American West has long been prone to wildfires, but prolonged drought and the buildup of dry fuels have increasingly intensified these fires and extended fire seasons. Wildfires today are more catastrophic — growing larger, spreading faster, and burning more land than ever before. Nationwide, total acres burned rose from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024, a 231 percent increase.

California averages more than 7,500 wildfires a year. Not including the Los Angeles fires at the start of this year, six of the top 10 most destructive fires, three of the top five deadliest fires, and all of the state’s nine largest fires have burned since 2017. The status quo is unsustainable, and responding to the scale and magnitude of the crisis on the ground is essential to keeping California communities safe.

Additionally, wildfires release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change. California’s 2020 fire season, the worst on record, emitted enough greenhouse gases to erase nearly two decades of progress on emissions reductions in California. Addressing this wildfire emergency is critical to ensuring that our climate progress is not undermined by the devastating impacts of these fires.

To address these challenges, the Fix Our Forests Act would:

Establish new and updated programs to reduce wildfire risks across large, high-priority “firesheds,” with an emphasis on cross-jurisdictional collaboration.

Streamline and expand tools for forest health projects (e.g., stewardship contracting, Good Neighbor Agreements) and provide faster processes for certain hazardous fuels treatments.

Create a single interagency program to help communities in the wildland-urban interface build and retrofit with wildfire-resistant measures, while simplifying and consolidating grant applications.

Expand research and demonstration initiatives — including biochar projects and the Community Wildfire Defense Research Program — to test and deploy cutting-edge wildfire prevention, detection, and mitigation technologies.

Strengthen coordination efforts across agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center which would streamline the federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires.

Improve reforestation, seedling supply, and nursery capacity; establish new programs for white oak restoration; and clarify policies to reduce wildfire-related litigation and expedite forest health treatments.

Supporters of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act include California Governor Gavin Newsom; Utah Governor Spencer Cox; Colorado Governor Jared Polis; Montana Governor Greg Gianforte; Western Governors’ Association; California Natural Resources Agency; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; California State Association of Counties; Rural County Representatives of California; California Fire Chiefs Association; California Fire Service Leadership Alliance; County of Los Angeles; The Nature Conservancy; National Wildlife Federation; Environmental Defense Fund; National Audubon Society; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; California Farm Bureau; Federation of American Scientists; Citizens’ Climate Lobby; The Stewardship Project; Megafire Action; Climate and Wildfire Institute; International Association of Fire Chiefs; Alliance for Wildfire Resilience; Wildfire Alliance; American Forests; Tall Timbers; National Water Resources Association; National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; National Association of State Foresters; American Property Casualty Insurance Association; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; Hispanics Enjoy Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors; Utah Department of Natural Resources; Colorado Department of Natural Resources; Colorado State Forest Service; Colorado State Fire Chiefs Wildland Section; Colorado Water Congress; Rocky Mountain Elk; and Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

The Western Governors’ Association wrote to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry leadership yesterday to express their strong support for the continued advancement of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act:

“Western Governors are encouraged by the development of bipartisan legislation to improve forest management and mitigate wildfire risk. As the wildfire crisis has worsened in recent years, Western Governors have developed and advocated for a range of policy recommendations to promote healthy western forests that can continue to provide our communities with jobs, recreation, quality of life, and important ecosystem services. S. 1462, the Fix Our Forests Act, advances many of our recommendations, and we are eager to continue to work with the Committee to support critical forest management reforms through the legislative process.”

Additional letters of support from elected officials, environmental groups, first responders, and wildfire organizations are available here.

A full list of national supporters can be found here, and a list of California supporters is available here.

Earlier this year, Senators Padilla, Curtis, Hickenlooper, and Sheehy praised the continued progress of their Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act, as it received a legislative hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The Senators have also announced growing support from state and local government officials, community leaders, and industry stakeholders for the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act. In April, Padilla highlighted the Senate Fix Our Forests Act after joining federal and state emergency officials for a tour of the Pacific Palisades fire recovery area led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In the aftermath of the catastrophic Southern California fires, Senator Padilla has introduced more than a dozen bills to help prevent and respond to future wildfires. Last month, Padilla and Sheehy announced the bipartisan Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act to help permanently conserve forestlands and mitigate increasing wildfire risks. Padilla and Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) also introduced the FEMA Independence Act, bipartisan legislation to restore FEMA as an independent, cabinet-level agency and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts.

More information on today’s business meeting is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-joins-bipartisan-push-warning-trump-administration-to-obey-law-on-back-pay-for-furloughed-federal-workers/,Padilla Joins Bipartisan Push Warning Trump Administration to Obey Law on Back Pay for Furloughed Federal Workers,2025-10-15,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-Va.-08) and Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-05), and 160 other lawmakers in a bipartisan push urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to follow the law that requires furloughed federal employees to receive back pay after a government shutdown. The lawmakers underscored that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which Trump signed into law during the last shutdown under his previous Administration, is clear that all federal employees are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends, regardless of whether they are excepted or furloughed.

The Senators raised serious concerns with OMB’s recent update to its Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations document and reports of a White House memo suggesting that federal workers furloughed during a government shutdown may be denied back pay. The new OMB guidance blatantly defies federal law and contradicts the Council of Economic Advisers and Office of Personnel Management, who have stated that furloughed workers should receive automatic back pay once the shutdown concludes.

The Trump Administration’s illegal threat to withhold back pay for as many as 750,000 federal workers is a clear attempt to force Democrats to pass Republicans’ partisan appropriations bill. Protecting legally required back pay for furloughed civil servants is essential to avoid unnecessary chaos and stress. Before President Trump began his mass firings of the federal workforce, California had more than 150,000 federal civilian workers last year.

“The law is clear: all impacted government employees, regardless of excepted or furloughed status, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends, which is consistent with the guidance currently provided by federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM),” wrote the lawmakers. “OPM’s shutdown guidance from September 2025 still states that furloughed federal workers will be provided back pay once the government reopens.”

“The decision by OMB to remove critical guidance on federal employee back pay is causing unnecessary stress for the federal workforce comprised of nearly 2.2 million employees,” continued the lawmakers. “Thus, we request you immediately clarify and update the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations Document and other relevant materials to affirm that furloughed employees will receive back pay, as is required by law.”

In addition to Padilla, Kaine, Murkowski, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, and Warner, the letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with 136 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Senator Padilla is a longtime advocate for protecting federal workers’ rights. He has cosponsored several bills to help federal workers in the aftermath of the Republican shutdown, including legislation to ensure federal contract workers receive backpay, to let essential federal employees temporarily apply for unemployment insurance, to allow federal workers and contractors to withdraw funds from their savings or retirement accounts without penalties, and to provide timely relief for federal workers who are illegally fired. He also joined his colleagues in introducing the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act last week to protect federal workers, federal contractor employees, and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during a government shutdown. Last month, Padilla introduced the Protect America’s Workforce Act, which would repeal two union-busting executive orders and restore collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for federal workers.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Director Vought:

The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) recent update to the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations document implies that furloughed federal workers are not entitled to back pay. Additionally, a draft OMB memo stated the administration would deny back pay to furloughed federal workers for the current government shutdown. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, we worked with President Trump to enact the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019, the intent of which is clear – federal employees are entitled to retroactive pay in the event of a government shutdown. We applauded President Trump for signing this bipartisan bill into law.

On January 16, 2019, the Senate unanimously passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act to guarantee back pay for all impacted federal workers once a government shutdown ends. This law was enacted during the longest government shutdown which lasted 35 days at the end of 2018, and into the beginning of 2019. Prior to the law’s passage, Congress had to pass specific legislation after each shutdown to ensure furloughed workers received back pay.

Explicitly, the law guarantees back pay for all federal employees in the event of a government shutdown. “Each employee of the United States Government or of a District of Columbia public employer furloughed as a result of a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for the period of the lapse in appropriations, and each excepted employee who is required to perform work during a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for such work, at the employee’s standard rate of pay, at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates, and subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse.” The law requires that retroactive pay be required in the event of any government shutdown after December 22, 2018.

The law is clear: all impacted government employees, regardless of excepted or furloughed status, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends, which is consistent with the guidance currently provided by federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). OPM’s shutdown guidance from September 2025 still states that furloughed federal workers will be provided back pay once the government reopens. The decision by OMB to remove critical guidance on federal employee back pay is causing unnecessary stress for the federal workforce comprised of nearly 2.2 million employees.

Thus, we request you immediately clarify and update the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations Document and other relevant materials to affirm that furloughed employees will receive back pay, as is required by law.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-peters-file-amicus-brief-opposing-trump-administrations-illegal-ploy-to-purge-voter-rolls/,"Padilla, Peters File Amicus Brief Opposing Trump Administration’s Illegal Ploy to Purge Voter Rolls",2025-10-15,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators argue that DHS’ creation of a massive voter information database without congressional notification violates Privacy Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit opposing the Trump Administration’s illegal ongoing attempts to purge state voter rolls across the country by developing a massive interagency database of Americans’ sensitive personal data. Their amicus brief in League of Women Voters v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security endorses the plaintiffs’ motion for a stay and a preliminary injunction to stop the Administration’s widespread collection of Americans’ legally protected data. The Senators argue that the overhaul of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to sift through voter rolls with no direct notice to Congress violates the Privacy Act and lacks legal authority.

The League of Women Voters, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and other plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward Foundation, the Campaign Legal Center, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and Fair Elections Center.

DHS and the Social Security Administration (SSA) have dramatically expanded DHS’ SAVE program — originally meant to verify an individual’s immigration status for determining benefit eligibility — to examine the citizenship of voters on state voter rolls in response to false, unsubstantiated concerns of rampant noncitizen voting. Experts and officials have warned that the reconstructed SAVE program lacks essential safeguards and could lead to errors when applied to voter rolls, since it does not properly account for Americans born before 1978 or naturalized citizens.

Nevertheless, the information of more than 33 million voters has already been run through this new system with little to no transparency, further raising the alarm on how that information will be used. These concerns are especially urgent given that DOJ has sent letters to at least 38 states inquiring about state voter maintenance practices, while recently filing targeted lawsuits against eight states, including California and Michigan, for their refusal to hand over unfettered access to their state’s sensitive voter information and registration lists to the federal government.

In their amicus brief, the Senators argued that the secretive overhaul of the SAVE program to create a voter database violates the Privacy Act’s clear notification requirements to permit congressional oversight and the protection of Americans’ sensitive data. Congress would typically receive a System of Records Notification (SORN) update upon a large restructuring of a program’s use like that made to SAVE to ensure they can uphold their oversight responsibilities; however, DHS did not provide Congress any notification. DHS would also issue an updated Privacy Impact Assessment for SAVE assessing any risks to privacy and potential mitigations, which it has not done thus far.

“DHS is actively advertising and encouraging states to use the overhauled SAVE program for voter verification and several states have begun to do so, running tens of millions of voter files through this expanded system,” wrote the Senators in the legal brief. “… These actions — which, again, are occurring outside the bounds of the law — create an intolerable risk that eligible American voters will be disenfranchised and perhaps even wrongly prosecuted for their alleged ineligibility. This cannot continue.”

“There is no doubt these changes [to the SAVE program] require statutory notice given their significant nature. Again, no SORN has been issued. Nor has Congress otherwise received more than cursory information from the executive branch on this issue,” continued the Senators. “Despite repeated outreach to DHS to receive clarity around the SAVE program overhaul, to confirm the accuracy of the reported expanded use of the program, and to ascertain the steps USCIS is taking (or not taking) to educate state and local officials on the potential for falsely identifying individuals as non-citizens with the program as modified, Senators have still not received a response to their letter from DHS as of the filing of this brief.”

The Senators warned that the requests for statewide voter registration files seek personally identifying and confidential information, including voting history, violating the Privacy Act and First Amendment freedoms. For example, the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s letter to Illinois requested information “including the registrant’s full name, date of birth, residential address, his or her state driver’s license number or the last four digits of the registrant’s social security number.”

Additionally, the Senators made clear that the executive branch lacks constitutional or statutory authority to create a national voter database, as Congress, not the President, can set voter registration laws and preempt state procedures. Congress has passed two laws, the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and Help America Vote Act (HAVA), to make sure elections are administered freely and fairly with properly maintained voter rolls, but the DOJ has no statutory role influencing voter registration lists.

Senator Padilla has led the charge in opposing the Trump Administration’s thinly veiled attempts to purge voter rolls and investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, including his letter with Senator Peters and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) opposing the reckless expansion of the SAVE program. Last week, Senator Padilla and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-03) announced the Voter Purge Protection Act to prevent the Trump Administration’s ongoing voter purge efforts, including by prohibiting the removal of individuals from the voter rolls due to changes in residence or not voting in previous elections. Last month, Padilla condemned DOJ’s lawsuits against states for protecting sensitive voter information.

Full text of the amicus brief is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/as-trump-unconstitutionally-deploys-military-into-american-cities-padilla-schiff-illinois-oregon-senators-oppose-ndaa/,"As Trump Unconstitutionally Deploys Military Into American Cities, Padilla, Schiff, Illinois, Oregon Senators Oppose NDAA",2025-10-10,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amid President Trump’s escalating deployments of troops to American cities, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) — the six U.S. Senators representing states that Donald Trump is targeting with troop deployments over state and local officials’ strong objections — issued the following statement on their vote against the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“When our troops raised their right hands and took their oaths, they signed up to defend this country and our Constitution. They didn’t sign up to aid a wannabe dictator’s campaign to intimidate Americans in their own neighborhoods from exercising their rights to free speech and protest — the very rights our servicemembers swore to protect.

“We cannot support authorizing this Administration to continue its egregious and unconstitutional abuse of our servicemembers, with Donald Trump treating them like political props by deploying them domestically without any legitimate reason or request from state and local officials.

“The purpose of the NDAA is to make sure our military has the authorities and resources it needs to protect our national security — but right now, by pulling troops away from their core missions and forcing them into our own streets, Donald Trump is threatening the very rights we all hold dear as Americans.”

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s militarization of Los Angeles and other American cities. Earlier this week, the California, Illinois, and Oregon Senators condemned the President’s deployment of troops against their states. In June, Padilla led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities. Last month, Padilla, Schiff, and 17 other Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the lawsuit brought against President Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military in Los Angeles to suppress peaceful protests. The California Senators also recently demanded the U.S. Department of Defense provide information on operational details related to the ongoing deployment of California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles.

After the Trump Administration deployed National Guard troops across Washington, D.C. and took control of the city’s police department, Padilla supported legislation granting the District full authority over the D.C. National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department. Additionally, Padilla recently introduced bicameral legislation to enhance oversight and accountability of the President’s deployment of the National Guard. Padilla previously placed a hold on Trump’s nominee to serve as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Thomas Carden, until the Trump Administration releases all remaining U.S. military forces from their unjustified deployment to Los Angeles.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-join-35-senators-in-demanding-trump-administration-restore-8-billion-for-energy-projects-they-illegally-canceled/,"Padilla, Schiff Join 35 Senators in Demanding Trump Administration Restore $8 Billion for Energy Projects They Illegally Canceled",2025-10-10,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators to Trump Administration officials: “your cancellations will mean thousands of lost jobs for Americans, many of whom had every reason to rely on the stability of their jobs before these cancellations and all of whom will face uncertain job markets in our increasingly slowing economy.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined Senate ENR Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and 33 other Senators in demanding that Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought restore funding for 223 energy projects in Democratic-led states that the Trump Administration unlawfully canceled. The funding for these projects was approved and appropriated by Congress, and the cuts break existing bipartisan agreements while threatening to further raise energy costs.

These cuts targeting Democratic-leaning states like California were telegraphed earlier this year by reports of a DOE “hit list” of awards, contracts, and projects — many of which have already begun construction — that the Administration was considering canceling. The list contained California’s Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) hydrogen hub and other California projects for which the Trump Administration is intending to withhold funding, including all $1.2 billion for ARCHES.

“We write in strong opposition to the Trump administration unlawfully cancelling $8 billion in federal investments in 223 energy projects,” wrote the Senators. “For the 21 states with impacted projects, your cancellations will mean thousands of lost jobs for Americans, many of whom had every reason to rely on the stability of their jobs before these cancellations and all of whom will face uncertain job markets in our increasingly slowing economy.”

“218 out of 223 projects that were terminated are in states with Democratic leadership. Even in programs where awards were made across all 50 states, such as the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program, only projects in Democratically led states were cancelled while similar projects in ‘red states’ remain,” continued the Senators.

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, Heinrich, and Murray, the letter was also signed by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). All 34 Democratic Senators from states with canceled grants and funding signed the letter.

“Satisfying the President’s desire for political revenge and intimidation is not a lawful basis for your actions. It also betrays the callous indifference of this administration to the impacts of its decisions on everyday Americans. These are impacts that will be felt by Americans, regardless of their political views,” concluded the Senators. “For the good of our country, the rule of law, and the American people, we demand that you change course and restore the previously awarded funding.”

Senators Padilla and Schiff have strongly opposed the Department of Energy’s recent project cuts. Last week, the California Senators blasted the Department’s cancellation of all $1.2 billion Padilla secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for California’s ARCHES hydrogen hub. Earlier this year, Padilla, Schiff, and Representatives George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49) led a bipartisan, bicameral delegation of 45 lawmakers in urging DOE to preserve funding for hydrogen production hubs, including ARCHES. Padilla, Schiff, and 25 other Democratic Senators also sounded the alarm on DOE’s “hit list” of key energy projects, demanding Secretary of Energy Chris Wright follow the law and preserve the hydrogen hub program. Additionally, Padilla questioned President Trump’s nominee for Deputy Secretary of Energy on the “hit list,” highlighting the importance of the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program to “jumpstart” the national hydrogen economy and urging him to protect vital funding for ARCHES.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Wright and Director Vought:

We write in strong opposition to the Trump administration unlawfully cancelling $8 billion in federal investments in 223 energy projects.

Your cancellation of these projects will irreparably harm Americans in all the 21 states with impacted projects, and all additional states that rely on those projects. For the 21 states with impacted projects, your cancellations will mean thousands of lost jobs for Americans, many of whom had every reason to rely on the stability of their jobs before these cancellations and all of whom will face uncertain job markets in our increasingly slowing economy. It will mean lost educational opportunities for countless students at the now-cancelled university-led projects. It will mean difficulty obtaining private financing for impacted developers and utilities, not just on the now-cancelled grants but on other future opportunities that depend in any way on the stability of government permits, investments, and grants. It will mean less domestic manufacturing and innovation, all while diminishing America’s competitive leadership globally. And it will mean higher energy bills for households and businesses across the country, all of whom are already stretched thin thanks to the affordability crisis instigated by this administration’s tariffs and economic policy.

The illegality of your cancellations is the only thing as indisputable as the harm your cancellations will wreak. The grants you terminated were authorized and appropriated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and annual appropriation bills which were passed by Congress and signed into law. The Department must expend these funds and faithfully execute the law, including many programs that have strict requirements for the timing of fund expenditure, purposes, and contractual expectations. In cancelling these awards, the Department points to authority to cancel these awards under 2 C.F.R. § 200.340, which provides very limited circumstances under which federal awards may be terminated, such as if an entity fails to comply with the conditions of the award, if the federal government and the entity mutually agree to terminate the award, or if the entity notifies the government of its intent to terminate the award. You have provided no indication that these conditions apply here.

Given the states impacted by these cancellations, the only criterion for cancelling the impacted projects appears to have been whether they were within Democratically led states. On this, the numbers do not lie: 218 out of 223 projects that were terminated are in states with Democratic leadership. Even in programs where awards were made across all 50 states, such as the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program, only projects in Democratically led states were cancelled—while similar projects in “red states” remain.

Satisfying the President’s desire for political revenge and intimidation is not a lawful basis for your actions. It also betrays the callous indifference of this administration to the impacts of its decisions on everyday Americans. These are impacts that will be felt by Americans, regardless of their political views.

For the good of our country, the rule of law, and the American people, we demand that you change course and restore the previously awarded funding.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-joins-bill-to-protect-federal-workers-and-their-families-during-republican-shutdown/,Padilla Joins Bill to Protect Federal Workers and Their Families During Republican Shutdown,2025-10-09,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and 16 Senators in introducing the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act. The legislation would protect federal workers, federal contractor employees, and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during a government shutdown.

President Trump and his Administration have continued to threaten the rights of federal workers after Senate Republicans refused to pass Democrats’ continuing resolution that would have protected health care coverage for millions of Americans while averting a government shutdown.

“For nine months, Donald Trump has taken a sledgehammer to our federal workforce, intimidating and purging hardworking public servants as he consolidates power. Now, he’s threatening to use the Republican shutdown to inflict even more pain,” said Senator Padilla. “California has one of the largest federal workforces in the country, and we must ensure they can pay their bills and stay in their homes through any future shutdown.”

“While the President and congressional Republicans continue to refuse to work with Democrats to stop health care costs from skyrocketing and reopen the government, people are suffering,” said Senator Schatz. “Right now, hundreds of thousands of federal workers, federal contractor employees, and their families don’t know whether they’ll be able to pay rent and make ends meet. Our bill will protect these workers and make sure they aren’t harmed during this shutdown.”

“Republicans control the House, Senate, and Presidency — and they have led our country into a shutdown to avoid bipartisan negotiations or a discussion about the impending Republican-led healthcare crisis. Now, Republicans and the White House are even threatening to not provide legally mandated backpay to workers,” said Leader Schumer. “Unfortunately, there are real people — with real concerns about pay and livelihood — who are being used as political pawns in the Republicans’ attempt to cater to billionaires and special interests. Senate Democrats remain committed to protecting federal workers who are affected by this shutdown. With the passage of the commonsense Federal Employee Civil Relief Act, federal workers could rest a little easier knowing they and their families are protected from foreclosures, evictions, and defaults during this tumultuous period.”

The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act addresses the threat of federal workers and contractors losing their homes, falling behind on student loans and other bills, having their car repossessed, or losing their health insurance because they have been furloughed during a shutdown or required to work without pay.

Specifically, this legislation would protect impacted workers from:

Being evicted or foreclosed;

Having their car or other property repossessed;

Falling behind on their student loan payments;

Having negative effects on their credit history;

Falling behind on paying their bills; or

Losing their insurance because of missed premiums.

The protection would last during and 30 days following a shutdown to give workers a chance to keep up with their bills. Now in its second week, the government shutdown impacts thousands of federal workers and federal contractor employees in all 50 states. Before President Trump began his mass firings of the federal workforce, California had more than 150,000 federal civilian workers last year.

In addition to Padilla, the bill is also cosponsored by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Companion legislation in the House of Representatives is set to be introduced by U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.-02).

This legislation also has the support of the National Treasury Employees Union, International Federal of Professional and Technical Engineers, National Federation of Federal Employees-IAM, American Federation of Government Employees, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, UNITE HERE, LIUNA (Laborers’ International Union of North America), and the Transport Workers Union.

Senator Padilla is a longtime advocate for protecting federal workers’ rights. He has cosponsored several bills to help federal workers in the aftermath of the Republican shutdown, including legislation to ensure federal contract workers receive backpay, to let essential federal employees temporarily apply for unemployment insurance, to allow federal workers and contractors to withdraw funds from their savings or retirement accounts without penalties, and to provide timely relief for federal workers who are illegally fired. Last month, Padilla introduced the Protect America’s Workforce Act, which would repeal two union-busting executive orders and restore collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for federal workers. In April, Padilla joined Senator Van Hollen and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in urging President Trump to rescind his March 27 executive order to end collective bargaining agreements between public employee unions and dozens of federal agencies and bureaus.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-beatty-announce-new-bill-to-stop-trump-administration-from-purging-voter-rolls/,"WATCH: Padilla, Beatty Announce New Bill to Stop Trump Administration From Purging Voter Rolls",2025-10-09,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-03) hosted a virtual press call to announce new bicameral legislation aimed at preventing the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to purge state voter rolls and restrict the right to vote across the country. The Voter Purge Protection Act comes after the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently filed lawsuits against eight states, including California, for their refusal to hand over unfettered access to their state’s sensitive voter information and registration lists to the federal government. Democracy Forward and a coalition of public interest organizations recently sued the Trump Administration for its efforts to create massive government databases to purge voter rolls.

The Voter Purge Protection Act would update the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to prohibit the removal of individuals from the voter rolls due to changes in residence or not voting in previous elections, unless supported by objective and reliable evidence that the voter has died or moved out of the state, among other protections for registered voters and states administering elections. The NVRA requires states to conduct ineligible voter removal programs, but it bans states from removing voters without notice solely for their failure to vote. However, at least 19 states have removal processes that target inactive voters that could result in their removal for not voting in two consecutive general elections.

As DOJ continues to challenge state and local voter registration practices in preparation for mass voter roll purges, Padilla and Beatty were joined by Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, to discuss the impact of the Administration’s actions on voters.

“It should concern every single American, regardless of party, that the President of the United States wants fewer eligible Americans to vote, not more,” said Senator Padilla. “As the Trump Administration prepares for widespread voter purges by unlawfully demanding states’ entire sensitive voter files and building massive databases to run this voter data through, it’s clear that President Trump and his allies are quietly laying the groundwork to cling to power by manipulating who gets to cast a ballot. With our democracy under attack, our bill would prevent unwarranted voter purges, protect voters, and preserve voting rights for both red and blue states, all while allowing for responsible voter roll maintenance.”

“We can’t overlook how so-called ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ voter purges have stripped countless Americans—particularly low-income citizens and people of color—of their voice at the ballot box. Revoking someone’s registration simply because they didn’t return a mailed notice undermines the very foundation of our democracy, especially when so many of those letters never even reach voters,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “‘Use It or Lose It’ Is Not Democracy. Protecting the people’s right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy, and the Voter Purge Protection Act is a critical step toward preventing these harmful and unnecessary purges.”

“This year, we’ve seen what appears to be an attempt at a federal takeover of our elections through Executive Order and through actions by the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice. The Voter Purge Protection Act gives critical protections to Americans to ensure they are not stripped of their right to vote,” said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon.

“Democracy is built on the idea that all eligible voters should be allowed to choose the direction of their communities and our country by exercising their right to vote. However, anti-democratic forces are working to undermine this core principle by making it easier to erroneously purge the voter rolls and deny eligible voters their ability to exercise that right. This effort is not new, but what is new and bringing urgency to this issue is the extent to which the Executive Branch and the President himself is complicit and facilitating these efforts,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “Attempts to consolidate the American people’s private information and remove eligible voters from voter rolls are unlawful. Our promise to the American people is that we will be in court every day to stop these abuses of power.”

Since July, DOJ has sent letters to at least 36 states inquiring about state voter maintenance practices in addition to their lawsuits against California, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania after these states refused to provide voter lists to DOJ.

Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has dramatically expanded its use of the insufficiently tested Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program, which could be used by the Administration as a basis to coerce states into purging eligible citizens from state voter rolls. DHS overhauled the SAVE Program to verify the citizenship of voters on state voter rolls in response to false, unsubstantiated concerns of rampant noncitizen voting. However, the Administration’s political agenda and data quality issues could lead to the erroneous disenfranchisement of eligible voters. DHS has already run over 33 million voters’ information through their SAVE Program with little to no transparency, further raising the alarm on potential future voting list purges.

To combat the threat of incorrect mass removal of eligible citizens from voter rolls, the Voter Purge Protection Act would:

Amend the NVRA to prohibit states from removing registered voters from voting rolls unless the state has obtained objective and reliable evidence that a person is ineligible to vote. The legislation would clarify that failure to vote or respond to election mail would not constitute objective and reliable evidence of a voter’s ineligibility to vote;

Allow election officials to use state records to remove voters who have died or permanently moved out of the state;

Require election officials to send a notice explaining the grounds for removal within 48 hours of removing voters from the rolls and provide public notice within 48 hours after any general program to remove voters; and

Revise the voting procedure for a voter who failed to report a change of address by allowing a voter who moved within a state to vote at the polling place of the voter’s current address or at a central location in the jurisdiction of the local voter registration office.

The Voter Purge Protection Act is cosponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Senator Padilla has led the charge in opposing the Trump Administration’s thinly veiled attempts to purge voter rolls and investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud. Last month, Padilla condemned DOJ’s lawsuits against states for protecting sensitive voter information. On John Lewis National Day of Action in July, Senators Padilla, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led 13 Senators in raising the alarm on the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s policy shift to focus on unsubstantiated voter fraud investigations. Earlier that month, Padilla, Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) expressed serious concerns that recent changes to and the expanded use of the insufficiently tested DHS’ SAVE Program could purge eligible citizens from state voter rolls. Earlier this year, Padilla led 11 Senators in introducing the Defending America’s Future Elections Act to repeal Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order and prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive voter registration data and state records.

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

The full video of today’s press call can be downloaded here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-illinois-oregon-senators-warn-against-trumps-illegal-deployments-of-national-guard-troops-to-their-states/,"Padilla, Schiff, Illinois, Oregon Senators Warn Against Trump’s Illegal Deployments of National Guard Troops to Their States",2025-10-07,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) — the six Senators representing states that Donald Trump has sought to force unlawful National Guard deployments to over state and local officials’ objections — issued the following statement condemning the President’s threats against their states:

“Donald Trump is stretching the limits of Presidential authority far past their breaking point and moving us closer to authoritarianism with each dangerous and unacceptable escalation of his campaign to force federal troops into American communities against the wishes of sovereign states in the Union he is supposed to represent.

“Whether in Los Angeles, Chicago, or Portland, the Trump Administration continues fabricating claims of chaos and crime on American streets to justify his false assertions that there is a ‘need’ to deploy troops into our cities — all while literally defunding our police by cutting funding that helps local law enforcement make our cities safer.

“None of our states asked for this. None of our states need this. And none of our National Guard Troops who are our friends and neighbors — signed up to intimidate their fellow Americans in their own communities or to be used as political pawns by a vindictive President. Donald Trump should immediately reverse course and end these un-American deployments.”

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s militarization of Los Angeles and other American cities. In June, Padilla led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities. Last month, Padilla, Schiff, and 17 other Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the lawsuit brought against President Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military in Los Angeles to suppress peaceful protests. The California Senators also recently demanded the U.S. Department of Defense provide information on operational details related to the ongoing deployment of California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles.

After the Trump Administration deployed National Guard troops across Washington, D.C. and took control of the city’s police department, Padilla supported legislation granting the District full authority over the D.C. National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department. Additionally, Padilla recently introduced bicameral legislation to enhance oversight and accountability of the President’s deployment of the National Guard. Padilla previously placed a hold on Trump’s nominee to serve as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Thomas Carden, until the Trump Administration releases all remaining U.S. military forces from their unjustified deployment to Los Angeles.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-warns-of-politicization-of-doj-during-oversight-hearing-with-attorney-general-bondi/,WATCH: Padilla Warns of Politicization of DOJ During Oversight Hearing With Attorney General Bondi,2025-10-07,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Attorney General Bondi has repeatedly undermined DOJ’s independence, pressuring career prosecutors to manipulate politically sensitive cases, shuttering key offices, and dismantling essential programs. Padilla warned that Bondi’s actions have jeopardized public safety by diverting resources away from organized crime, counterterrorism, and civil rights cases to prioritize immigration enforcement. Padilla also denounced the creation of internal “working groups,” including a so-called “Weaponization Working Group,” tasked with revisiting investigations involving the President and his allies.

During the hearing, Bondi repeatedly refused to answer Senator Padilla’s questions regarding the abrupt dismissal of the investigation into former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan and allegations that he accepted a $50,000 payment from undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents posing as business executives looking to secure contracts with a future Trump Administration. Bondi also evaded questions about the firing of DOJ prosecutor Michele Beckwith, who was reportedly terminated six hours after reminding Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino that he was obligated to comply with a court order and the Constitution.

Video of Padilla’s opening remarks and questions at today’s hearing is available here.

Key Excerpts:

The Department of Justice is supposed to be the nation’s guardian of fairness and the rule of law. The power of the Department of Justice is built on public trust and a belief that prosecutions are based on facts and law, not on politics or personal loyalty. And I call that out, Mr. Chairman, because when that breaks down, when the public trust breaks down, then justice itself is at risk.

But under this Trump Administration and the leadership of Attorney General Bondi, I believe the independence of the Department of Justice has come under attack. The department has been reorganized, it’s been realigned, and repurposed in ways that we’ve never seen before. Important offices have been closed, key programs dismantled, and agents diverted, all without congressional authorization or transparent justification. Now these are not minor bureaucratic changes. They represent a fundamental shift in the Department of Justice’s missions and priorities, its policies, and its practices.

The American people expect a Department of Justice to pursue violent crime, as do I, to pursue corruption and threats to national security, not to serve as an arm of immigration policy, and in so doing, underresource other critical missions.

Now the Justice Department’s credibility depends on the public’s faith in justice, and that the justice will be applied equally to every person and not reserved for the powerful or the connected, and that faith must be protected. And so it’s in that spirit that this Committee has a duty to ensure the department’s work remains lawful, remains transparent, and remains true to its highest duty, the fair and impartial administration of justice.

Senator Padilla has long warned against the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rule of law and has fought to hold Trump’s DOJ accountable. Padilla opposed advancing Bondi’s nomination after she refused to affirm the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship and declined to disavow false claims that the 2020 election was stolen during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing. Last month, Padilla joined Senate Judiciary Democrats in demanding answers from Bondi about the continued weaponization of the DOJ following the forced resignation of Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Seibert and the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.

More information on the hearing is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-slam-unlawful-elimination-of-federal-funding-for-arches-hydrogen-hub-as-part-of-vindictive-7-5-billion-doe-funding-cuts/,"Padilla, Schiff Slam Unlawful Elimination of Federal Funding for ARCHES Hydrogen Hub as Part of Vindictive $7.5 Billion DOE Funding Cuts",2025-10-03,2025,2025-10,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) blasted the Department of Energy’s (DOE) cancellation of all $1.2 billion Padilla secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for California’s Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) hydrogen hub.

The elimination of all ARCHES federal funding comes as part of the Trump Administration’s cuts of over $7.5 billion in clean energy and climate project funding exclusively across states that President Trump did not win in the 2024 election. Budget Director Russell Vought announced the unlawful, blatantly partisan cuts on Wednesday, breaking existing bipartisan agreements and threatening to further raise energy costs.

“The cancellation of ARCHES is vindictive, shortsighted, and proof that this Administration is not serious about American energy dominance,” wrote the Senators. “We strongly urge you to immediately restore the funding awarded to the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems Hub in California.”

“The cancellation of this award threatens the future promise of hydrogen energy, leaving us behind the rest of the world,” continued the Senators. “The ARCHES hub is a key strategic investment into American energy dominance, energy technology prominence, manufacturing job growth, and lowering energy costs for American families.”

ARCHES aims to establish a renewable, clean hydrogen market and ecosystem in California by 2030, creating over 200,000 jobs in the state and saving nearly $3 billion in health costs annually, while reducing harmful emissions that disproportionately impact underserved communities and accelerate the climate crisis. California published a roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2045, which included a projected 1,700-fold increase in the use of hydrogen across multiple industrial sectors.

These cuts targeting Democratic-leaning states like California were telegraphed earlier this year by reports of a DOE “hit list” of awards, contracts, and projects — many of which have already begun construction — it was considering canceling. The list included ARCHES and other California projects for which the Trump Administration is intending to withhold funding.

“The ARCHES hub is a critical and strategic investment in our energy future. It provides a clear path toward energy independence, innovation, competitiveness, and affordability. The illegal withdrawal of support for this vital project is a significant step back from American energy dominance, and we request that you restore full support for ARCHES,” concluded the Senators.

Senator Padilla has been a strong supporter of the development of clean hydrogen power in California. Padilla secured up to $1.2 billion for the ARCHES hydrogen hub from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and successfully pushed former Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to support ARCHES’ proposal as part of its Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program. Earlier this year, Padilla, Schiff, and Representatives George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49) led a bipartisan, bicameral delegation of 45 lawmakers in urging DOE to preserve funding for hydrogen production hubs, including ARCHES. Padilla, Schiff, and 25 other Democratic Senators also sounded the alarm on DOE’s “hit list” of key energy projects, demanding Secretary of Energy Chris Wright follow the law and preserve the hydrogen hub program. Additionally, Padilla questioned President Trump’s nominee for Deputy Secretary of Energy on the hit list, highlighting the importance of the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program to “jumpstart” the national hydrogen economy and urging him to protect vital funding for ARCHES.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Wright,

We write in strong opposition to the U.S. Department of Energy’s cancellation of California’s Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), in addition to the cancellation of over $7.5 billion in other DOE grants. The cancellation of ARCHES is vindictive, shortsighted, and proof that this Administration is not serious about American energy dominance. We strongly urge you to immediately restore the funding awarded to the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems Hub in California.

In July 2024, the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) awarded $30 million to the California Hydrogen Hub through the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems to initiate hydrogen hub projects, following its selection as one of seven regional hubs in October 2023. These projects – and the economic growth and American jobs they support – are dispersed across the State of California, in both Democratic and Republican areas. From the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland to areas of the Central Valley and the reservation of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, to Lancaster, California, the investment is already being used to bring together private industry, local governments, and community organizations to collaborate and build a secure, American-made energy future.

This project was projected to create 220,000 good-paying jobs, from research and development (R&D) to manufacturing and maintenance of renewable hydrogen systems. This, in turn, promotes public-private partnerships to expand our energy and STEP workforce. The cancellation of this award threatens the future promise of hydrogen energy, leaving us behind the rest of the world. The ARCHES hub is a key strategic investment into American energy dominance, energy technology prominence, manufacturing job growth, and lowering energy costs for American families.

The ARCHES hub is a critical and strategic investment in our energy future. It provides a clear path toward energy independence, innovation, competitiveness, and affordability. The illegal withdrawal of support for this vital project is a significant step back from American energy dominance, and we request that you restore full support for ARCHES. Thank you, and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-durbin-klobuchar-lead-colleagues-in-demanding-trump-administration-reject-cash-rewards-for-january-6-rioters/,"Padilla, Durbin, Klobuchar Lead Colleagues in Demanding Trump Administration Reject Cash Rewards for January 6 Rioters",2025-09-30,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators follow up on previous letter amid reports that insurrectionists are now seeking financial compensation for legal consequences they suffered and requesting DOJ create a special panel to compensate them

Senators to AG Pam Bondi: “Using taxpayer funds to refund January 6 insurrectionists would be an illegal and corrupt abuse of the justice system.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led seven of their Senate colleagues in demanding that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) abandon any efforts to refund or financially reward convicted January 6 insurrectionists.

The letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi comes amid reports that January 6 insurrectionists are now requesting compensation for the “harms” they suffered because they were prosecuted for their criminal actions. DOJ recently took a meeting with a lawyer for these insurrectionists in which the lawyer asked the Department to create a special panel, similar to that used to compensate September 11, 2001, victims, to issue cash rewards for these alleged damages. The Senators slammed this proposal as an “illegal and corrupt abuse of the justice system.”

Padilla, Durbin, and Klobuchar previously led their colleagues in denouncing DOJ’s court arguments that the federal government should refund insurrectionists for the restitution payments they made for damage they caused to the Capitol building. Since then, restitution refund requests have almost all been denied, but last month, a judge ordered the government to refund the restitution a January 6 insurrectionist paid before they were pardoned and their case was vacated.

“These criminals are apparently demanding taxpayer compensation, not only to refund court-ordered restitution to cover damages they caused to the Capitol building, but also to compensate them for having to face the legal consequences of their criminal acts,” wrote the Senators. “While President Trump may have the authority to grant a blanket pardon to these insurrectionists, that miscarriage of justice does not give the Department the unilateral authority to refund or reward these criminals.”

“It is insulting for the Department to even entertain the idea of establishing a ‘victims’ fund for those who violently stormed the U.S. Capitol, injured more than 100 law enforcement officers, and caused nearly $3 million in property damages, which was left to the American taxpayers to cover,” continued the Senators. “Moreover, establishing a compensation fund for January 6 insurrectionists without congressional approval would violate federal law. Congress has provided no authorization or funding for such a misguided proposal, and we are confident that it will never do so.”

The violent mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to prevent the certification of the 2020 election results caused roughly $3 million in damages to the Capitol building, injured more than 100 law enforcement officers, and threatened members and their staff. Damage to the building included widespread vandalism, ruined furniture, shattered glass, broken doors, defaced artwork, and the desecration of the halls of Congress. Convicted January 6 insurrectionists paid about $400,000 in court-ordered restitution to cover the damages they caused, which has since been transferred to the Treasury Department, from where the funds can only be withdrawn by Congress.

“Misusing taxpayer funds to financially reward those insurrectionists because they were prosecuted and convicted for their violent and destructive actions is unthinkable, and the Department should reject any such request,” concluded the Senators.

In addition to Padilla, Durbin, and Klobuchar, the letter was also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

Senator Padilla has repeatedly condemned the deadly January 6 Capitol insurrection and helped pass legislation to prevent similar attacks from threatening our democracy. He previously cosponsored and applauded the passage of the bipartisan Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, which modernized the outdated Electoral Count Act of 1887 to ensure the electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state’s vote for president.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

We write to reiterate our strong objections to any efforts by the Department of Justice to refund restitution payments to or financially reward convicted January 6 insurrectionists and implore you to forgo any such actions. Using taxpayer funds to refund January 6 insurrectionists would be an illegal and corrupt abuse of the justice system.

Our May 2, 2025 letter urged the Department of Justice to cease advancing arguments in court in support of refunding restitution payments made by convicted January 6 defendants, as it did on April 8, so that these individuals would be held responsible for the physical damage they caused to the Capitol. Over 120 days later, the Department has failed to respond to our letter or justify passing along to taxpayers the full cost of the damage caused during these insurrectionists’ attempt to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power.

Recently, there have been shocking reports that Department officials are meeting with representatives of January 6 insurrectionists who are seeking cash rewards for their violent and illegal behavior. These criminals are apparently demanding taxpayer compensation, not only to refund court-ordered restitution to cover damages they caused to the Capitol building, but also to compensate them for having to face the legal consequences of their criminal acts. While President Trump may have the authority to grant a blanket pardon to these insurrectionists, that miscarriage of justice does not give the Department the unilateral authority to refund or reward these criminals.

Multiple convicted January 6 insurrectionists have already asked courts to refund their previous restitution payments, and in all but one instance the courts have rejected the Justice Department’s assertions and rightfully held that such refunds are unlawful. Yet in an attempt to rewrite history and paint themselves as sympathetic victims, convicted January 6 insurrectionists are now going even further, urging the Justice Department to create a special panel, similar to that used to compensate September 11, 2001 victims, to award them money for the purported harms they suffered at the hands of the federal government. It is insulting for the Department to even entertain the idea of establishing a “victims” fund for those who violently stormed the U.S. Capitol, injured more than 100 law enforcement officers, and caused nearly $3 million in property damages, which was left to the American taxpayers to cover.

Moreover, establishing a compensation fund for January 6 insurrectionists without congressional approval would violate federal law. Congress has provided no authorization or funding for such a misguided proposal, and we are confident that it will never do so.

Misusing taxpayer funds to financially reward those insurrectionists because they were prosecuted and convicted for their violent and destructive actions is unthinkable, and the Department should reject any such request. Instead, we seek a response to this letter by October 10, 2025 confirming that the Department has no plans to pursue further refunds or rewards for anyone who took part in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-trump-and-republican-shutdown/,Padilla Statement on Trump and Republican Shutdown,2025-09-30,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after President Trump and Senate Republicans refused to pass Democrats’ continuing resolution that would have protected health care coverage for millions of Americans while averting a government shutdown:

“Republicans have control of Congress and the White House. But rather than negotiate with Democrats, Republicans have sent the House of Representatives home, canceled planned White House meetings until the eleventh hour, told Democrats to ‘go f*** yourself,’ and posted a racist AI video of Democratic leaders trying to avoid a shutdown.

“Health care costs are soaring for Americans across the country as a direct result of the Trump Administration’s policies. Republicans funneled trillions of dollars into tax breaks for billionaires, but now they claim they can’t find the money to make life a little more affordable for working families. Because of their cruelty, more than 20 million Americans — including 1.7 million Californians — could be priced out of their insurance plans ahead of open enrollment next month.

“The way out of a shutdown is for the President and Republican leaders to finally negotiate with Democrats in good faith to immediately reopen the government and protect Americans’ health care.”

Last week, Senator Padilla joined California health care leaders in Los Angeles to call on congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to protect health care coverage for nearly 1.7 million California residents and avoid a Republican-caused government shutdown. Californians and Americans across the country are facing the largest health insurance premium increases in 15 years and rising costs as a result of President Trump’s chaotic tariffs and catastrophic economic agenda, but Republicans are refusing to extend essential Affordable Care Act tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. These credits helped a record 24 million Americans enroll in Affordable Care Act exchanges this year.

Senator Padilla has consistently fought against Trump and Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill that makes reckless cuts to health care in order to hand out tax cuts to billionaires. In July, Padilla blasted Senate Republicans’ passage of the bill that will kick 15 million Americans off their health care, shutter rural hospitals across the country, gut critical programs, and explode the debt by over $3.5 trillion.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ranking-members-padilla-durbin-raskin-jayapal-statement-on-trump-administrations-failure-to-comply-with-law-requiring-congressional-consultation-on-refugee-admissions/,"Ranking Members Padilla, Durbin, Raskin, Jayapal Statement on Trump Administration’s Failure to Comply with Law Requiring Congressional Consultation on Refugee Admissions",2025-09-30,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s blatant violation of federal law in refusing to consult Congress on refugee admissions:

“The Administration is required by law to formally consult with the House and Senate Judiciary Committees regarding the number and types of refugees they intend to admit in the coming year. The deadline for this consultation was today. In open defiance of the law, the Trump Administration has failed to schedule the legally required consultation.

“Despite repeated outreach from Democratic and Republican Committee staff, the Trump Administration has completely discarded its legal obligation, leaving Congress in the dark and refugees in limbo.

“The consequences are dire. The Administration has already frozen the U.S.’s Refugee Admissions Program, a program that for decades has been a beacon of hope to people fleeing persecution and violence. What began as a so-called ‘suspension’ has now stretched into an eight-month shutdown, betraying the nation’s promise as a refuge for the oppressed.

“Nearly 130,000 people facing persecution abroad who have already passed the rigorous vetting requirements of our refugee program have been abandoned by this Administration, left to languish in refugee camps around the world after being given the promise of safety and a new life in America. Meanwhile, President Trump is carving out exceptions for white South African farmers, allowing Afrikaners to skip the line and rigorous vetting as countless others are shut out of the U.S.

“We call on the Administration to immediately schedule the legally mandated consultation and restore the nation’s refugee admissions program without further unlawful delay and obstruction.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-warns-trumps-national-guard-deployments-put-u-s-national-security-at-risk/,WATCH: Padilla Warns Trump’s National Guard Deployments Put U.S. National Security at Risk,2025-09-30,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) questioned Major General William L. Enyart, the former commander of Illinois’ National Guard, on President Trump’s escalating militarization of American cities, including his unlawful attempts to deploy National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities against local leadership’s objections. Padilla’s questioning at today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing comes after President Trump recently ordered the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops to Chicago and Portland to facilitate immigration enforcement despite their governors’ explicit opposition and ongoing court challenges.

Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth violated federal law through their unprecedented deployment of active-duty U.S. Marines and California National Guard members to Los Angeles in response to largely peaceful demonstrations. Yet as Trump continues to unilaterally militarize cities like Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Portland, Padilla called Trump’s ongoing military deployments a “fundamental threat to democratic norms and the separation of powers between states and the federal government.”

General Enyart emphasized that the vast majority of National Guard troops are not trained in civilian law enforcement, and that the military’s mission is to defend the nation from foreign threats, not to police American streets. As Trump also orders deployments to Republican-led states like Louisiana and Tennessee, Padilla and General Enyart warned of the consequences of diverting money, military resources, and troops away from defending America’s national security and responding to natural disasters.

Key Excerpts

PADILLA: General Enyart, as someone who commanded the Illinois National Guard, how do you view the danger of using Guard units or even active-duty service members in cities like Los Angeles and Portland and Washington D.C. for local law enforcement efforts?

ENYART: Thank you, Senator. Well, as a commander of National Guard forces, former commander of National Guard forces, you need to understand that National Guard forces are not trained law enforcement officers. We may have a few police officers in our ranks who just happen to be cops in civilian life, but the vast majority of National Guardsmen and, for that matter, the active-duty forces, are not police officers, and MP units are trained in military response, military law, not civilian law enforcement. So it is a hazard.

PADILLA: Given that, what risks do we face if the executive branch normalizes or the Republican majority in Congress allows the executive branch to normalize unilateral use of troops in American cities?

ENYART: Well, there’s, you know, there’s clearly going to be a disconnect between American citizenry and the American military. The American military is designed to protect us from foreign enemies. … It’s designed to protect us, not to police our streets. That’s what civilian law enforcement is for, and there are plenty of federal law enforcement agencies that can provide that response.

PADILLA: Thank you. And one last question, I know my time is running out quickly here, having learned from this experience in Los Angeles, which was clearly the test case for this Administration, I have a concern about our national readiness. From a readiness standpoint, what does it mean when military resources are diverted from national defense and disaster response to conduct police civilian activities?

ENYART: Every dollar that you take away from or that you spend on a on a misuse of military force is a dollar that you don’t have available for national defense, a dollar you don’t have available to respond to the next Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, or the next Mississippi River flood, or the next tornado in St Louis. So it’s spending resources that need to be allocated to where they’re properly allocated, and that’s to the defense of our great nation and to recovery from national disasters.

Video of the full exchange is available here.

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s militarization of Los Angeles and other American cities. In June, Padilla led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities. Earlier this month, Padilla, Schiff, and 17 other Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the lawsuit brought against President Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military in Los Angeles. Padilla and Schiff also recently demanded the U.S. Department of Defense provide information on operational details related to the ongoing deployment of California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles, first federalized by President Trump on June 9.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-joins-41-democratic-colleagues-in-urging-state-department-to-resume-medical-and-humanitarian-visas-for-civilians-in-gaza/,Padilla Joins 41 Democratic Colleagues in Urging State Department to Resume Medical and Humanitarian Visas for Civilians in Gaza,2025-09-29,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and 39 other Democrats in demanding Secretary of State Marco Rubio reverse the State Department’s blanket decision last month to suspend the issuance of temporary medical and humanitarian visas for civilians in Gaza in need of urgent medical care, including children with life-threatening injuries or conditions. The Senators also requested information on the Department’s recent decision to restrict nonimmigrant visas for people who hold Palestinian passports.

“We write with grave concern regarding the State Department’s recent suspension of all visitor visas for eligible, vetted individuals from Gaza, including those in need of urgent medical care. We are also concerned by the unprecedented decision to abruptly refuse nonimmigrant visas to people with Palestinian passports. It is critical that the Department immediately reinstate temporary medical and humanitarian visas for Palestinian civilians in Gaza in order to save lives, resume nonimmigrant visas for eligible Palestinian passport holders, and double down on the work needed to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region,” wrote the Senators.

“During the Biden and current Trump administrations, individuals from Gaza who met specific criteria set by the State Department have been granted temporary medical and humanitarian visas, allowing them to access life-saving medical treatment in the United States. These civilians include severely wounded children who are especially vulnerable and, through no fault of their own, have been caught in the crossfire and forced to endure horrible impacts from the war in Gaza. These children and their accompanying caretakers leaving Gaza to receive medical treatment are subject to strong vetting processes, including by the Israeli government, which look specifically at any potential security threats and known associations,” continued the Senators.

Medical facilities in Gaza are growing increasingly limited amid a worsening humanitarian crisis, and the region is facing acute shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and medical professionals, particularly those with expertise in complex specialties. Care has been delayed as a result, exacerbating the suffering of those in need.

The Senators requested a full explanation of the circumstances leading to this abrupt decision to suspend medical and humanitarian visas as well as specific issues, instances, or concerns identified, and a list of any cases of medical treatments that have been delayed as a result. Further, they requested information on what specific processes and procedures are being reviewed, the criteria being used to review them, when the State Department expects the reviews to be completed, and how the Department plans to ensure that access to emergency medical care for those eligible is not disrupted going forward.

“As Secretary of State, we urge you to immediately reinstate the issuance of temporary medical and humanitarian visas in order to provide urgently needed life-saving civilian relief, resume issuing nonimmigrant visas for eligible individuals with Palestinian passports, and refocus U.S. efforts on achieving a lasting end to the conflict in Gaza that ensures security, peace, and prosperity for all in the region,” concluded the Senators.

In addition to Padilla, Booker, and Schumer, the letter was also signed by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

In July, Senator Padilla joined his colleagues led by Senators Schiff, Schatz, Schumer, and Rosen to express unified alarm about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, call for the large-scale expansion of humanitarian aid, and urge the Trump Administration to resume diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement and end the war.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write with grave concern regarding the State Department’s recent suspension of all visitor visas for eligible, vetted individuals from Gaza, including those in need of urgent medical care. We are also concerned by the unprecedented decision to abruptly refuse nonimmigrant visas to people with Palestinian passports. It is critical that the Department immediately reinstate temporary medical and humanitarian visas for Palestinian civilians in Gaza in order to save lives, resume nonimmigrant visas for eligible Palestinian passport holders, and double down on the work needed to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region.

During the Biden and current Trump administrations, individuals from Gaza who met specific criteria set by the State Department have been granted temporary medical and humanitarian visas, allowing them to access life-saving medical treatment in the United States. These civilians include severely wounded children who are especially vulnerable and, through no fault of their own, have been caught in the crossfire and forced to endure horrible impacts from the war in Gaza. These children and their accompanying caretakers leaving Gaza to receive medical treatment are subject to strong vetting processes, including by the Israeli government, which look specifically at any potential security threats and known associations. Despite this rigorous vetting and extreme need for lifesaving treatment, on August 16, the State Department announced that “all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped” pending a “review of the processes and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days.” We are deeply concerned that this blanket decision prevents a viable pathway to critical care for individuals who qualify for temporary medical and humanitarian visas, including children with life-threatening injuries or conditions, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

Access to functioning medical facilities in Gaza has grown increasingly limited, and acute shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and medical professionals, particularly those with expertise in complex specialties, delays care and exacerbates the suffering of those in need. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported that emergency rooms have been “overcrowded” and health facilities are running over capacity. The State Department’s decision to indefinitely pause the visa process places eligible and vulnerable civilians in a life-threatening position of further uncertainty, likely causing preventable deaths. Therefore, we request a full explanation of the circumstances leading to this abrupt decision, including any specific issues, instances, or concerns identified, and a list of any cases of medical treatments that have been delayed as a result. Further, we request information on what specific processes and procedures are being reviewed, the criteria being used to review them, when you expect the reviews to be completed, and how the Department plans to ensure that access to emergency medical care for those eligible is not disrupted going forward.

More recently, the State Department made another broad decision to refuse nonimmigrant visas for individuals who would otherwise be eligible but hold passports issued by the Palestinian Authority, using a mechanism that is usually applied narrowly in specific circumstances where further documentation is required from a visa applicant. Those receiving nonimmigrant visas also go through a vetting process and often travel to the U.S. for university studies, business, and visits with family and friends. The State Department has not communicated the reasoning behind the abrupt change in procedure nor a timeframe for lifting this categorical visa restriction. As a result, we also request a full explanation of the circumstances leading to the suspension of nonimmigrant visas for people with Palestinian passports, including any specific issues or concerns identified and how they are being addressed, and when the Department plans to resume processing and approving these visas.

As Secretary of State, we urge you to immediately reinstate the issuance of temporary medical and humanitarian visas in order to provide urgently needed life-saving civilian relief, resume issuing nonimmigrant visas for eligible individuals with Palestinian passports, and refocus U.S. efforts on achieving a lasting end to the conflict in Gaza that ensures security, peace, and prosperity for all in the region.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-announce-bipartisan-bills-to-support-over-2000-acres-of-tribal-land-management/,"Padilla, Schiff Announce Bipartisan Bills to Support Over 2,000 Acres of Tribal Land Management",2025-09-29,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) announced a trio of bipartisan, bicameral bills to promote Tribal management of over 2,000 acres of land in California. The bills would transfer federal land to the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, the Pit River Tribe, and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.

“For too long, senseless conflict and bureaucratic barriers have kept California Tribes from managing their ancestral lands,” said Senator Padilla. “The federal government must right these historical wrongs and uphold its trust responsibility to help Tribes protect their traditions, communities, and local environment. I thank my Republican House colleagues and Senator Schiff for their partnership in this bipartisan effort to support the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, the Pit River Tribe, and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians in their management of these sacred lands.”

“I’m proud to join Senator Padilla’s efforts to help three of California’s tribes restore their ancestral homelands and improve the quality of life across their communities,” said Senator Schiff. “This package of bills would allow the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation to acquire cultural sites and better manage wildfires, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians to build more housing and grow their community, and the Pit River Tribe to manage the Four Corners site as their ancestors did. These bills correct historic wrongs and promote Tribal sovereignty.”

Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act

This bill would transfer 1,475 acres of land from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation in fee in exchange for 1,460 acres of fee land the Tribe already owns. Representative Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.-23) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“After eight years of dialogue with the U.S. Forest Service, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation is pursuing a legislative path to expedite and secure the restoration of Yuhaaviatam ancestral lands to our stewardship, as well as the transfer of property to the Forest Service that it has identified as highly valuable to its mission and of public benefit,” said Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Chairwoman Lynn R. Valbuena. “This effort is rooted in our commitment to protect culturally significant sites—such as the Arrowhead monument—in their natural state, while supporting the Forest Service’s mission.”

The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, formerly known as the San Manuel Band of Indians, is a federally recognized Native American Tribe of Serrano people. Their reservation is located in San Bernardino County, California, and their people have lived in the San Bernardino Mountains and surrounding areas for thousands of years.

For years, the Tribe has been working toward a land exchange with the Forest Service, which would enable them to acquire lands that were once home to a Tribal village known today as Arrowhead Springs. The Tribe has gone through the administrative process to transfer this land, but it has been time consuming and expensive, costing over $5 million, including for purchasing multiple parcels of land in the San Bernardino National Forest and for other expenses associated with the land exchange. This legislation would facilitate this land transfer to allow the Tribe to manage their ancestral lands.

Full text of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act is available here.

Pit River Land Transfer Act

This bill would transfer 584 acres of federal land administered by USFS to the Secretary of the Interior to be held in trust for the Pit River Tribe. Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.-01) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“For countless generations, the Pit River people have cared for and lived in relationship with these lands. The return of these homelands is not simply a matter of acres and boundaries-it is the restoration of a sacred connection that has endured despite great hardship and dispossession. Senator Padilla’s introduction of the Pit River Land Transfer Act reflects a deep respect for tribal sovereignty and justice long delayed for our people,” said Yatch Bamford, Chairman of the Pit River Nation. “We are profoundly grateful for Senator Padilla’s unwavering leadership and commitment to righting this historic wrong. This land transfer will strengthen our Tribe’s ability to preserve our language, culture, and traditions, and ensure that future generations of Pit River people can continue the practices handed down by our ancestors. On behalf of the Pit River Tribe, I extend our wholehearted support and look forward to working alongside Senator Padilla to see this vital legislation enacted into law.”

The Pit River Tribe consist of 11 autonomous bands traditionally inhabiting the area surrounding the Pit River and its tributaries. They are known for their deep spiritual connection to the land, with a rich cultural heritage centered around fishing, hunting, and seasonal gatherings.

The proposed land to be transferred is known as the Four Corners Property, located in Shasta County. The Tribe has strong cultural and historical connections to the Four Corners, and they view it as a central landmark of their ancestral lands. In October 1970, members of the Tribe erected a Quonset hut on the Four Corners, staking a peaceful, yet firm claim. That month, over 100 sheriff’s deputies, federal marshals, and forest rangers ordered the occupants to evacuate the property, which eventually resulted in violence and the hospitalization of several of the Tribal members.

The Tribe has been actively trying to acquire this land through various governmental processes for over a decade. However, they have experienced a series of delays that have added years to the process.

Full text of the Pit River Land Transfer Act is available here.

Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act

This bill would place approximately 80 acres of land currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) into trust for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, and place into trust 185 acres of fee land already owned by the Tribe. Representative Tom McClintock (R-Calif.-05) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is a federally recognized Tribe located near Placerville in the western Sierra Nevada foothills. They have over 580 Tribal citizens, with 140 members living on reservation and the remainder residing in the surrounding area.

The Tribe’s current trust land base is limited, just 317 acres, and their reservation access was significantly disrupted decades ago when Highway 50 was constructed across their only entrance. While the Tribe has since invested in an off-ramp to restore access, their existing land remains insufficient to meet the needs of their citizens, particularly related to housing.

This bill would place BLM land into trust for the Tribe to maintain it for open space and fire risk management. By enabling the Tribe to place their existing fee land into trust, the bill would help the Tribe build much-needed housing for its citizens.

Full text of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act is available here.

Senator Padilla is a strong advocate for restoring Tribal ownership of ancestral lands. Last year, the Senate passed of a pair of his bills to support the restoration of Tribal lands for the Jamul Indian Village and the Lytton Rancheria of California, the first of which became law. In 2023, President Biden signed into law a series of Padilla’s bills to restore Tribal stewardship of sacred lands and ensure that our federal land management laws respect Tribal sovereignty. The package included laws to take more than 2,500 acres of land in the San Jacinto Mountains into trust for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, to place roughly 1,000 acres of federal land located in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties into trust for the Karuk Tribe, and to permit BLM to sell and lease certain public lands to Tribes below market value if used for recreational or public purposes. The first Tribal land transfer under the BLM program occurred last year when 88 acres of land were transferred back to Susanville Indian Rancheria. Furthermore, last year, Padilla and Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced similar bipartisan legislation to strengthen Tribal parity for the transfer of surplus federal property to Tribes if used for specified public purposes.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-joins-senate-judiciary-democrats-in-demanding-answers-on-politicization-of-doj-as-trump-pursues-criminal-charges-against-his-enemies/,Padilla Joins Senate Judiciary Democrats in Demanding Answers on Politicization of DOJ as Trump Pursues Criminal Charges Against His Enemies,2025-09-26,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"“Our justice system operates on the principle that the President cannot demand the prosecution of an individual to settle personal scores, let alone when there is no credible evidence that a person engaged in any wrongdoing,” the lawmakers wrote following the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Judiciary Democrats in demanding answers from Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi about the continued weaponization of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in light of the forced resignation of Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Seibert and the indictment of former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey. In the letter, the lawmakers demand information on investigations against the President’s perceived enemies and press AG Bondi to make several U.S. Attorneys and DOJ officials available for interviews by the Senate Judiciary Committee to understand the full scope of the President’s campaign to weaponize DOJ.

Mr. Seibert’s forced resignation, prompted by his refusal to pursue criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, and the indictment of Director Comey are just the latest examples of President Trump abusing the powers of DOJ to attack his political enemies.

“We write to express our alarm at the recent resignation of Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Siebert after he refused to bring criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey. Mr. Siebert’s decision to resign after reportedly facing immense pressure from the White House and Department of Justice (DOJ) leadership—followed by the indictment of Director Comey by unqualified loyalist Acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan—are the latest steps in President Trump’s efforts to reshape the nation’s leading law enforcement agency into a weapon focused on punishing his enemies,” the Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats wrote.

The Senators delivered a scathing condemnation of the President’s waste of DOJ’s time and resources to fabricate criminal wrongdoing by perceived political enemies while covering up repeated corruption by the President’s own supports and Administration officials.

“While DOJ wastes resources chasing President Trump’s petty grievances, it is gaining the dubious reputation of pursuing cases with insufficient evidence and covering up reported corruption and criminal wrongdoing by the President’s supporters, donors, and Administration officials. The redirection of valuable personnel and funds towards resolving the President’s personal grievances and rewarding his political allies ignores real issues impacting American families and leaves our country less safe. The Department’s capitulation to any demand to baselessly prosecute the President’s enemies would represent a grave miscarriage of justice and a violation of your oath of office to support and defend the Constitution,” the lawmakers wrote.

Joining Senators Padilla and Durbin in sending the letter were U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumethal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

Senator Padilla has consistently pushed for accountability and transparency from the DOJ. Earlier this year, Padilla blasted Attorney General Pam Bondi on her decision to change Justice Department policies to make it easier for the Department to subpoena journalists to obtain confidential information about their sources and potentially harass journalists who write stories critical of the Trump Administration. Padilla also joined Senate Judiciary Democrats in filing professional misconduct complaints against senior Department of Justice attorneys.

Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

September 26, 2025

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

We write to express our alarm at the recent resignation of Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Siebert after he refused to bring criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey. Mr. Siebert’s decision to resign after reportedly facing immense pressure from the White House and Department of Justice (DOJ) leadership, followed by the indictment of Director Comey by unqualified loyalist Acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, are the latest steps in President Trump’s efforts to reshape the nation’s leading law enforcement agency into a weapon focused on punishing his enemies.

On September 19, 2025, Mr. Siebert was forced to resign from his position as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.[1] This decision came after months of pressure from President Trump and senior Administration officials—including Ed Martin, the head of the DOJ Weaponization Working Group—to more aggressively investigate and pursue criminal charges against Attorney General James, Director Comey, and other perceived adversaries of the President.[2] Mr. Siebert left after he was notified of the President’s intention to fire him the previous day, reportedly because federal prosecutors recently declined to indict Attorney General James on charges related to allegations of mortgage fraud and recommended not charging Director Comey.[3] Mr. Siebert is not the only U.S. Attorney navigating demands to prosecute the President’s enemies, with Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes reportedly facing similar pressure to file charges against other targets of President Trump and other U.S. Attorney offices having similarly faced pressure to fire staff.[4]

Prior to taking office, every federal prosecutor takes an oath to faithfully execute their duties.[5] They are required to follow the facts and the law prior to pursuing a criminal indictment against any individual, regardless of their political party or standing. After nearly five months and over a dozen interviews, the Department has reportedly been unable to find sufficient evidence that Attorney General James committed a federal crime to bring an indictment.[6] Without such evidence, federal prosecutors cannot simply manufacture charges against an American citizen. President Trump’s belief in an individual’s guilt and his desire for personal retribution are not sufficient.

Following Mr. Siebert’s resignation, the President went so far as to preemptively declare Attorney General James “guilty as hell,” and then pressured you to charge his enemies, with a dramatic plea that, “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED NOW!!!”[7]

Our justice system operates on the principle that the President cannot demand the prosecution of an individual to settle personal scores, let alone when there is no credible evidence that a person engaged in any wrongdoing.

While DOJ wastes resources chasing President Trump’s petty grievances, it is gaining the dubious reputation of pursuing cases with insufficient evidence[8] and covering up reported corruption and criminal wrongdoing by the President’s supporters, donors, and Administration officials.[9] The redirection of valuable personnel and funds towards resolving the President’s personal grievances and rewarding his political allies ignores real issues impacting American families and leaves our country less safe. The Department’s capitulation to any demand to baselessly prosecute the President’s enemies would represent a grave miscarriage of justice and a violation of your oath of office to support and defend the Constitution.[10]

To ensure that the Department remains faithful to the Constitution and protects American citizens from criminal prosecution by social media fiat, we ask that you provide the following information and materials no later than October 10, 2025:

Documents and communications reflecting or relating to communication between and among members of the Department’s Weaponization Working Group, the Office of Deputy Attorney General, the Office of Attorney General, the Office of the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and any White House official concerning the investigations of Attorney General Letitia James, Tom Homan, James Comey, current Members of Congress, or former Administration officials.

Documents and communications reflecting or relating to communication between and among members of the Department’s Weaponization Working Group, the Office of Deputy Attorney General, the Office of Attorney General, and any White House official concerning personnel decisions in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the District of Maryland, the Western District of Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Central District of California.

Documents and communications reflecting or relating to communication between and among members of the Department’s Weaponization Working Group, the Office of Deputy Attorney General, the Office of Attorney General, the Office of the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia concerning the investigation into Attorney General James, James Comey, or former Administration officials.

Documents and communications reflecting or relating to communication between and among members of the Department’s Weaponization Working Group, the Office of Deputy Attorney General, the Office of Attorney General, the Office of the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland concerning the investigation into Senator Adam B. Schiff.

Documents and communications reflecting or relating to communication between and among members of the Department’s Weaponization Working Group, the Office of Deputy Attorney General, the Office of Attorney General, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas concerning the investigation into Tom Homan.

Documents and communications reflecting or relating to communication between and among members of the Department’s Weaponization Working Group, the Office of Deputy Attorney General, the Office of Attorney General, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia concerning investigations into the handling or storage of classified documents.

Documents and communications reflecting or relating to communication between and among members of the Department’s Weaponization Working Group, the Office of Deputy Attorney General, the Office of Attorney General, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California concerning the investigation into Andrew Wiederhorn and Fat Brands, Inc.

We also ask that you make available Kelly O. Hayes, Justin R. Simmons, Bilal Essayli, Lindsey Halligan, Robert Tracci, Jeanine Pirro, Ed Martin, and Jared Wise available for interviews by the Committee, so we may fully understand the scope of the President’s abuse of power and your commitment to the rule of law.

We look forward to your full and prompt responses to these questions.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-bipartisan-padilla-mullin-bill-strengthening-cybersecurity-for-the-988-suicide-crisis-lifeline/,"Senate Passes Bipartisan Padilla, Mullin Bill Strengthening Cybersecurity for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline",2025-09-26,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan legislation to strengthen the cybersecurity protocols for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in response to previous outages that resulted in a day-long outage for those in crisis. The 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act passed as part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes key public health programs focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery for patients with substance use disorder.

“People struggling with their mental health shouldn’t be met with disruptions or service outages when they call the 988 Lifeline at the most critical times of need. We can’t let cybersecurity vulnerabilities get in the way of providing lifesaving support,” said Senator Padilla. “I am glad to see the Senate unanimously pass our bipartisan bill to better identify and prevent cyberattacks so people in crisis have access to the Lifeline whenever they need it.”

“I am grateful to my colleagues for their support of this critical legislation. Increasing cybersecurity measures for the 988 Lifeline is imperative to suicide prevention,” said Senator Mullin. “Suicide is a heartbreaking tragedy, and every life lost is one too many. This bill will keep the lifeline secure to ensure that those experiencing a mental health crisis have access to the resources and support they need when they need it most.”

Since its launch in July of 2022, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has received 10.8 million contacts, including 1.4 million within the Veterans Crisis Line. The Lifeline’s services are critically important and must stay secure. The cyberattack on the 988 Lifeline in December of 2022 exposed vulnerabilities in the system where individuals who tried to call the suicide prevention hotline were instead greeted with a recorded message informing them of the service outage.

Specifically, Padilla and Mullin’s 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act requires coordination between the Lifeline and the Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to prevent cybersecurity attacks and eliminate known vulnerabilities. The suicide hotline’s network administrator would also be required to notify the government of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents within 24 hours of discovery. Lastly, the Government Accountability Office would be required to conduct a study evaluating cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities in the 988 system.

The 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act is supported by the following groups: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Psychiatric Association, Crisis Text Line, inseparable, Mental Health America, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, National Alliance on Mental Illness, The Jed Foundation, and Vibrant Emotional Health.

Last year, Padilla applauded the Federal Communications Commission’s adoption of his bipartisan Local 9-8-8 Response Act of 2023, making critical improvements to the 988 Lifeline to help callers access localized, lifesaving behavioral health resources.

Any person in crisis and in need of help can dial 9-8-8 to reach free and confidential professional support 24/7 or can visit 988lifeline.org/chat/ to start a free and confidential conversation.

Click here to learn more about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-condemns-trump-administrations-unconstitutional-attempt-to-purge-voter-rolls-in-california-five-other-states/,"Padilla Condemns Trump Administration’s Unconstitutional Attempt to Purge Voter Rolls in California, Five Other States",2025-09-25,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, issued the following statement condemning the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) decision to file new lawsuits against six states, including California, for their refusal to hand over their state’s voter information and registration lists to the federal government:

“This baseless, partisan lawsuit is about one thing: restricting the right to vote in order to undermine our democracy. Whether it’s combing through personal voter information or threatening to prosecute hardworking election officials, Donald Trump and his Administration will stop at nothing to rig future elections in a desperate effort to cling to power. Now he’s weaponizing the Department of Justice in a clear attempt to purge eligible citizens from voter rolls in California and other states across the country.

“No matter what Trump and MAGA Republicans claim, voter fraud is extremely rare. And the Constitution clearly gives states — not this Administration — the responsibility to administer elections. California maintains one of the most transparent election processes in the nation. We will fight back and defeat this blatantly partisan lawsuit.”

Senator Padilla has led the charge in opposing the Trump Administration’s thinly veiled attempts to purge voter rolls and investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud. On John Lewis National Day of Action in July, Senators Padilla, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led 13 Senators in raising the alarm on the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s policy shift to focus on unsubstantiated voter fraud investigations. Earlier that month, Padilla, Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) expressed serious concerns that recent changes to and the expanded use of the insufficiently tested Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program could purge eligible citizens from state voter rolls. Earlier this year, Padilla led 11 Senators in introducing the Defending America’s Future Elections Act to repeal Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order and prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive voter registration data and state records.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-california-health-care-leaders-call-on-republicans-to-extend-lifesaving-affordable-care-act-tax-credits-instead-of-shutting-down-the-government/,"WATCH: Padilla, California Health Care Leaders Call on Republicans to Extend Lifesaving Affordable Care Act Tax Credits Instead of Shutting Down the Government",2025-09-25,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was joined by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles), Covered California, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and local health care providers in Los Angeles to call on Congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to protect health care coverage for nearly 1.7 million California residents and avoid a Republican-caused government shutdown.

Californians and Americans across the country are facing the largest health insurance premium increases in 15 years and rising costs as a result of President Trump’s chaotic tariffs and catastrophic economic agenda, but Republicans are refusing to extend essential Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. These credits helped a record 24 million Americans enroll in Affordable Care Act exchanges this year.

Extending these premium tax credits by the September 30 government funding deadline is critical before open enrollment to purchase health insurance begins on November 1, but Republicans have made clear that they would rather shut the government down with their partisan, status-quo bill and conduct mass federal layoffs than passing Democrats’ proposal to actually address Americans’ health care needs.

“Trump and Republicans in Congress would rather shut down the government than work with Democrats to make health care more affordable as millions of Americans struggle to pay the bills,” said Senator Padilla. “Republicans are refusing to extend lifesaving tax credits that millions of Americans rely on, jacking up premiums for 1.7 million Californians just trying to get by. If Republicans want to actually govern instead of shutting the government down, they need to earn Democrats’ votes by reversing their dangerous attacks on health care and supporting our plan to make these premium tax credits permanent.”

“Families in my district are already stretched thin by the rising cost of rent, food, and child care — they cannot afford to also lose their health care,” said Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles). “If Republicans refuse to extend these Affordable Care Act tax credits, millions of Californians will see their premiums skyrocket or lose coverage altogether. Congressional Republicans must work with Democrats to protect coverage for the 1.7 million Californians who rely on it and prevent a Republican-caused shutdown, instead of holding our health care hostage to push their billionaire-first agenda.”

“The enhanced premium tax credits have been a critical lifeline for millions of Americans to get access to affordable, quality health insurance,” said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman. “That includes nearly 2 million Californians currently enrolled through Covered California, as we have seen a 23 percent jump in enrollment across all segments and ethnic groups. According to a Congressional Budget Office estimate, not extending the enhanced premium tax credits would make coverage unattainable again for hundreds of thousands of Californians and millions of Americans. But there is still time for Congress to act and extend the premium tax credits for 2026 and beyond.”

Thanks to Trump and Republicans’ billionaire-first budget bill and rejection of Democrats’ ACA tax credit extension proposals, 15 million Americans will be kicked off their health insurance and premiums will increase by an average of 75% for more than 20 million Americans, an average $700 increase per family. On its own, passing an extension of these vital ACA tax credits would prevent more than 4 million Americans on the ACA market from losing their health insurance. If these credits aren’t extended, Californians making $62,000 or less could be forced to pay around $100 or $200 a month more in premiums.

Covered California is a free service that connects Californians with brand-name health, dental, and vision insurance, providing financial assistance to help residents pay for their health plan under the Affordable Care Act. 1.8 million Californians have signed up for a health plan through Covered California.

Senator Padilla has consistently fought against Trump and Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill that makes reckless cuts to health care in order to hand out tax cuts to billionaires. In July, Padilla blasted Senate Republicans’ passage of the bill that will kick 15 million Americans off their health care, shutter rural hospitals across the country, gut critical programs, and explode the debt by over $3.5 trillion.

Watch Senator Padilla’s opening remarks here and his closing remarks here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-sheehy-announce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-forest-conservation-reduce-wildfire-risk/,"Padilla, Sheehy Announce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Forest Conservation, Reduce Wildfire Risk",2025-09-24,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Wildfire Caucus, announced bipartisan legislation to help permanently conserve forestlands and mitigate increasing wildfire risks. Representatives John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08) and Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41) are leading companion legislation in the House.

The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act would allow states to designate accredited nonprofit land trusts to manage conservation easements purchased with federal funding from the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program (FLP). This additional flexibility would allow private landowners who are interested in conservation but do not want to sell an easement on their property to federal or state governments, as is currently required, to conserve more land.

Forest management and conservation are critical to minimizing wildfire risk by reducing hazardous fuels, building healthier and more resilient forests, and allowing for effective fire mitigation practices. By saving states money and time, this change would also expand the FLP’s impact and conservation footprint.

“Californians know that the status quo isn’t working when it comes to wildfire and forest management. Addressing the wildfire crisis requires collaboration between federal and state governments, private landowners, and nonprofit land trusts to responsibly manage our forest lands,” said Senator Padilla. “It also means working across the aisle to build practical solutions to strengthen our forest resiliency. Our bipartisan bill would improve the conservation of private forests to mitigate wildfire risk while protecting important forest resources and habitat and expanding access to outdoor recreation.”

“Restoring responsible, commonsense land management is key to protecting property, homes, and communities across the country against the threat of catastrophic wildfire. I’m proud to be part of this bipartisan effort to streamline coordination between federal, state, and local governments and provide landowners the support they need to ensure proper forest management and reduce wildfire risk across the country,” said Senator Sheehy.

“As the former Deputy Secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, I know that our national conservation goals cannot be achieved through public land ownership alone. Federal and state governments can, and must, do a better job of working with private landowners who want to conserve their land, as my family did for our cattle ranch in 1998. I’m honored to join Senator Padilla in introducing a bill that would unlock millions in federal funding to help states conserve working forestlands, create good-paying jobs, and support sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk,” said Representative Garamendi.

“The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act will provide new tools to help achieve our conservation, forest management, and economic goals. This bipartisan bill is an important step in strengthening partnerships between private landowners and public stakeholders interested in conserving forestlands,” said Representative Calvert.

Protection of private forests through FLP maintains a multitude of public benefits, including clean drinking water, habitats for fish and wildlife, timber, fuel, other forest products, and activities such as hunting, fishing, camping. Since its creation in 1990, FLP has conserved over 3 million acres of forest land and expanded across the country to 53 states and territories.

The bill is endorsed by organizations including Partnership of Rangeland Trusts, American Farmland Trust, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Pacific Forest Trust, California Rangeland Trust, North Coast Land Conservancy, American River Conservancy, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, Georgia-Alabama Land Trust, Northeast Wilderness Trust, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Oregon Agricultural Trust, Placer Land Trust, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Natural Lands, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Forest Society of Maine, Lookout Mountain Conservancy, and Saratoga PLAN.

“The Forest Legacy Program remains the largest program for federal funding to states for private forest conservation, but only government entities can hold the conservation easements acquired through the Program. This legislation would grant states the flexibility to have land trusts hold these easements, thereby increasing the potential for high priority lands to be conserved through this Program, saving the state money, and increasing the impact of the Program at no additional administrative cost,” said CalFire Director/Fire Chief Joe Tyler.

“We applaud Senators Padilla and Sheehy for introducing this bill. This bi-partisan legislation is a commonsense, no-cost enhancement to the Forest Legacy Program — the largest program for federal funding to states for private forest conservation. It will make it easier for private landowners and states to fulfill their goals of voluntarily conserving well-managed working forestlands for all their public benefits while maintaining private ownership. The option provided in this bill will help many states leverage private-public partnerships to get better outcomes while saving money and resources. This bill would unlock and leverage millions in federal funding to help states conserve priority working forestlands, create good-paying jobs, and support sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk,” said Laurie Wayburn, Pacific Forest Trust President.

In the aftermath of the catastrophic Southern California fires, Senator Padilla has introduced more than a dozen bills to help prevent and respond to future wildfires, including the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act, bipartisan legislation to combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive. Padilla highlighted the Senate Fix Our Forests Act after joining federal and state emergency officials for a tour of the Pacific Palisades fire recovery area led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Padilla and Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) also introduced the FEMA Independence Act, bipartisan legislation to restore FEMA as an independent, cabinet-level agency and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts.

A one-pager on the Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-conducts-oversight-at-san-diego-immigration-court-amid-mass-judicial-firings/,WATCH: Padilla Conducts Oversight at San Diego Immigration Court Amid Mass Judicial Firings,2025-09-24,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"SAN DIEGO, CA — Following the Trump Administration’s latest purge of nearly 20 immigration judges, including in California, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, visited the San Diego immigration court today to conduct oversight over the Trump Administration’s mismanagement and dismantling of immigration courts to carry out its mass deportation agenda

President Trump has now removed approximately 100 immigration judges this year alone, and the Pentagon is now funneling hundreds of military attorneys to temporarily serve as immigration judges — dropping the requirement that judges have immigration experience — exacerbating a historic 3.4 million case backlog. San Diego’s immigration courts have become extremely overwhelmed, struggling to balance an increasing caseload as President Trump slashes staff and pressures the Department of Justice to help meet deportation quotas. Trump’s firings and recent retirements have left the city’s main immigration court with only eight judges. As a result of the backlog, many San Diegans face postponed hearings, lengthy detention times, and delayed due process.

The visit comes after a gunman opened fire this morning on an ICE detention facility in Dallas, killing one detainee and leaving two others in critical condition.

“Today’s horrific shooting at a Dallas ICE facility is a stark reminder: there is no place for political violence in America. We can and should debate our differences and fight for what we believe in — but violence, whether it’s violence against law enforcement or violence against immigrants, is never the answer.”

“I’m in San Diego today to conduct oversight of what is happening at our immigration courts because over the past few months, this Administration has made it harder for immigrants to have their day in court. They’ve fired a hundred immigration judges, fueling a case backlog in San Diego and across the country, and repeatedly ignored due process, indiscriminately deporting immigrants who are here to have their cases heard. I will continue to hold the Trump Administration accountable for their violations of due process and dismantling of our judicial system.”

Immigration prosecutions now account for an estimated three quarters of all new federal cases in the Southern District of California. Since January, the number of local arrestees with no prior criminal charges or convictions has doubled to 72 percent. In attempts to boost deportation numbers, the Administration has started re-calendaring cases of long-term residents with no criminal history or prior deportations after their cases were previously considered “administratively closed.” In July 2025, 2,958 of these cases were put back on the docket, a 750 percent increase from last year.

In June, Senator Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and members of the San Diego Congressional delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem expressing their concern over the deliberate targeting of immigrants trying to follow the legal process at courthouses, including at the San Diego Immigration Court that Padilla visited today located in the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building. The next month, Padilla, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) led 21 Senate Democrats in pressing the Trump Administration on its recent initiatives to weaponize immigration court hearings as an inhumane trap to arrest immigrants just trying to follow the law by terminating their immigration court cases and deporting them without adequate due process. Padilla also previously led a letter demanding an investigation on a cruel ICE raid in San Diego following reports that around 20 ICE agents detained four employees at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta restaurants.

Video of Senator Padilla’s remarks today is available here and can be downloaded here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-colleagues-demand-withdrawal-of-endangerment-finding-rollback-that-will-accelerate-the-climate-crisis/,"Padilla, Colleagues Demand Withdrawal of Endangerment Finding Rollback That Will Accelerate the Climate Crisis",2025-09-23,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"“This proposed action represents an abdication of EPA’s duty, a violation of Supreme Court precedent and Congressional directive, and a blatant failure to protect the American people,” wrote all 47 Democratic Senators

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, joined EPW Ranking Member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and the entire Democratic Caucus in demanding the Trump Administration withdraw its factually inaccurate and legally deficient proposed rollback of the endangerment finding.

The rollback, if finalized, would constitute a formal denial by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare — a position that defies decades of scientific evidence, agency precedent, and Supreme Court rulings. The 47 Senators called the repeal of the climate and public health protection a “dereliction of duty” and a “blatant failure to protect the American people.”

The endangerment finding is a 2009 scientific determination by EPA that greenhouse gases harm public health and welfare and is the legal basis for U.S. climate policy. It is grounded in extensive peer-reviewed science and confirmed by successive National Climate Assessments and reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Twice, EPA’s scientific finding has withstood challenge at the D.C. Circuit, and both times, the Supreme Court declined to revisit the decision. Repealing the endangerment finding would ignore overwhelming scientific evidence and set the stage for rolling back air quality standards for power plants, airplanes, and more, making it easier to pollute.

“Scientists, financial experts, international governments, and the American public agree that climate change is a looming crisis. Greenhouse-gas driven climate change is driving extreme weather, flooding, erosion, sea-level rise, heat waves, drought, catastrophic wildfires, famine, smog pollution, and other disasters. These effects drive illness, hospital visits, and deaths, as well as displacement, asset loss, infrastructure damage, rising insurance premiums, declining home values, and long-term destabilization of the national economy. … And yet, in this proposal, EPA proposes to abdicate all responsibility to address this dangerous pollution,” wrote the Senators.

“Congress established the Clean Air Act to protect the public health and welfare, and the Supreme Court confirmed that this includes EPA’s obligation to regulate greenhouse gases to the extent they endanger the same. The science is clear that they do so. We ask that you withdraw this proposal and reverse your decision to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding,” continued the Senators.

Not only do EPA’s actions fail to protect the American public from well-documented harms, but the agency’s justifications “are directly at odds with Supreme Court precedent, Congressional directive, and the facts.” In Massachusetts v. EPA, the Supreme Court deemed that carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and hydrofluorocarbons were air pollutants under Clean Air Act “without a doubt,” calling it “unambiguous.”

To justify the repeal, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has relied on a Department of Energy pseudoscientific report written by known climate deniers with close ties to fossil fuel and polluting industry actors. Rife with clear errors, cherry-picked data, and misrepresented facts, the report peddles the lie that human-caused climate change is not a threat. But scientists have known since the 19th century that greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans drive climate change and accelerate global warming.

In addition to Padilla, Whitehouse, and Schumer, the letter was signed by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, including Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Senator Padilla has been outspoken in underscoring the catastrophic environmental consequences of the Trump Administration’s attempts to reverse the endangerment finding. Last week, Padilla joined Representative Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Senator Schiff, and 41 other members of California’s Democratic Congressional Delegation in calling on EPA to keep the endangerment finding in place. Yesterday, Padilla, Senator Markey, and nine other Senators urged Zeldin to reverse course on the elimination of federal standards for greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and medium and heavy-duty trucks, which was enabled by EPA’s proposal to undermine the underlying finding that greenhouse emissions threaten our health and welfare by contributing to climate change. Padilla and all other EPW Committee Democrats demanded answers about Zeldin’s secretive efforts earlier this year to roll back the longstanding EPA endangerment finding.

Full text of the Democratic caucus’ letter to Administrator Zeldin is available here and below:

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

We write in united opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s proposal to rescind its 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endanger the public health and welfare of current and future generations (the “endangerment finding”). This proposed action represents an abdication of EPA’s duty, a violation of Supreme Court precedent and Congressional directive, and a blatant failure to protect the American people.

In 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius concluded that greenhouse gas emissions from human activities contribute to a global “greenhouse effect”, driving global warming. One hundred and twenty-nine years later, the reality of human-caused climate change is not up for debate. Scientists, financial experts, international governments, and the American public agree that climate change is a looming crisis. Greenhouse-gas driven climate change is driving extreme weather, flooding, erosion, sea-level rise, heat waves, drought, catastrophic wildfires, famine, smog pollution and other disasters. These effects drive illness, hospital visits, and deaths, as well as displacement, asset loss, infrastructure damage, rising insurance premiums, declining home values, and long-term destabilization of the national economy. The United Nations considers greenhouse gas-driven climate change a “global emergency.” The United States Department of Defense has called greenhouse gas-driven climate change a “threat multiplier” whose destabilizing effects can “enable terrorist activity and other forms of violence.” The United States emits over eleven percent of all greenhouse gas emitted by all 195 countries in the world, and has emitted over 400 billion tons of carbon dioxide since 1750, by far the most of any country. And yet, in this proposal, EPA proposes to abdicate all responsibility to address this dangerous pollution.

Apart from being a dereliction of duty, EPA’s action here is one of breathtaking hubris: the agency presents a series of alternative arguments defending its proposal, all of which are directly at odds with Supreme Court precedent, Congressional directive, and the facts.

First, EPA argues that the Clean Air Act is ambiguous as to whether the EPA may “regulate… GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions in response to global climate change concerns,” and that this issue constitutes a “major question”. The agency further argues that in light of the Supreme Court’s decisions in Loper Bright v. Raimondo, which overturned the doctrine of Chevron deference, and West Virginia v. EPA, which formalized the concept of a major questions doctrine, the agency may not regulate GHGs absent a clear statement authorizing such action. But Massachusetts v. EPA, the controlling Supreme Court case on EPA greenhouse gas regulation, left no room for ambiguity: the Court in that case found that “[c]arbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and hydrofluorocarbons are without a doubt” air pollutants under the Clean Air Act’s definition, and that “[t]he statute is unambiguous” on this point.

Willfully blind to this clear legal precedent, EPA argues that the term “air pollutant”, as employed throughout the Clean Air Act, refers to those pollutants that “cause or contribute to air pollution for which the air pollution itself, through local or regional exposure to humans and the environment, endangers public health or welfare.” This argument that EPA may regulate only air pollutants with direct local impacts on human health ignores both Supreme Court directive and the plain text of the statute itself. The Clean Air Act does not exclusively or even primarily address pollution on a local basis: programs like the interstate air pollution program and the national ambient air quality standards program specifically address pollution that transcends local and regional borders. Other programs, including mobile source regulation under section 202, are even broader, directing EPA to address “any air pollution” with deleterious impacts on “public health or welfare.” Notably, “welfare” is defined to include not only economic and ecological wellbeing but also specifically “effects on…weather…and climate”—a point that the Supreme Court highlighted in Massachusetts v. EPA.

The Massachusetts Court agreed that under the clear terms of the Act, climate pollution is subject to EPA regulation. The Court wrote, “[u]nder the clear terms of the Clean Air Act, EPA can avoid [making an endangerment finding] only if it determines that greenhouse gases do not contribute to climate change or if it provides some reasonable explanation as to why it cannot or will not exercise its discretion to determine whether they do.” Furthermore, the Court declared, “[i]f EPA makes a finding of endangerment, the Clean Air Act requires the Agency to regulate emissions of the deleterious pollutant” under section 202(a). In refusing to make an endangerment finding, the Court held, the EPA then, as now, “refused to comply with [a] clear statutory command.”

Moreover, Congress has contemplated tackling climate change under the Clean Air Act since the 1970s. The Act’s Statement of Purpose, noting the “mounting dangers” that air pollution poses to the “public health and welfare,” declares that the “purpose” of the Act is to protect the same. As noted above, “welfare” includes effects on weather and climate. Since Massachusetts, Congress has confirmed the Court’s interpretation by passing legislation affirming that greenhouse gases are pollutants under the Act, and authorizing programs to address this pollution.

Finally, in addition to its legal arguments, EPA suggests that the endangerment finding was based on faulty science, and that “the projections [the finding] relied upon…appear unduly pessimistic in light of empirical observations made after it was finalized in 2009 through 2024.” In making this argument, EPA relies upon a report solicited and published by Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and written in less than two months by professional climate skeptics with established ties to the fossil-fuel industry. EPA’s arguments, and those of the report’s authors, are unavailing. Climate science developed since 2009 only suggests more dire implications than were reflected in the agency’s 2009 findings. As reported by the World Meteorological Organization in 2023, the rate of climate change “surged alarmingly” between 2011 and 2021. During this decade—the hottest ever recorded—sea level rise accelerated, ocean heat and acidification increased, and extreme weather increased in frequency and intensity. In its Sixth Climate Assessment in 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that the “evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a grave and mounting threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet.” The IPCC further warned that “[a]ny further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future.” It is also worth dispensing with EPA’s argument that because the endangerment finding did not consider our capacity to adapt to a rapidly shifting climate—which could include migration and projects such as sea walls and pumps—the finding itself should be discredited. This is tantamount to suggesting that EPA can set weaker standards for air pollution by assuming the public could wear gas masks.

Congress established the Clean Air Act to protect the public health and welfare, and the Supreme Court confirmed that this includes EPA’s obligation to regulate greenhouse gases to the extent they endanger the same. The science is clear that they do so. We ask that you withdraw this proposal and reverse your decision to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-joins-bill-to-expand-head-start-early-learning-program-for-working-class-families/,Padilla Joins Bill to Expand Head Start Early Learning Program for Working-Class Families,2025-09-22,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Trump Administration continues to attack and undermine Head Start, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), in introducing the Head Start for America’s Children Act. This sweeping legislation would expand Head Start to ensure that more than 11 million young children from working-class families can access high-quality early education and comprehensive services, while also ensuring Head Start educators earn the wages they deserve.

California’s Head Start program is the largest in the nation. In Fiscal Year 2023 alone, Head Start and Early Head Start programs served more than 94,000 children across the state. These programs offer critical support to children by integrating early education with health, nutrition, and family services, providing targeted support to those facing poverty, housing insecurity, and systemic inequities.

“Investing in our children is one of the best ways we can uplift working-class families and give everyone a fair shot at the American Dream. Yet Donald Trump and RFK Jr. have decimated Head Start, eliminating essential support staff and withholding $1 billion from the program,” said Senator Padilla. “We should be empowering our next generation — not taking an axe to this vital program to fund tax cuts for billionaires. This sweeping legislation would support over 11 million young children while ensuring teachers can earn a living wage and parents can keep working and contributing to our economy.”

“In the richest country in the history of the world, we have a moral responsibility to provide high-quality early childhood education and child care for our children. Instead, President Trump has illegally withheld funds from Head Start and slashed critical programs for children and families to pay for $1 trillion in tax breaks for the top 1% and over $900 billion in tax breaks for large corporations,” said Senator Sanders. “I have a different idea: Let’s expand and fully fund Head Start to make sure it reaches every eligible young child, extend the length of programs so working families don’t have to find additional child care and raise teacher pay so educators are not forced to leave the field or work a second job just to make ends meet. At a time of greater income and wealth inequality than ever before, it is unconscionable for President Trump and Republicans in Congress to hand tax cuts to billionaires while slashing education funding, including for Head Start. If we are serious about caring about our young children, we must expand Head Start programs across the country to reach every working-class family.”

For 60 years, local Head Start programs have provided high-quality early education and comprehensive services for more than 40 million children and working-class families. Today, nearly 800,000 children receive early education, health and dental care, and healthy meals through Head Start, while their families access referrals for job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support.

Research shows that the first five years of a child’s life are critical for social, emotional, and cognitive development. Head Start children are better prepared for kindergarten, have better health outcomes, and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. Yet in America today, families in most states pay more for child care than rent, mortgage payments, or in-state college tuition. High-quality early learning opportunities remain out of reach for millions, with 5.3 million children under the age of 6 — nearly 17% of children in America — living in poverty in 2023.

Specifically, the Head Start for America’s Children Act would:

Fully fund Head Start to serve 11 million eligible young children and simplify enrollment;

Align program hours with working families’ schedules so parents do not need additional child care;

Raise Head Start educator pay to at least $60,000 a year and establish salary scales and competitive benefits;

Provide recruitment and retention incentives grants for up to 12,500 educators;

Expand co-location of Head Start programs on college campuses and partnerships with child care providers;

Strengthen and diversify the early educator pipeline to prepare at least 3,000 teachers over five years;

Improve mental health services for Head Start staff, families and children; and

Invest in facility upgrades, including removing lead contamination in paint and water.

In addition to Padilla, the bill is also cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, Zero to Three, MomsRising, the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, UnidosUS, Child Care for Every Family Network, The Arc of the United States, Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children, New America’s Early and Elementary Education Policy Program, and the Vermont Head Start Association.

Senator Padilla has been a leading advocate in condemning the Trump Administration’s attacks on Head Start and child care. Earlier this year, Padilla and Senators Luján and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) led 25 Senators in slamming the Trump Administration’s mass firings of federal employees at the Office of Head Start (OHS) and the Office of Child Care (OCC) and demanding Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. immediately reinstate these employees. Padilla also joined 41 Senators in another letter blasting the Trump Administration’s direct attacks on the Head Start program. As the Trump Administration considered eliminating Head Start funding during federal budget discussions, Padilla joined the entire California Democratic Congressional Delegation in urging President Trump and Secretary Kennedy to safeguard federal funding for the Head Start program.

A summary of the bill is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-paul-ross-miller-meeks-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-protect-documented-dreamers/,"Padilla, Paul, Ross, Miller-Meeks Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Protect Documented Dreamers",2025-09-19,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), along with U.S. Representatives Deborah Ross (D-N.C.-02) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa-01), reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to provide a pathway to citizenship for long-term residents who were brought legally to the United States as children as dependents on their parents’ work visas. The America’s CHILDREN Act would allow 250,000+ Documented Dreamers living in the United States to stay and contribute to the country and protect them from deportation or other hardships they unfairly face as a direct result of our outdated immigration system.

The U.S. visa system grants certain dependent children of visa holders legal status until they turn 21, but long green card backlogs have led to many such children aging out. These long-term residents are often left with no choice but to leave the United States if they cannot transition to a new status, leaving them in legal limbo and splitting families living here legally for years. This gap leaves young people, many of whom have only known the United States as home for most of their lives, vulnerable. The bill would establish age-out protections so that Documented Dreamers can keep their place in the green card line after their 21st birthday. Without this fix, the U.S. would risk losing talented young individuals — educated here and contributing to the American economy — to global competitors.

“These Documented Dreamers are Americans in every way except one: their parent’s green card is tied up in red tape,” said Senator Padilla. “This long overdue change is about more than just immigration reform — it’s about righting a wrong that’s a byproduct of our outdated immigration system. Our bipartisan bill would prevent these hardworking young members of our communities and economy from ‘aging out’ of their parents’ visa status when they turn 21, and create additional green card opportunities for Documented Dreamers. I appreciate the partnership of my colleagues across the aisle and urge others to stand up and do the right thing for these young Americans.”

“These children who have legally called the United States home for many years and even decades, are contributing members in our communities and to our economy. They shouldn’t be penalized by the government’s failures in addressing green card backlogs,” said Dr. Paul. “The America’s Children Act provides targeted relief for these children of merit-based immigrants who are at risk of ‘aging out’ of their lawful immigration status, and I’m pleased to join Sen. Padilla in introducing this bill.”

“Documented Dreamers are members of our communities — they study at our schools, learn alongside our children, and attend our houses of worship in North Carolina and nationwide,” said Representative Ross. “Despite these deep ties, many of them are at risk of deportation from the country they love and call home. It’s time to finally fix our broken immigration system and give these inspiring young people a chance to pursue their dreams and give back to their communities. I’m proud to join my colleagues in both chambers to introduce bipartisan legislation to ensure Documented Dreamers can remain in this country and use their talents and skills to make America stronger.”

“We are deeply grateful to the bipartisan leaders reintroducing America’s Children Act. Fixing this loophole puts in place a policy most Americans assume already exists and ensures that America reaps the benefits of the contributions from the children it raised and educated. Allowing children of long-term visa holders to stay will empower people to tap into their talents and ambitions, helping us and our country reach our fullest potential. We urge Congress to act swiftly and pass the America’s Children Act,” said Dip Patel, Founder of Improve The Dream.

The Senate version of the bill is cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). The House bill is co-led by Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Maria Salazar (R-Fla.-27), Ami Bera (D-Calif.-06), and Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.-06). It is cosponsored by Representatives Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-Ga.-04), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.-06), Don Bacon (R-Neb.-02), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.-23), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), John Rutherford (R-Fla.-05), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Zachary Nunn (R-Iowa-03), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.-01), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.-13), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.-04), and Dave Min (D-Calif.-47).

The bill is endorsed by organizations including Improve the Dream, Americans For Prosperity, Niskanen Center, The LIBRE Initiative, Economic Innovation Group, National Immigration Forum, and Council on National Security and Immigration.

Full text of the bill is available here.

Senator Padilla has fought relentlessly to expand a pathway to citizenship for millions of long-term U.S. residents, including Documented Dreamers. In July, Padilla announced legislation to update the existing Registry statute to expand a pathway to lawful permanent residency for millions of immigrants, including children of long-term visa holders.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/newsweek-trump-appointed-judge-says-admin-argument-crumbled-like-a-house-of-cards/,Newsweek: Trump-Appointed Judge Says Admin Argument ‘Crumbled Like a House of Cards’,2025-09-18,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"By Gabe Whisnant

A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from immediately deporting Guatemalan migrant children who entered the United States alone, halting an aggressive effort to send them back to their home country.

The ruling marks the latest chapter in a legal battle over one of the most contentious issues in President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda.

Why It Matters

The decision, handed down by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, came in response to the administration’s attempt over Labor Day weekend to deport Guatemalan minors living in government-run shelters and foster care facilities.

What To Know

Trump officials argued that the plan was intended to reunite children with parents who supposedly wanted them returned home. But Judge Kelly sharply rejected that reasoning.

“But that explanation crumbled like a house of cards about a week later,” wrote Kelly, who was appointed by President Trump during his first term. “There is no evidence before the Court that the parents of these children sought their return.”

Before Thursday’s ruling, a temporary order had already been preventing the removal of Guatemalan children. That order, however, was set to expire Tuesday. Kelly, himself a Trump appointee, granted a preliminary injunction that extends the protection indefinitely, though the government retains the right to appeal.

While the judge preserved safeguards for Guatemalan children, he declined to broaden the ruling to cover minors from other countries. He noted, however, that any attempt to remove those children in a similar manner “would likely be unlawful.”

Other federal courts have weighed in on related cases. Judges in Arizona and Illinois have issued temporary restraining orders as well, though those rulings cover a narrower group of children. The broader Washington case, advocates argue, underscores the national significance of Kelly’s decision.

The legal clash followed a late-night government operation on Aug. 30. Shelters housing migrant children were abruptly notified that Guatemalan minors in their care would be returned within hours. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contractors arrived to collect children from shelters and foster homes, transporting them to airports. Court filings revealed that the administration had initially identified 457 Guatemalan children for deportation. That number was later reduced to 327, and on Aug. 31, 76 children boarded planes in El Paso and Harlingen, Texas, bound for Guatemala as part of what officials described as a “first phase.”

Immigration and children’s rights advocates quickly filed lawsuits, seeking to block the deportations. They argued that many of the minors were escaping abuse or violence in their home country and that the administration was sidestepping longstanding legal protections designed to prevent young migrants from being returned to dangerous conditions.

In response, another federal judge in Washington issued a temporary restraining order that largely prohibited the deportation of Guatemalan minors, except in cases where immigration judges had already reviewed and ordered removal. That order lasted 14 days and was later extended by Kelly through Tuesday to give him time to more closely examine the case.

The Trump administration maintained it had the authority to return the children and initially claimed it acted at the behest of Guatemalan parents. But officials later walked back that assertion. Instead, the Guatemalan government expressed concern about minors in U.S. custody who were nearing their 18th birthdays and faced the possibility of transfer to adult detention facilities.

Under existing policy, children who cross the southern border without a parent or guardian are transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. They typically live in a nationwide network of shelters overseen by the office until they are released to a sponsor, often a relative.

What People Are Saying

Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California said in a statement to Newsweek: “Today’s court decision provides some hope in the face of the Trump Administration’s disturbing, middle of the night push to remove unaccompanied Guatemalan children and put them back into harm’s way. This Administration must be held accountable for its attempts to violate these children’s due process rights and endanger them, especially in light of the concerning allegations we received in the whistleblower complaint. While this decision protects Guatemalan children for now, I am deeply concerned about similar deportations of children to other countries, especially when we cannot be confident that Administration officials are following the law.”

What Happens Next

After securing the restraining order for Guatemalan children, advocates also pressed the court to extend protections to minors from other countries. Reports had surfaced that the administration was preparing to deport Honduran children as well, raising alarms that similar efforts could soon be underway.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/spectrum-news-1-california-democrats-unveil-bill-seeking-to-end-nationwide-redistricting-battle-call-it-off-ramp-for-gop/,"Spectrum News 1: Cal­i­fornia Democrats unveil bill seeking to end na­tionwide re­dis­tricting battle, call it ‘off-ramp’ for GOP",2025-09-18,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"By Maddie Gannon

Democrats unveiled a bill Thursday that seeks to put a stop to what they branded as President Donald Trump’s nationwide “redistricting war” that has already brought a new Republican-favored House map in Texas, a move toward one in Missouri and a ballot initiative set to go before voters to boost Democratic districts in California.

The legislation, called the Redistricting Reform Act, is being introduced by two California Democrats, Rep. Zoe Lofgren in the House and Sen. Alex Padilla in the upper chamber.

It would require states to create independent redistricting commissions to draw Congressional district lines instead of allowing state lawmakers to do so themselves, as is the case in many states. It would also ban efforts to draw new House district maps in the middle of a decade as opposed to after the census every 10 years.

Promoting the bill at a press conference at the Capitol, Lofgren noted she has introduced this act since 2005, but said this year it takes on new meaning amid the scramble that has set off around the country to draw new maps in favor of one side or the other ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

”So what started in Texas has spread, predictably, to Missouri and Indiana, Florida and beyond,” Padilla said at the press conference. “It’s become a race to the bottom to impress Donald Trump who is personally issuing these marching orders from the White House – from the White House to legislators in statehouses across the country to rig the maps.”

Texas became the first state to embark on the effort, with the state legislature passing and the state’s GOP Gov. Greg Abbott signing a new map last month that could give Republicans five more seats in the U.S. House by making some currently held by Democrats more red.

California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom immediately moved to hit back, quickly getting his state legislature to get an initiative on the ballot this November that asks voters to approve new district lines in the state that seeks to give Democrats five additional seats of their own. As opposed to Texas, Newsom’s plan had to require getting approval from voters because they had tasked an independent commission with drawing California’s district lines years ago.

In a potential nod to the irony that the bill unveiled on Thursday by two California lawmakers would put an end to Newsom’s plan too, Padilla argued his state had “no choice” but to respond to Republicans’ efforts – and as long as those continued, so to do efforts in the Golden State.

“California will not stand down,” he declared. “California will continue to stand up if Republicans choose to continue to make a mockery of democracy.”

At the same time, the California senator presented the bill as an “off-ramp” for Republicans and Democrats to come together to put a stop to the ballooning nationwide redistricting scramble.

Lofgren pointed out that a few California House Republicans who would be in jeopardy of losing their seats if voters approve the new map on the ballot in November – particularly Rep. Kevin Kiley who introduced his own bill in Congress to ban mid-decade redistricting – may now be willing to support her bill. She would “welcome” their support and intends to reach out to seek it.

“When we passed this bill through the House in 2021, we did not receive a single vote from the Republicans,” she said. “I hope that they will change this time around, since so many of them seem to have expressed support for a nonpartisan redistricting process now that their seats may be at risk.”

Since the redistricting moves by Texas and California, Missouri’s Republican-led legislature has since passed a new map intended to give the GOP a new seat and there has been pressure on Indiana to do the same. Indiana’s Republican Gov. Mike Braun told a local radio station this week that a redrawing of his state’s map in favor of Republicans “probably” will happen, despite some expressed hesitancy from state lawmakers.

There has also been chatter about Florida Republicans considering doing the same while Democrats in New York and Maryland have floated the possibility in response. Utah and Ohio, meanwhile, are required to look into new district lines for different reasons but nonetheless could see maps change.

Pete Buttigieg – the former mayor of South Bend and transportation secretary under former President Joe Biden – was back in Indiana on Thursday to rally against potential redistricting in the state.

“They are being pressured to change the rules so that voters don’t have a say anymore and they know that that is wrong,” Buttigieg said of state Republicans at a rally at the Statehouse in Indianapolis.

Meanwhile, Thursday’s press conference on Capitol Hill featured remarks in support of the Redistricting Reform Act from Democratic lawmakers from both chambers, hailing from an array of states. In a release after, Lofgren’s team noted the legislation has 50 co-sponsors, including the entire California Democratic Congressional Delegation, although she noted at the press conference no Republicans have offered their support yet.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-colleagues-announce-bill-to-stand-up-to-trumps-attacks-on-free-speech-safeguard-against-politically-motivated-harassment-and-prosecutions/,"WATCH: Padilla, Colleagues Announce Bill to Stand Up to Trump’s Attacks on Free Speech, Safeguard Against Politically Motivated Harassment and Prosecutions",2025-09-18,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — As President Trump and his Administration launch repeated attacks against Americans’ First Amendment rights, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in announcing the No Political Enemies (NOPE) Act, upcoming legislation to protect individuals and organizations, including non-profits, faith groups, media outlets, and educational institutions, from politically motivated harassment and prosecution by the federal government.

This bill would reaffirm the constitutionally protected right to free speech and establish clear, enforceable protections to deter abuse, empower individuals and organizations to defend themselves, and create meaningful accountability. The legislation would also prohibit the use of federal funds for any investigations or regulatory actions aimed at suppressing protected speech. The announcement follows threats from President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and White House Senior Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller who have vowed to use the tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk as justification to weaponize the federal government against left-leaning individuals and organizations that don’t align with Trump’s political agenda.

Padilla’s remarks came a day after ABC announced that it would stop airing Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely following pressure from Trump’s hand-picked chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Padilla criticized President Trump for suing the New York Times and Wall Street Journal over coverage he opposed, and for threatening a reporter who asked about Attorney General Bondi’s ridiculous pledge to prosecute people for “hate speech.”

Senator Padilla’s full remarks, as delivered, are available below:

Thank you, Senator Murphy and all my colleagues, for leaning in at this additional critical moment.

This is the United States of America, where, since the beginning, we have protected free speech.

That’s why we’re here today, because we have a president and an administration that has been weaponizing the government against their critics, plain and simple. An attorney general who is vowing to prosecute Americans for what she alone deems “hate speech,” a president who threatens a reporter with prosecution for asking a question about that, and Donald Trump personally suing the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal for publishing stories that he doesn’t like. And just last night, ABC announcing they’re pulling down Jimmy Kimmel’s show following the pressure from the chairman of the FCC.

Now, what happened to Jimmy Kimmel last night, and Stephen Colbert, for that matter, isn’t just about one comedian or one television personality, or any one network — it’s about whether we as Americans still have the freedom to laugh at those in power, to question authority, and to tell the truth without fear of retribution. Now, history shows us that when leaders start silencing entertainers and journalists and critics, it’s not because they’re strong, it’s because they’re weak.

So we have to ask, what is this Administration afraid of? They’re afraid of accountability, plain and simple, they’re afraid of being questioned and their record being held up to the light, because when their record is exposed on health care, on the economy, on corruption, they know the American people won’t stand for it.

So make no mistake, they are looking for excuses to crack down on dissent. I’m proud to represent California, and California knows these efforts far too well. We’ve seen Trump respond to overwhelmingly peaceful protests in Southern California to federalize and send in National Guard troops and then deploy the Marines into an American city. We see it today as Donald Trump is trying to extort UCLA and other universities for not falling in line with his agenda, and I experienced it personally when I had the audacity to ask a question at a press conference with the Secretary of Homeland Security and was thrown to the ground and handcuffed.

So today, it’s no surprise that the Trump Administration is using the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk last week to justify its latest crackdown, and we have all denounced that assassination. We have all denounced political violence in all its forms, anywhere in our country. Now you could disagree with just about everything he stood for or agreed with him, for that matter, but in the spirit of Charlie Kirk, he came to debate, and he was proud to say so. He came to debate and to exercise his right to free speech, no matter how controversial.

So we’re here to help protect that right for all Americans through legislation to prevent the President of the United States from punishing people for constitutionally protected speech.

Because the day that we stop fighting for our rights is the day that we lose them, and we’re not going to go quietly.

Thank you, colleagues, thank you, Senator Murphy.

A recording of today’s full press conference is available here. A one-pager on the NOPE Act can be found here.

Specifically, the NOPE Act would prevent the targeting of individuals or organizations on the basis of their constitutionally protected speech, beliefs, and political participation by:

Reaffirming our Constitution and laws prohibit the president from weaponizing government against people who disagree with the administration. Uphold foundational constitutional principles that protect free speech and political participation. The Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, and other government agencies cannot be used to silence or target people for criticizing the government with constitutionally protected speech.

Deterring government officials from abusing their power to silence or retaliate against critics. Deter misconduct by making clear there are consequences for violating federal civil rights laws and that federal officials can be held accountable for abuses.

Providing tools for those wrongly targeted to defend themselves in court, including meaningful access to evidence, correcting the imbalance of proof, having the legal costs to defend themselves covered, and allowing courts to quickly dismiss abusive actions.

Providing due process for any U.S. nonprofits the government attempts to label as criminal or terrorist organizations.

Improving transparency and accountability for federal agencies that seek to silence critics. Create mechanisms for improved reporting and accountability for government agencies so that officials who commit misconduct by abusing their power to censor or retaliate against critics can be held accountable.

Shortly after CBS announced they were canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Padilla joined the show to call out the Trump Administration’s cruel, unpopular mass deportations.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-lofgren-introduce-legislation-to-establish-independent-redistricting-commissions-end-mid-decade-redistricting-nationwide/,"WATCH: Padilla, Lofgren Introduce Legislation to Establish Independent Redistricting Commissions, End Mid-Decade Redistricting Nationwide",2025-09-18,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) held a press conference introducing bicameral legislation to combat Republican efforts to rig the rules and implement partisan racial gerrymanders before the next census. The Redistricting Reform Act of 2025 is co-led by Senators Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

As Republicans in state houses across the country heed President Trump’s orders to redraw congressional maps in their favor, the bill would prohibit states from mid-decade redistricting and would require every state to adopt nonpartisan, independent redistricting commissions (IRCs). For the past 15 years, California has had its own IRC, and the state continues to push for similar commissions nationwide while fighting back against Texas and other Republican-controlled states’ partisan mid-decade redistricting efforts.

“MAGA Republicans are afraid to run on their unpopular record of cutting health care and escalating tariff wars raising prices for consumers, so they’re redrawing congressional maps to hand Donald Trump the congressional seats he says he’s ‘entitled’ to,” said Senator Padilla. “In response, California has no choice but to gear up for a fight. But there is a better way forward. By banning mid-decade gerrymanders and establishing fair criteria so districts are drawn to best represent communities, our bill presents a commonsense, nonpartisan solution to Donald Trump’s power grab.”

“The redistricting fight playing out across the country is not healthy for our democracy,” said Senator Warnock. “We have to do everything we can to push back against the cynical attempt by the President and his allies to rig the maps, and hold them accountable for taking health care away from 15 million people. That is why passing legislation on the federal level, like the Redistricting Reform Act of 2025, is so important. This legislation would require every state to adopt nonpartisan, independent redistricting commissions and would prohibit states from mid-decade redistricting. We can end partisan gerrymandering today and ensure every American has a voice in their democracy. I encourage my colleagues across the aisle to join us in getting this done.”

“Abusing the redistricting process is one of the most serious threats to democracy and our Constitution,” said Senator King. “Not only does partisan and off-schedule redistricting damage and disenfranchise American citizens’ fundamental right to vote, but it also contributes to rising polarization in Congress and further diminishes public faith in our political process. I’m proud to cosponsor this critical piece of legislation that will ensure the American people are accurately represented by their elected officials and hope that we can begin to discourage hyper partisan politics. Voters should choose their officials, not the other way around.”

“Democrats are committed to ending partisan gerrymandering once and for all in a national redistricting reform. We made it our signature commitment when we controlled Congress in the past, and we have led by example in states like California. It is even more important now, when the president is trying to insulate his deeply unpopular cuts to health care by redrawing the lines in Texas and elsewhere. Elected officials should not be allowed to pick their own voters, instead of the other way around. And no president should be able to predetermine the outcome of an election by diluting the power of voters. The Redistricting Reform Act will address this terrible abuse of power,” said Senator Schiff.

“President Trump has unleashed a redistricting war across the country, calling up Republican-controlled states and demanding that they rig their maps. Why? Because he’s an unpopular President who has stripped healthcare from millions, and he knows that rigging the redistricting process is the only way his party doesn’t lose the House in 2026,” said Representative Lofgren. “When Democrats held the House, we passed independent redistricting in H.R. 1, but Senate Republicans killed it. It can’t be just one side that agrees to stop gerrymandering; it needs to be both. I welcome the support of my Republican colleagues from California, since so many have recently expressed their support for a nonpartisan redistricting process.”

“Our polling shows more than two-thirds of Americans know it’s bad for our country when a single political party controls how voting districts are drawn,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, President & CEO of Common Cause. “But that hasn’t stopped Donald Trump, whose own voters reject the White House’s mid-decade redistricting power grab. Common Cause proudly supports the Redistricting Reform Act of 2025, legislation that responds to Republican, Democrat, and Independent voters’ demands for Congress to protect fair representation for all.”

“The unprecedented and unpopular mid-decade power grabs in Texas and Missouri at the direction of Donald Trump underscore that the current system — a system protected by too many Republicans — does not work. An overwhelming majority of Americans oppose partisan gerrymandering because it leaves all citizens worse off by sowing extreme division, undermining equal representation, and boosting the influence of powerful special interests. We must pursue a bold, new vision for our country by building a system that gives power back to the people instead of compromised politicians,” said Eric H. Holder, Jr., 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC). “The Redistricting Reform Act is a crucial step toward achieving that vision and putting our nation back on the path toward true democracy, where every state is required to have independent commissions draw the maps instead of power-hungry politicians and every state is held to the same standards to achieve fair maps. Any Republicans who demonstrate concern about the threat of gerrymandering should work with their Democratic colleagues to pass this bill right now to put a stop to both Donald Trump’s gerrymandering scheme and unfair redistricting wherever it exists.”

Specifically, the Redistricting Reform Act of 2025 would require IRCs to have 15 commissioners, evenly divided into three groups — majority party, minority party, and unaffiliated/minor party. The composition of each commission would be representative of the state’s demographic and geographic diversity, with enough members from racial, ethnic, and language minority communities to allow meaningful participation in the redistricting process.

In line with the criteria listed below, each state redistricting plan must:

Comply with the U.S. Constitution;

Comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and all applicable federal laws;

Ensure minorities receive equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect their preferred candidates; and

Respect communities of interest, including shared interests and representational needs based on common ethnic, racial, economic, Tribal, social, cultural, geographic, or historic identities, or arising from similar socioeconomic conditions.

Under the bill, IRCs may not unduly favor or disfavor a party on a statewide basis and cannot use political data for determining districts, except to make sure that any plan complies with the first three criteria above to ensure it does not lead to partisan political bias. The legislation also mandates that IRCs hold at least three noticed public hearings and receive a majority vote, including a vote from all three political affiliation subgroups, before enacting a plan.

A three-judge court would help ensure IRCs are established by the necessary deadlines and enact their plans in line with the required deadline and public engagement opportunities. The bill also affords the U.S. Attorney General and private citizens the right to sue to remedy IRC issues that arise.

In July, Padilla convened a Rules and Judiciary Committee Democrats spotlight forum focused on racial gerrymandering and voter suppression, during which he questioned former Attorney General Eric Holder and Loyola Law School Professor Justin Levitt on the Trump Administration’s efforts in Texas and other states to implement mid-decade racial redistricting for partisan political purposes. Padilla also applauded California for standing up to Trump and Texas Republicans’ gerrymandering last month.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-durbin-call-for-oversight-hearings-after-whistleblower-report-alleges-trump-admin-lied-about-safety-of-unaccompanied-guatemalan-children-to-deport-them/,"Padilla, Durbin Call for Oversight Hearings After Whistleblower Report Alleges Trump Admin Lied About Safety of Unaccompanied Guatemalan Children to Deport Them",2025-09-17,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Call comes ahead of a Subcommittee hearing on Biden’s management of unaccompanied children, despite the Trump Administration’s ongoing flagrant disregard for unaccompanied child safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After a whistleblower disclosure alleged that the Trump Administration concealed information about the safety of dozens of unaccompanied Guatemalan children they tried to deport in the dead of night, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, are requesting an oversight hearing on the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) mass child deportation efforts and apparent lies under oath.

The urgent call for a hearing comes after the disclosure alleged that at least 30 of 327 unaccompanied Guatemalan children the Administration attempted to deport without due process “have indicators of being a victim of child abuse, including death threats, gang violence, human trafficking and/or have expressed fear of return to Guatemala.” The disclosure contradicts Acting ORR Director Angie Salazar’s sworn statement under penalty of perjury that these children had been screened for removal to ensure they would not face child abuse or human trafficking in Guatemala. ORR’s criteria for removal, according to Salazar, explicitly specify that children do not “have indications of child abuse/neglect perpetrated by a parent/legal guardian” or “indications of being a victim of trafficking.” The data on these children was present in ORR’s database at the time of Salazar’s statement.

Over Labor Day weekend, the Trump Administration attempted to unlawfully remove dozens of unaccompanied Guatemalan children from the United States in the middle of the night. After a September 10 hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly extended a temporary restraining order to block the Administration from removing the children until September 16. The injunction is in place until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, September 18.

“The allegations in the whistleblower complaint are shocking. If the Administration indeed misled the courts to justify deporting unaccompanied children who, by their own standards, should never have been on that list in the first place, that is inexcusable,” said Senator Padilla. “Sending children back into danger is a betrayal of our moral and legal obligations. We’re going to hold those responsible accountable for endangering children, starting by putting them on the record in the Senate.”

“I am deeply disturbed by the whistleblower allegations that the Trump Administration misled the courts to justify deporting unaccompanied children at risk of trafficking and abuse. Protecting children should be a bipartisan issue. When I was Chair of this Committee, I held a hearing with Biden Administration officials who oversaw unaccompanied children,” said Senator Durbin. “I call on Chairs Grassley and Cornyn to do the same and hold an oversight hearing with Administration officials so that we can get to the bottom of this issue in a bipartisan fashion.”

Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), unaccompanied children are generally afforded the opportunity to appear before an immigration judge before they can be removed. However, the Guatemalan children the Trump Administration suddenly targeted did not have this opportunity — likely violating the TVPRA — and the Administration failed to explain to them why their immigration court cases were taken off the docket.

Many of these children and their families strongly objected to their return to Guatemala. In fact, a majority of Guatemalan families contacted explicitly expressed that they did not request their children’s return, according to a recent report by a Guatemalan attorney general’s office. This report was then later substantiated by a Department of Justice attorney representing the government at a September 10 hearing, withdrawing the government’s previous statements in court claiming parents had requested that their children be returned. However, as the whistleblower disclosure alleges, the Administration continued to lie about whether they properly screened children for removal.

On Monday, Padilla, Durbin, and Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07) demanded answers from senior Administration officials on this cruel effort, including information on their compliance with due process and confidentiality obligations under asylum law, the TVPRA, and other statutory protections afforded to unaccompanied children by law.

Earlier this year, Senator Padilla led seven Senators in sounding the alarm on troubling reports that ORR unlawfully granted expanded access to sensitive data on unaccompanied children and their sponsors to DHS’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Senators raised serious concerns that ICE could misuse this confidential information to enact mass deportations and detain immigrant families and demanded DHS Secretary Noem and HHS Secretary Kennedy immediately cease this misguided practice. In March, Padilla blasted the Trump Administration’s stop work order to organizations that provide legal services for unaccompanied children and demanded they protect Congressionally mandated legal representation for these children in the immigration system.

Full text of the whistleblower disclosure is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/washington-post-trumps-mass-deportations-bring-a-new-wave-of-family-separations/,Washington Post: Trump’s mass deportations bring a new wave of family separations,2025-09-17,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"By Maria Sacchetti

Sulma Martinez had just left the dentist’s office with her 14-year-old twin daughters when an unmarked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle pulled up behind her and flashed its blue lights. The officers asked for her papers.

Martinez, a 35-year-old originally from Honduras, had a work permit, a pending asylum claim and a pathway to a visa for crime victims. But none of that mattered, she said the officers told her.

They gave her a choice: She could head to a hotel and be deported with her daughters, or she could contest her removal and try to stay in the United States. If she chose the latter, she’d be arrested and the twins would be sent to a shelter for child immigrants.

“We were crying. We were scared,” Martinez said. “I didn’t want them to separate me from my girls.”

As President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign ramps up, ICE has sharply increased the number of migrant children it is sending to federal shelters for unaccompanied minors. Officers have referred more than 400 children nationwide to shelters run by the Office of Refugee Resettlement since Trump took office, according to two people who have reviewed internal records. While some allegedly were removed from dangerous situations, many were separated from parents, relatives or government-vetted sponsors as part of immigration enforcement actions.

ICE officials disputed that information and said its referrals are not that high. But the agency and ORR did not provide the data.

The separations recall the “zero tolerance” policy Trump implemented along the southern border during his first term, which led to the forced separation of more than 4,000 newly arrived children from their parents without a plan to reunite them. A federal judge called the episode “one of the most shameful chapters” in U.S. history and approved a court settlement that barred such separations for several years. But that agreement does not apply to families apprehended beyond the border, in U.S. cities and towns where many of the children and teens have lived for years.

In July, the Trump administration withdrew a Biden administration policy urging that parents be detained only in “limited circumstances.” As a result, immigrant advocates and lawyers say, ICE officers are arresting growing numbers of people with children to meet the president’s mass deportation goals and, in some cases, using the threat of separation to push them to abandon their immigration cases and leave the country.

“What we are seeing now is a reckless attempt to deport as many people as possible without regard at all to family unity or family relationships,” said Efrén Olivares, an attorney with the National Immigration Law Center who has filed a lawsuit to stop the rapid removal of unaccompanied minors in federal custody. “And it’s happening in darkness without any kind of oversight or accountability for what this process means for families.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has historically been, and continues to be, the primary agency that sends migrant children to federal shelters. Most of those cases involve unaccompanied minors who crossed the border illegally in hopes of reuniting with a parent or relative in the United States. ICE officers enforcing immigration laws beyond the border have typically sent children to shelters only when a minor had run away, been arrested or been abused.

But today, lawyers are hearing reports of separations happening during immigration court hearings, workplace raids and elsewhere as enforcement ramps up.

Neha Desai, a lawyer with the National Center for Youth Law, whose team represents immigrant children in federal immigration custody, said she is aware of more than 50 children and teens who were taken into custody during situations as minor as traffic stops.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the agency is not splitting up families. ICE gives parents the option of having their children removed with them or being placed with “a safe person the parent designates,” she said in a statement. ORR, which oversees shelters for unaccompanied minors, did not respond to questions about the number of children apprehended and placed in the agency’s care.

As the officers put her in shackles that July morning, all Martinez could think about was her daughters. Their father had been killed in an apparent robbery less than two years earlier. They could not lose their mother, too.

‘Look at Sulma’

Martinez said she and the twins had never intended to leave Honduras. Her husband, the girls’ father, Melvin Rodriguez Manueles, had come to the United States illegally years earlier with a plan to work in construction, save money and return home. He sent them money to cover their expenses, and Martinez said she and the girls were “doing well.” But in 2019, Martinez said, she fled with her daughters to the U.S. border after gang members assaulted her father and torched his house. She feared they would come for her and the girls next.

Border agents released Martinez and the girls after they crossed the southern border illegally and surrendered, seeking asylum. But ICE never filed charges against them in court. They settled in Louisiana, and Martinez hired an immigration lawyer in 2022 and submitted an asylum claim.

On Nov. 5, 2023, Rodriguez was fatally shot in what prosecutors believe was an attempted robbery in front of the family’s house in New Orleans.

Martinez remembers waking to the sound of gunfire and rushing outside to find her husband in a pool of blood. She recalls trying to shake him awake and shouting at the twins to stay inside. Rodriguez’s wallet was never found. But Martinez found an iPhone and turned it over to the police, who say it led to the arrest of Jose Gamboa Escobar. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder.

The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office has certified that Martinez is a crime victim, clearing the way for her to apply for a U visa for victims who help with an investigation. Prosecutors said she may be needed to testify at the trial.

“Our office takes seriously its responsibility to prosecute crime and protect all victims, regardless of their immigration status,” District Attorney Jason Williams said in a statement. “When victims and witnesses are afraid to come forward, violent perpetrators go free, police are placed in greater danger, and our entire community is less safe.”

Yolani and Loany, Martinez’s daughters, had just begun emerging from the shock of losing their father. He had doted on the girls and took them on camping trips. The girls, poised to start their first year of high school, dreamed of becoming flight attendants. Yolani flirted with the idea of being a fashion influencer. Loany is more low-key and hides her braces when she smiles.

Martinez worked as a cook at a pizzeria, chopping vegetables and other toppings, and became a deacon at the small congregation outside New Orleans that has become an extended family. Everyone was looking forward to the twins’ double quinceañera party in December.

“Look at Sulma,” Eunice Alvarado, the youth minister at the Ministerio Pentecostal Restauracion y Poder, and other churchgoers would say when they fell on hard times. She had lost so much and remained strong.

A choice or coercion?

ICE records show that Martinez has no criminal history and was not the person the officers had been searching for that day. She just happened to drive by them after taking Loany to have her braces adjusted, and officers followed her.

Almost as soon as she agreed to voluntarily deport to Honduras, she said, she began to regret her decision. She was a single mother responsible for protecting her daughters. Gang members had warned her family not to report them to authorities in Honduras or they would attack them again, she said, but her family did anyway.

After the officers drove them home to pack, Martinez told them she wanted to stay.

By nightfall, she was in an ICE detention center in Basile, Louisiana, and the twins were in a government shelter in San Antonio, hundreds of miles away.

ICE said in a statement that officers separated Martinez from her daughters because she “changed her mind last minute and chose not to voluntarily depart the United States.” The agency said officials informed her that she would be placed in immigration proceedings “rather than on her way to her home country with her kids.”

ICE has reopened a family detention center in Texas that was closed during the Biden administration. But it held fewer than 400 people in August, well below its stated capacity of 2,400 beds, federal records show. The agency did not answer questions about why the family and others could not be held together there instead.

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt, who led the legal effort to reunite families separated during Trump’s first term, said the ACLU is investigating the legality of the new separations inside the United States.

In some cases, he said, parents are being told their children will be taken away unless they give up their right to a hearing and return home. In other cases, children who arrived as unaccompanied minors are being sent back to government shelters for months after they had already been released to vetted sponsors.

Mishan Wroe, also with National Center for Youth Law, said she represents a teen from Latin America who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border alone in February 2023 and was released to his sister in Georgia after a few weeks in a federal shelter. He enrolled in high school and played for the soccer team, but he ended up back in ORR custody in March after a traffic stop. He was later released to a short-term shelter shortly before turning 18.

Jonathan Ryan, a lawyer and CEO of Advokato, a nonprofit legal service provider in San Antonio, said he represents a pair of underage siblings from Afghanistan who were separated from their mother in May after they tried to cross into Canada. The family had been living in Texas for about two years.

“I fear that what we are seeing is only the beginning,” Gelernt said. “Although I had hoped for the best, it doesn’t surprise me that we are seeing new separation tactics given that the Trump administration has never acknowledged its original policy, much less its cruelty.”

‘Your daughters are yours’

From detention, Martinez cannot shake the fear that she could lose the girls forever.

Her anchor is the Ministerio Pentecostal Restauracion y Poder, a red-brick church outside New Orleans, where churchgoers say the sudden absence of Martinez and the girls has left a hole. The church is where Martinez and Rodriguez had the formal wedding ceremony she had always wanted, with a white gown, a frosted cake and matching dresses for the girls. It’s also where Rodriguez’s funeral was held.

Alvarado, the youth minister, said the girls were teacher’s aides at Sunday school and entertained children with a yearly puppet show. The church canceled the show this year.

“They really made a home here,” she said.

People in the neighborhood where Martinez was stopped said ICE arrests have rattled the community and taken away people who paid rent on time and construction workers who fixed hurricane-damaged roofs free. One neighbor said ICE had arrested the mother of a little girl in the neighborhood. Since then, he said, he has seen the girl on walks with her father, crying for “Mama.”

In phone calls with their mother, the twins have said they are doing fine in the shelter. They went on a field trip to a restaurant in San Antonio and attend school in the shelter, though the girls said their math class is below their grade level. But they are also scared. They recounted how immigration officers recently visited the shelter at night and picked up a child for deportation. They are worried that could happen to them, too.

“They tell me they are worried, and I can hear it in their voices,” Alvarado said.

ICE said in a statement that Martinez’s daughters are “being cared for by professionals and will remain in ORR custody until her immigration proceedings are complete.” Alvarado and her parents, meanwhile, are trying to reassure Martinez that she will be reunited with her twins.

“Your daughters are yours,” Veronica Salazar, Alvarado’s mother, said on a recent phone call with Martinez from detention.

Republicans and Democrats clashed over the treatment of immigrant children in the United States at a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

Republicans accused the Biden administration of allowing tens of thousands of children into the country and then releasing some to abusive or dangerous conditions. Democrats countered that Trump officials have tried to strip minors of legal aid, attempted to expel dozens of Guatemalan children without warning, and separated families like Martinez’s.

“Don’t lecture me about kids and then refuse to speak out when we hear parents are being forced to decide whether to be deported with their children, or let them be sent to ORR shelters,” Sen. Alex Padilla (California), ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on border security and immigration, said at the hearing. He called the Martinez case “heartbreaking.”

Martinez’s final deportation hearing is scheduled for Oct. 10 in the detention center in Louisiana where she is being held. Her daughters have been scheduled for a hearing before a judge in Texas one week later.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-denounces-trump-administrations-mistreatment-of-unaccompanied-children/,WATCH: Padilla Denounces Trump Administration’s Mistreatment of Unaccompanied Children,2025-09-17,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, criticized Senate Republicans’ hypocrisy in convening a hearing focused on the Biden Administration’s management of unaccompanied children as multiple recent reports emerge about the current Administration’s cruel mistreatment of unaccompanied children, ongoing family separations, and disregard for child safety and the rule of law. During his opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing, Padilla called on his Republican colleagues to join him in pushing for oversight and accountability over this Administration’s flagrant violations of unaccompanied migrant children’s rights.

Padilla slammed the Trump Administration for attempting to unlawfully deport dozens of unaccompanied Guatemalan children in the middle of night over Labor Day weekend despite their ongoing immigration proceedings and fear of returning to Guatemala. Despite the Trump Administration’s claims to the contrary, a whistleblower disclosure yesterday alleged that at least 30 unaccompanied Guatemalan children the Administration attempted to deport without due process were flagged in the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) database as having indicators of trafficking or child abuse if they were to be removed to Guatemala. Ahead of the Subcommittee hearing, Padilla and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) requested an oversight hearing on ORR’s mass child deportation efforts and apparent lies under oath.

He also highlighted reporting from the Washington Post uncovering that the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda has reignited forced family separations, including a recent incident in which U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ripped a 35-year-old Honduran mother from her twin 14-year-old daughters despite her maintaining a work permit, a pathway to a visa, and a pending asylum claim.

Key quotes from Senator Padilla’s opening remarks are below:

“Too often, their stories of unaccompanied children go unheard until a horrific story about their mistreatment shocks the conscience of our country. And it’s not just a matter of past tense. It is not just a matter of what happened during the Biden Administration or in prior years. One of these stories broke out just a few weeks ago.”

“On Sunday, August 31st — at about 1 or 2 in the morning — 76 children in Texas shelters were jolted awake. In the middle of the night, with no warning, they were instructed to pack their bags, and immigration officials led them to an airport to be deported. Without a hearing, without due process, and without proper vetting to see if they would be safe back in Guatemala, these kids, as you can imagine, were terrified.”

“Now it’s on us to do the right thing and bring ORR officials before this committee to demand the truth. Now, Mr. Chairman, we are the committee of jurisdiction with an obligation to conduct oversight over ORR. So I don’t just ask you, I urge you: let’s work together to schedule an oversight hearing with ORR to get to the truth.”

“Every single one of us here has a responsibility to stand up for the children in our immigration system, whether it’s because of trafficking, physical or sexual abuse, child labor, or violations of their due process. And this is a responsibility that I don’t take lightly, none of us should take lightly.”

“The reality is, the Trump Administration officials should be the ones in the seats in front of us to field our questions and to answer our questions about their, in many ways, cruel and unlawful policies, especially after this whistleblower disclosure.”

“If we truly want to improve our immigration system and protect unaccompanied children, we’d be exercising our oversight authority to ask about the real harm currently happening to children because of the indiscriminate mass deportation policies that this Administration is carrying out. There has to be real oversight of this Administration and their dangerous treatment of minors.”

“So don’t lecture me about kids, and then at the same time grab defenseless children in the middle of the night to haul them off to a country when we know they will be in danger. Don’t lecture me about kids, but then refuse to call out this Administration when they deprive them of representation. And don’t lecture me about kids and then refuse to speak out when we hear parents are being forced to decide whether to be deported with their children or let them be sent to ORR shelters, as we learned just this morning.”

“Not a single child benefits from political theater. So today, it’s my hope that this hearing doesn’t devolve into just a competition of who can praise Trump the most or who can bash Biden the best. Because regardless of which party is in the White House, or which party is in the majority in Congress, keeping children safe should be a bipartisan concern.”

“Everybody in this hearing room and everybody watching at home: Democrats demanded accountability from the Biden Administration on what happened to children under their watch. And I invite our Republican colleagues to join us in demanding the same accountability from the Trump Administration about what’s happening to children under theirs.”

Video of Senator Padilla’s opening statement is available here and be downloaded here.

On Monday, Padilla, Durbin, and Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07) demanded answers from senior Administration officials on this cruel effort, including information on their compliance with due process and confidentiality obligations under asylum law, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, and other statutory protections afforded to unaccompanied children by law.

Earlier this year, Senator Padilla led seven Senators in sounding the alarm on troubling reports that ORR unlawfully granted expanded access to sensitive data on unaccompanied children and their sponsors to ICE. The Senators raised serious concerns that ICE could misuse this confidential information to enact mass deportations and detain immigrant families and demanded DHS Secretary Noem and HHS Secretary Kennedy immediately cease this misguided practice. In March, Padilla blasted the Trump Administration’s stop work order to organizations that provide legal services for unaccompanied children and demanded they protect Congressionally mandated legal representation for these children in the immigration system.

Under the Biden Administration, Padilla co-chaired a hearing in which he condemned the labor exploitation of migrant children in the United States and called on the federal government to enforce the law and hold employers accountable for unlawfully exploiting migrant children.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-federal-workers-under-attack-padilla-warner-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-repeal-union-busting-executive-orders/,"With Federal Workers Under Attack, Padilla, Warner, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Repeal Union-Busting Executive Orders",2025-09-17,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Two-thirds of federal workers lost their collective bargaining protections under Trump EO

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced the Protect America’s Workforce Act, which would repeal two union-busting executive orders and restore collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for federal workers.

This legislation comes in response to a pair of executive orders issued earlier this year by President Trump. These executive orders revoked collective bargaining rights for a majority of federal employees under a false national security pretext. While federal employee unions do not negotiate pay or benefits, collective bargaining agreements protect them from retaliation, discrimination, and illegal firings, while promoting resources for whistleblowers and veterans.

California has among the highest number of federal employees in the nation, many of whom have lost their labor rights under the Trump Administration.

“Donald Trump’s executive orders ripping away collective bargaining rights from over a million federal workers constitute one of the biggest union busts in American history,” said Senator Padilla. “Eliminating these basic labor protections is a thinly veiled retribution campaign under the guise of national security, but these orders make us all less safe by undermining the workforce Americans rely on for vaccine research, food inspections, natural disaster relief, and so much more. Our bill reverses these callous attacks to protect the fundamental workplace rights of federal employees in California and across the country so they can continue serving the American people.”

“From the gutting of essential government agencies to the politization of nonpartisan government jobs, there’s never been a tougher time to be a federal worker,” said Senator Warner. “As the Trump administration continues to terrorize the federal workforce, I’m proud to introduce legislation to safeguard the longstanding protections that federal employees need right now.”

“Every day our patriotic, merit-based civil servants provide essential services to the American people – and their collective bargaining rights are critical to protecting them from unfair labor practices as they carry out that important work. Trump wants to strip them of these rights so he can continue to gut the federal workforce and easily replace them with political cronies who will do his bidding without regard for the law. This bipartisan bill will stop this lawless union-busting power grab – and protect the integrity of our federal workforce and the services they provide,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Trump’s attacks on unions, union jobs, and the right to collective bargaining is making our economy weaker and putting American jobs at risk,” said Leader Schumer. “Earlier this year, President Trump issued wide-sweeping executive orders that revoked collective bargaining rights that federal workers have held for decades – a threat to the rights of all of America’s workers. Federal workers deserve to have union protection to improve their working conditions and to defend those who speak up on behalf of the American people – it’s how our federal workforce finds and retains the best talent and how we live up to the values and standards our country has set for itself. Democrats know that union strong is America strong which is why I am proud to support the Protect America’s Workforce Act to restore commonsense measures that will right this wrong and help protect the rights of the people who have elected to serve our country.”

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CRSA) grants the president authority to limit collective bargaining agreements when there is a national security concern. President Trump’s executive orders, however, sought to take advantage of the CRSA by inappropriately classifying two-thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions in order to claim the authority needed to cancel valid union contracts.

The Protect America’s Workforce Act also affirms that any collective bargaining agreement in effect as of March 26, 2025, the day before the first executive order, will be in full force.

This legislation also has the support of the AFL-CIO, Actors’ Equity Association, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of Musicians, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Communications Workers of America (CWA), Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE), Federal Education Association, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America, National Education Association, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Nurses United, National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Seafarers International Union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, United Auto Workers (UAW), United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and United Steelworkers (USW).

“Donald Trump’s executive order launched the biggest act of union-busting in our history, ripping away collective bargaining rights from a million federal workers. In the months since, his administration has expanded that order and unilaterally cancelled union contracts for more than 400,000 workers. These moves are an assault on our fundamental freedoms and undercut critical services people across the country rely on. We commend Senators Warner, Van Hollen, and Minority Leader Schumer for bringing the fight to overturn the Trump administration’s attack on workers to the Senate. Bipartisan momentum is already building in the House, where lawmakers are collecting the final signatures on a discharge petition to bring this bill to a vote. The labor movement looks forward to working with senators to stop the senseless assault on workers who provide essential government services to communities across America. The labor movement stands united behind this bill, and we call on every senator—Democrat, Republican and Independent—to keep their promise to workers by backing this legislation,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

“President Trump’s March executive order stripping most of the federal workforce of collective bargaining rights represents the single most aggressive action taken by the federal government against organized labor in U.S. history, dwarfing any previous action against public or private sector working Americans. AFGE members are grateful to Sen. Warner for introducing the Protect America’s Workforce Act and standing up for the nonpartisan civil service, the women and men who serve in it, and the critical role that collective bargaining has played for decades in fostering a safe, productive, and collaborative workplace that serves the American people,” said AFGE National President Dr. Everett Kelley.

“Presidential orders stripping union rights from federal employees are not only an attack on the civil service, they’re an attack on the vital services Americans depend on. NTEU members are grateful to Senators Warner, Van Hollen, Schumer, Schatz, Padilla, Alsobrooks, and Kaine for leading this legislation requiring agencies to honor the collective bargaining agreements already in place. The Protect America’s Workforce Act ensures federal employees can collectively advocate for a better workplace and the resources to best serve the American people,” said Doreen Greenwald, National President of the National Treasury Employees Union.

“NFFE is proud to endorse the Protecting America’s Workforce Act, which will restore union rights for over one million civil servants,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “The union busting executive order signed by President Trump in March has proven to be detrimental to federal workers and the essential services they provide to the American people every day. This legislation has garnered broad bipartisan support in the House of Representatives and will surely do the same in the Senate. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle understand that if this bill is not passed into law, their constituents will suffer the consequences. Thank you to Senator Warner and the initial cosponsors of the legislation for their leadership on this critical issue.”

“They protect the environment, care for veterans, and support public health and education. Characterizing these workers as a national security threat in order to strip them of their union rights and protections is shameful and a gross overreach by this administration. The Protect America’s Workforce Act is necessary to restore their collective bargaining rights, including protection against illegal firing, discrimination or retaliation particularly at this time in our country,” said Heather Conroy, Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union.

“Federal workers are essential to our nation’s health and well-being, and when they have the freedom to collectively bargain for safe working conditions and strong public services, we all benefit. The billionaires running this administration are hell-bent on rigging our government to line their own pockets, and silencing federal workers is how they plan to do it,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “We thank Senator Mark Warner for introducing this legislation, and we urge the Senate to quickly pass this bill.”

This legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Senator Padilla is a longtime advocate for protecting workers’ rights and fighting for their safety. In April, Padilla joined Senator Van Hollen and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in urging President Trump to rescind his March 27 executive order to end collective bargaining agreements between public employee unions and dozens of federal agencies and bureaus. Earlier this year, Padilla, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and a bipartisan group of Senate and House colleagues introduced the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act), comprehensive labor legislation to protect the rights of workers to stand together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. Padilla also joined every Democratic Senator and a bipartisan group of 213 Representatives in urging President Trump to immediately reinstate National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Member Gwynne Wilcox and restore the NLRB’s ability to protect the rights of American workers to organize and collectively bargain. In July, Padilla announced the Asunción Valdivia Heat, Illness, Injury and Fatality Prevention Act to protect the safety and health of workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace. He also cosponsored a pair of bills to hold companies who engage in union busting activities accountable and to protect striking workers’ access to health care. Padilla previously cosponsored the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, legislation that would support the right to unionize by prohibiting states from banning union security agreements through “right-to-work” laws.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/nyt-whistle-blower-account-contradicts-governments-claims-on-guatemalan-children/,NYT: Whistle-Blower Account Contradicts Government’s Claims on Guatemalan Children,2025-09-16,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"By Zach Montague

More than two dozen children from Guatemala whom the Trump administration sought to deport earlier this month had been flagged as vulnerable to child abuse and human trafficking in a Health and Human Services Department database that tracks unaccompanied children, according to a whistle-blower complaint filed to Congress on Tuesday.

The report, based on accounts of several unidentified federal employees familiar with the data, appeared to contradict a sworn statement made in a lawsuit over the children’s fate by Angie Salazar, a senior health official. She said the children had been properly screened and cleared for repatriation. It also came less than a week after the judge presiding over the case, Timothy J. Kelly, challenged lawyers from the Justice Department about the veracity of another of their central claims in the dispute: that the children’s parents had requested their return.

Filed to Congress by the Government Accountability Project, a whistle-blower protection group, the report said at least 30 of the 327 children the government cleared for imminent removal had “indicators of being a victim of child abuse” in Guatemala, based on the government’s own findings.

The children, who came to the United States as unaccompanied minors in recent years and have been living in shelters or foster care under government supervision, were hastily targeted by the Trump administration over the Labor Day weekend. Upon learning that the children were being loaded onto flights to be sent back, lawyers from the National Immigration Law Center sued to block the removals and a federal judge ordered the government to halt until the case could be argued.

The Trump administration has said it was exercising an authority to reunify unaccompanied children with their parents abroad, claiming that it was acting at the behest of the children’s families and with the children’s well-being in mind.

But the report on Tuesday was the second time that notion had been called into question.

Ms. Salazar filed the declaration in her capacity as the acting director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services that maintains custody over minors who enter the United States alone.

It stated that her office had reviewed the cases of all 327 children using a “best interests framework” that included considerations such as whether her office was “assured the child will not be trafficked upon their return” or whether the children had been known to have faced abuse in the past. It added that the government had completed the review and deemed all the children eligible to be sent back to Guatemala, where most or all have parents residing.

But the whistle-blower report countered that the available data about the children made it clear that around 10 percent of them, and possibly more, should not have been eligible under the government’s criteria.

The report stated that as recently as Sept. 5 — the day before the government filed Ms. Salazar’s declaration in federal court — analyses run by her office had returned results showing that many of the children faced dangers in Guatemala or had expressed fear of being sent there. It added that Ms. Salazar “knew or should have known of the inaccuracies in her declaration,” based on the data on hand.

“These whistle-blowers’ disclosures evidence violations of law, rules and regulations, abuse of authority and substantial and specific danger to public health and safety on a matter of urgent, and potentially life and death, importance,” it said.

Lawyers for the Government Accountability Project sent the report on Tuesday to Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Alex Padilla of California, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Border Security and Immigration subcommittee.

“The allegations in the whistle-blower complaint are shocking,” Mr. Padilla said in a statement.

“Sending children back into danger is a betrayal of our moral and legal obligations,” Mr. Padilla’s statement said. “And we’re going to hold them accountable for endangering children.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

After the children were nearly flown out over the Labor Day weekend, a judge intervened on an emergency basis, halting the government’s effort. The case was then transferred to Judge Kelly to manage the rest of the proceedings, and he extended the order blocking the government from making further attempts to remove the children until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.

During a hearing last week to determine how to proceed, Judge Kelly grew skeptical about the government’s position, pressing for details about its claim that the children’s parents had asked for their return.

He homed in on a memo prepared by the Guatemalan government, which was filed as evidence in the case, in which officials tried to contact and survey the children’s parents. Of those they were able to track down, none had asked for their children’s return, with more than half explicitly refusing to authorize any attempt to have their children forced out of the United States.

Asked by Judge Kelly to reconcile the competing claims, a lawyer from the Justice Department conceded that the government had no reason to believe that the parents had asked to have their children returned.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-announce-another-168-million-to-strengthen-airport-infrastructure-across-california/,"Padilla, Schiff Announce Another $168 Million to Strengthen Airport Infrastructure Across California",2025-09-16,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) announced that 46 California airports were awarded a combined $168.85 million in grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to bolster aviation infrastructure. The funding comes through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which invests in airport infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, noise cancellation, airport signage, airport lighting, and airport markings. Congress appropriates funding for the AIP annually.

“From large international hubs to the hundreds of small regional or local airports, the Golden State’s airports play an essential role in helping millions of Californians and visitors alike get where they need to go,” said Senator Padilla. “This tranche of more than $168 million in federal aviation funding will modernize our airport infrastructure to create a safer, smoother passenger experience while creating good-paying jobs and investing in low-emission equipment.”

“This federal funding will make a critical investment in California’s airports, improving their safety and modernizing their infrastructure, while creating more jobs in communities across the Golden State. I will keep working with Senator Alex Padilla and the entire California delegation to continue to strengthen our transportation system and boost our local economies,” said Senator Schiff.

California airports selected to receive funding include:

Monterey Regional Airport — $25.13 million: This project constructs a new 66,500 square foot terminal to accommodate the movement of passengers and baggage. This grant funds the sixth phase, which consists of construction of 16,625 square feet of the terminal building.

Los Angeles International Airport — $22.77 million: This funding will be used to extend an existing taxiway by an additional 990 feet in length to bring the airport into conformity with current standards. A second project acquires and installs low-emission equipment, including 42 electric vehicle charging stations.

San Francisco International Airport — $16.76 million: This project rehabilitates 2,400 feet of an existing paved taxiway to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and minimize foreign object debris.

Camarillo Airport — $13.47 million: This project rehabilitates 6,013 feet of an existing paved runway to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris, extending its useful life.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport — $12.53 million: This project reconstructs 9,539 feet of an existing paved runway that has reached the end of its useful life. This grant funds a portion of phase 1, which consists of design and construction of 1,866 feet.

Ontario International Airport — $10.81 million: The first project reconstructs 5,526 feet of an outdated existing paved taxiway pavement. A second project acquires and installs low-emission equipment, including 24 ground power units.

Palm Springs International Airport — $7.96 million: This project reconstructs an existing terminal by installing a new baggage handling system to improve the movement of passengers and baggage. This grant funds a portion of phase 1, which consists of site enabling work, building expansion, and proposed electrical work.

Oakland International Airport — $5.94 million: This project rehabilitates 5,412 feet of an existing paved runway to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris to extend its useful life. The grant funds the first phase, which consists of the construction of 2,692 feet.

Hayward Executive Airport — $5.84 million: This project reconstructs 3,497 feet of an existing paved taxiway that has reached the end of its useful life. This grant funds a portion of the final construction phase.

Hemet-Ryan Airport — $4.56 million: This project rehabilitates 62,500 square yards of existing East and West Apron pavement to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris. This grant funds the final phase, which consists of the rehabilitation of 41,115 square yards.

A complete list of AIP awards for California airports in this round of funding is available here.

Last month, Senators Padilla and Schiff announced that 72 California airports were awarded a combined $158.4 million in grant funding from the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the AIP. In July, they announced that 18 California airports were awarded a combined $81.3 million from the AIP to bolster aviation infrastructure. Padilla also announced $219.5 million in grant funding from the FAA through the AIP last year to upgrade aviation infrastructure. Additionally, he announced $89.3 million from the FAA’s Airport Terminal Program, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Padilla and the late Senator Dianne Feinstein previously announced a combined $528 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for airport upgrades and modernizations across California.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-unanimously-passes-padilla-mcconnell-resolution-recognizing-national-voter-registration-day/,"Senate Unanimously Passes Padilla, McConnell Resolution Recognizing National Voter Registration Day",2025-09-16,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight over elections and California’s former Secretary of State, announced that the Senate unanimously passed S. Res. 388, his bipartisan resolution with Rules Committee Chairman Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) recognizing National Voter Registration Day. The resolution encourages eligible Americans to register to vote, verify with the appropriate state or local election official that their personal information is current, and cast their ballot.

“Amid relentless attacks from this Administration on our democracy and the right to vote, the best way American citizens can make their voices heard is by registering to vote online, by mail, or in person,” said Senator Padilla. “As California’s former Secretary of State, I oversaw record voter registration and participation, and I will keep working to help all citizens participate in our democracy. I encourage all eligible Americans to visit vote.gov to confirm you’re registered to vote with the correct information and learn how to cast your ballot.”

National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan event celebrated by election officials across the country on a Tuesday in September. The day is endorsed by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED), the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and the National Association of Election Officials (Election Center).

National Voter Registration Day began in 2012 with 2,000 civic organizations helping launch the civic holiday to encourage people to register to vote.

Senator Padilla has led the charge opposing President Trump and Republicans’ reckless attempts to restrict the right to vote. In May, Padilla stopped Senator Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) attempt to pass the anti-voter SAVE Act through the Senate by unanimous consent. Earlier this year, he convened a Rules Committee Democrats spotlight forum focused on Congressional Republicans’ SAVE Act and Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order. As President Trump marked 100 disastrous days in office, Padilla led his Democratic colleagues on the Senate floor to speak out against the SAVE Act and the Trump Administration’s attacks on election integrity. In April, he warned Secretaries of State, Lieutenant Governors, and Chief Election Officials across the country of the devastating potential impacts of the SAVE Act, concerns that have been echoed by top election officials across the country. Padilla also led a letter sounding the alarm on the devastating impacts on voting rights in Native American communities of the SAVE Act and Trump’s executive order.

Additionally, Padilla led 11 Senators in introducing the Defending America’s Future Elections Act to repeal Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order and prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive voter registration data and state records. Padilla previously led 14 Democratic Senators in calling on Trump to revoke his illegal anti-voter executive order and issued a statement slamming the order when it was announced. In July, Padilla convened a Rules and Judiciary Committee Democrats spotlight forum focused on racial gerrymandering and voter suppression, in which he reiterated concerns that the Department of Homeland Security’s insufficiently tested Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program could purge eligible citizens from state voter rolls.

Before coming to the Senate, Padilla established automatic and same-day voter registration, upgraded California’s voting systems to meet higher security standards, and expanded mail-in and in-person early voting as the chief elections officer for the most populous state in the nation.

Full text of the resolution is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-durbin-raskin-jayapal-demand-answers-on-trump-administrations-unlawful-attempt-to-deport-unaccompanied-guatemalan-children/,"Padilla, Durbin, Raskin, Jayapal Demand Answers on Trump Administration’s Unlawful Attempt to Deport Unaccompanied Guatemalan Children",2025-09-15,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, demanded answers from the Trump Administration on their cruel efforts to unlawfully remove dozens of unaccompanied Guatemalan children from the United States in the middle of the night over Labor Day weekend.

In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the lawmakers demanded answers on the Administration’s compliance with due process and confidentiality obligations under asylum law, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), and other statutory protections afforded to unaccompanied children by law. They also asked for copies of the agreement the Administration said they made with the government of Guatemala regarding these removals and requested copies of training requirements for officials who interact with children.

“We write in response to deeply disturbing allegations that the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attempted to unlawfully remove unaccompanied children (UACs) from the United States in the dead of night, during a holiday weekend,” wrote the lawmakers. “We are concerned that you violated these children’s due process and procedural rights, and in doing so, abandoned your legal obligation to safeguard the best interests of the children in your care.”

“UACs are among the most vulnerable children attempting to navigate our complex immigration system. They must trust in the government’s care, frequently having fled abuse, violence, and persecution abroad,” continued the lawmakers. “They are entitled to notice and due process under the Constitution, and the Trafficking Victims Protections Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) sets forth special procedures for the removal or voluntary departure of UACs to ensure they receive such process.”

The Trump Administration identified approximately 600 Guatemalan children living alone for removal, first notifying Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) staff on Friday night, August 29, to prepare children for deportation despite their ongoing immigration proceedings. Both attorneys and the children were shocked to learn for the first time that night that repatriations may occur. Late Saturday into Sunday morning, 76 Guatemalan children were put on planes for removal with no regard for their well-being or safety, as many children expressed immense fear of returning to Guatemala.

At 4:22 a.m. on Sunday, August 31, a federal judge issued an emergency temporary restraining order against the removals, but the Administration continued to place children onto planes until 10:30 a.m. Government officials did not respond to the judge’s requests to transmit the court order to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ORR staff amid their ongoing attempts to deport these unaccompanied children, which prompted the judge to call an emergency hearing at 12:30 p.m. the same day.

The TVPRA sets forth specific procedures for the removal or voluntary departure of unaccompanied children, generally affording them the opportunity to appear before an immigration judge before DHS can remove them. The Guatemalan children in question did not have this opportunity — likely violating the TVPRA — nor did the Administration explain to them why their immigration court cases were taken off the docket.

Many of these children and their families strongly objected to their return to Guatemala, and many had pending applications for asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, or other protection. In fact, a majority of Guatemalan families contacted explicitly expressed that they did not request their children’s return, according to a recent report by a Guatemalan attorney general’s office. This report was then later substantiated by a Department of Justice attorney representing the government at a September 10 hearing, withdrawing the government’s previous statements in court claiming parents had requested that their children be returned. After the hearing, D.C. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly extended the preliminary injunction, blocking the Administration from removing the children until September 16.

“As the Ranking Members of the Committees and Subcommittees with primary jurisdiction over the TVPRA and the [Immigration and Nationality Act], it is our responsibility to conduct oversight over implementation of these laws, ensuring that HHS, ORR, DHS, and the immigration courts meet their legal and ethical obligations under the law with respect to the care and protection of unaccompanied children. This situation is alarming, unacceptable, and raises serious concerns as to whether you are meeting your basic obligations to act in the best interests of children in your care,” concluded the lawmakers.

The lawmakers demanded responses to a series of inquiries regarding the incident by September 29.

Earlier this year, Senator Padilla led seven Senators in sounding the alarm on troubling reports that ORR unlawfully granted expanded access to sensitive data on unaccompanied children and their sponsors to DHS’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Senators raised serious concerns that ICE could misuse this confidential information to enact mass deportations and detain immigrant families and demanded DHS Secretary Noem and HHS Secretary Kennedy immediately cease this misguided practice. In March, Padilla blasted the Trump Administration’s stop work order to organizations that provide legal services for unaccompanied children and demanded they protect Congressionally mandated legal representation for these children in the immigration system.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Rubio, Attorney General Bondi, Secretary Kennedy, and Secretary Noem:

We write in response to deeply disturbing allegations that the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attempted to unlawfully remove unaccompanied children (UACs) from the United States in the dead of night, during a holiday weekend. We are concerned that you violated these children’s due process and procedural rights, and in doing so, abandoned your legal obligation to safeguard the best interests of the children in your care.

On the evening of Friday, August 29, staff at ORR shelters received notice to prepare children to depart the country, and attorneys for the children learned for the first time that their clients were facing return to Guatemala. In the wee hours of Sunday, August 31, the Trump administration put 76 Guatemalan children on planes bound for Guatemala. These planned removals came as a total surprise to the children and their attorneys, as many, if not all, of the children that DHS attempted to remove were properly participating in ongoing immigration court proceedings and requesting relief from removal because they did not want to, and in many cases feared, return to their home country. Even after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) at 4:22am, children continued to be transferred onto planes as late as 10:30am. Reports suggest that government officials did not respond to requests by the presiding federal judge to transmit the court’s order to your Departments to ensure compliance, even as officials worked through the night to rush these children out of the country.

UACs are among the most vulnerable children attempting to navigate our complex immigration system. They must trust in the government’s care, frequently having fled abuse, violence, and persecution abroad. They are entitled to notice and due process under the Constitution, and the Trafficking Victims Protections Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) sets forth special procedures for the removal or voluntary departure of UACs to ensure they receive such process. If DHS seeks to remove any UAC who is not from Mexico or Canada, it must place the child in removal proceedings under section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and wait until such child is issued a final order of removal or receives voluntary departure after an Immigration Judge adjudication. As noted above, many children slated for “repatriation” were in such proceedings and had not received a final order of removal or agreed to voluntary departure. Most received no explanation from the government as to why their cases were being dropped from immigration court dockets.

Multiple public reports indicate these actions were part of an orchestrated plan to remove hundreds of Guatemalan children without any regard for their best interests, wishes, or safety. Affidavits submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia indicate that many of the children on the planes expressed fear of returning to Guatemala and had pending applications for asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, or other protection. According to a report by a Guatemalan attorney general’s office, and contrary to initial assertions by the Trump Administration, Guatemalan authorities were unable to contact the vast majority of the families of the children slated for return, and the majority of those who they did contact stated that they did not request their children’s return and, in fact, “expressed anger” at the prospect of their children being returned; some even described their contact with Guatemalan officials as “intimidating” and said they were told that they needed to take their children back. This report was then later substantiated by a Department of Justice attorney representing the government at a September 10th hearing, withdrawing the government’s previous statements in court. It also does not appear that children were screened for concerns related to abuse or neglect in their home country.

As the Ranking Members of the Committees and Subcommittees with primary jurisdiction over the TVPRA and the INA, it is our responsibility to conduct oversight over implementation of these laws, ensuring that HHS, ORR, DHS, and the immigration courts meet their legal and ethical obligations under the law with respect to the care and protection of unaccompanied children. This situation is alarming, unacceptable, and raises serious concerns as to whether you are meeting your basic obligations to act in the best interests of children in your care.

Accordingly, we ask the Departments to provide written responses to the inquiries below by no later than September 29, 2025:

1. What steps are DHS and ORR taking to meet their legal obligation to ensure that children from noncontiguous countries are given the proper opportunity to appear before an immigration judge if DHS seeks to remove that unaccompanied child from the United States?

2. What are the terms of agreement the Trump Administration made with the government of Guatemala to initiate these repatriations? Please share a copy of the agreement.

3. How many Guatemalan children in ORR custody have final orders of removal from an immigration judge? How many have requested voluntary departure before an immigration judge, and/or had that request adjudicated?

4. What are the training requirements for officials who interview or question children? Please provide a copy of training materials.

5. For children who have been granted voluntary departure or have a final removal order, how are the agencies ensuring that protocols are followed to ensure safe repatriation as required by law?

6. Under what authority are children who have pending asylum cases or other immigration benefits requests determined eligible for removal or repatriation?

7. How are the agencies ensuring compliance with confidentiality regulations under asylum law or other statutory confidentiality requirements that are applicable based on the type of application filed by the child, including ensuring that information included in asylum applications is not shared with the child’s country of origin?

We understand that responses to some of these questions may relate to ongoing litigation; however, the Supreme Court has held that legal proceedings do not limit the right of Congress to conduct its own investigations. You are obligated to produce the requested information.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to receiving your responses in a timely manner.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-introduces-bill-to-strengthen-accountability-over-unlawful-national-guard-deployments/,Padilla Introduces Bill to Strengthen Accountability Over Unlawful National Guard Deployments,2025-09-15,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — As President Trump charges ahead with the unprecedented and illegal militarization of American cities, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to enhance oversight and accountability of the President’s deployment of the National Guard. The Safeguarding the Use of the National Guard (SUN) Act would require the President to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within 15 days of deploying the National Guard, except in the case of a natural disaster.

Representative Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Senator Padilla also filed the bill as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026.

In June, President Trump manufactured a crisis and escalated tensions in Los Angeles by deploying 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines without Governor Newsom’s request or consent. Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth “willfully” violated federal law through their militarization of Los Angeles in response to overwhelmingly peaceful protests supporting immigrants’ rights. However, approximately 300 troops National Guard troops still remain in Los Angeles. Trump has also extended his militarization of Washington, D.C. and has threatened to soon deploy National Guard troops to Memphis.

“First it was Los Angeles, now it’s our nation’s capital, and soon it will be any city that dares to speak out against Donald Trump,” said Senator Padilla. “We cannot allow Trump to keep abusing his power and ignoring local elected officials to intimidate our communities. Our commonsense measure would add an essential layer of scrutiny to hold the Administration accountable and reaffirm the National Guard’s proper role in national defense and emergency support.”

“As mayor of San José, I never called in the National Guard to fight crime; our city achieved the lowest homicide rate of any major U.S. city by relying on our experts—our police—working with the community. As President Trump deploys troops to LA, DC, and other US cities, he wastes taxpayer dollars, undermines the critical work of local police departments, and assaults our constitutional order. Americans deserve to know how their money is being spent. The SUN Act shines a light on what these deployments mean for our communities and wallets, and I’m proud to work with Senator Padilla to advance this legislation. If there’s nothing to hide, let the light in,” said Representative Liccardo.

The SUN Act would require the President’s report to outline the legal basis, clear objectives, and cost to taxpayers for National Guard deployments for non-natural disaster related events. The report would also include the extent of interactions between civilians and the National Guard, accounts from local and state law enforcement detailing such events, and certification that the deployment did not interfere with the National Guard’s ability to assist with natural disaster response.

The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s militarization of Los Angeles. In June, Padilla led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities. Last week, Padilla, Schiff, and 17 other Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the lawsuit brought against President Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military in Los Angeles. Padilla and Schiff also recently demanded the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) provide information on operational details related to the ongoing deployment of California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles, first federalized by President Trump on June 9.

After the Trump Administration deployed National Guard troops across Washington, D.C. and took control of the city’s police department, Padilla recently supported legislation granting the District full authority over the D.C. National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department. Additionally, Padilla placed a hold on Trump’s nominee to serve as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Thomas Carden, until the Trump Administration releases all remaining U.S. military forces from their unjustified deployment to Los Angeles.

Full text of the SUN Act is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-warner-demand-urgent-briefing-on-foreign-election-threats-from-gabbard-after-intelligence-rollback/,"Padilla, Warner Demand Urgent Briefing on Foreign Election Threats From Gabbard After Intelligence Rollback",2025-09-15,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Mark Warner (D-Va.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard regarding concerns that she may have directed the Intelligence Community (IC) to cease disclosing attempted foreign interference in U.S. elections and requested she provide an urgent briefing on foreign election threats. The Senators also demanded Gabbard clarify her comments made about alleged “evidence” of vulnerabilities to electronic voting systems and manipulation of election results, which has not been substantiated.

As the country approaches the 2026 federal midterm elections, the Senators highlighted the importance of protecting the United States from foreign influence, including cyber threats. Padilla and Warner pushed Gabbard and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to coordinate an IC briefing on these threats by October 10th, and requested a plan for defensive cybersecurity measures ahead of the 2025 and 2026 election cycles.

This year, Gabbard has made harmful and unsubstantiated statements about voting system vulnerabilities as the Trump Administration has dismantled election security efforts at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and curtailed the Congressionally authorized Foreign Malign Influence Center at ODNI. At a cabinet meeting in April, Gabbard claimed that she has “evidence” about voting manipulation in electronic voting machines, and on a right-wing podcast in July, she said that her office has evidence of voting machine vulnerabilities that it had not disclosed to the American public or Congress.

“As your testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in March made clear, foreign adversaries continue to conduct influence activities to undermine public confidence in our election system and potentially even shape election outcomes,” wrote the Senators. “While you have chosen not to release a declassified version of the Intelligence Community Assessment for the 2024 U.S. Elections, the final Election Security Update ahead of Election Day noted that ‘Foreign actors – particularly Russia, Iran, and China – remain intent on’ pursuing efforts to undermine public confidence in our democratic system, including inciting violence among Americans. We are concerned that you may have directed the Intelligence Community (IC) to cease its intelligence reporting on this vital topic.”

“Given sustained efforts by the current Administration to dismantle CISA’s election security mission, including discontinuing funding to the critically important Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, over the bipartisan objections of Secretaries of State, your cyber vulnerability claims are puzzling and elicit justified skepticism, as well as concerns of politicization,” continued the Senators. “Since taking office, the Administration paused CISA’s election security work, fired election security staff, and staff are reportedly afraid to work with state and local election officials and vendors for fear of retribution.”

Senator Padilla has strongly opposed efforts by the Trump Administration to undermine federal agencies’ election security work. Padilla and Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration Joe Morelle (N.Y.-25) have sent four letters to CISA leadership regarding CISA’s pause on all election security-focused activities, the termination of funding for the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, the agency’s refusal to share its review of its election security work, and the firings of CISA employees who previously worked on election security, including misinformation and disinformation issues. Padilla and Morelle expressed serious concerns about the dangerous implications for elections following President Trump’s executive order purporting to bring independent regulatory agencies under total control of the White House.

Earlier this year, Senator Padilla criticized the Trump Administration’s budget request that proposed a devastating 40 percent cut to the Election Assistance Commission and the complete elimination of all of its Election Security Grants funding to support state election administration as well as a dangerous 18 percent cut to CISA and the complete elimination of its $40 million Election Security Program.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Director Gabbard:

For the better part of the last decade, the Senate Rules Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence have led efforts to educate the United States Senate, and the American public, about foreign threats to our elections. As your testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in March made clear, foreign adversaries continue to conduct influence activities to undermine public confidence in our election system and potentially even shape election outcomes. While you have chosen not to release a declassified version of the Intelligence Community Assessment for the 2024 U.S. Elections, the final Election Security Update ahead of Election Day noted that “Foreign actors – particularly Russia, Iran, and China – remain intent on” pursuing efforts to undermine public confidence in our democratic system, including inciting violence among Americans. We are concerned that you may have directed the Intelligence Community (IC) to cease its intelligence reporting on this vital topic.

As the election cycle for the 2026 federal mid-term elections gets underway, and multiple state contests have already begun, we write to request that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) coordinate an IC briefing for Senators on foreign election threats, including efforts to influence election outcomes through influence or cyber-enabled means. As part of that briefing, ODNI and the IC should also update the Senate on the status of planned defensive steps to ensure the cybersecurity of several state-wide elections in November 2025 and the mid-term elections in 2026.

In addition to an intelligence briefing on these threats, we invite you to clarify public statements that you have made about voting system security, which have generated significant confusion against the backdrop of efforts to dismantle key election security initiatives and programs at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and at the Foreign Malign Influence Center at ODNI. Specifically, at a cabinet meeting with the President on April 10, 2025, you stated that ODNI was “investigating” the issue of “election integrity”:

“We have evidence of how these electronic voting systems have been vulnerable to hackers for a very long time and vulnerable to exploitation to manipulate the results of the votes being cast […].”

On July 31, 2025, you appeared on a partisan political podcast and repeated these claims, citing alleged information from CISA:

“[A] whistleblower who came forward who was working under CISA at that time which is responsible for critical infrastructure and trying to protect against cyber vulnerability and critical infrastructure, including of course the integrity of our elections. And what was interesting was seeing how this whistleblower brought forward information that CISA at the time – the federal government – was aware of vulnerabilities in our election machines but they chose not to disclose that information to the American people or administration at that time. […] We’re continuing to investigate this […].”

Given sustained efforts by the current Administration to dismantle CISA’s election security mission, including discontinuing funding to the critically important Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, over the bipartisan objections of Secretaries of State, your cyber vulnerability claims are puzzling and elicit justified skepticism, as well as concerns of politicization. Since taking office, the Administration paused CISA’s election security work, fired election security staff, and staff are reportedly afraid to work with state and local election officials and vendors for fear of retribution. In June, the Administration proposed to cut CISA’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget by $495 million and reduce its workforce by 30%. To date, CISA has failed to disclose its assessment of its election security work or its plans to secure future elections to Congress or the American people. According to public reports, you have also initiated a review of work of the Congressionally-authorized Foreign Malign Influence Center.

With significant elections occurring less than 60 days away, we ask that ODNI coordinate an IC briefing before October 10.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-blasts-trump-administration-for-rising-energy-costs-cuts-to-renewable-projects/,"WATCH: Padilla Blasts Trump Administration for Rising Energy Costs, Cuts to Renewable Projects",2025-09-15,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, spoke on the Senate floor to outline the Trump Administration’s devastating cuts to clean energy projects across the country that are leading to significant energy cost increases for American families. He contrasted Trump’s shortsighted actions against renewable energy with California’s leadership in building a reliable grid and clean energy economy.

Padilla emphasized that Trump has gone back on his promises to cut energy costs, as energy prices are now rising twice as fast as inflation. In the face of rising prices, California state lawmakers passed a legislative package this weekend to strengthen the state’s energy portfolio and lower the cost of living for working families. The package will help increase the supply of energy Californians rely on while facilitating coordination with counterparts in states like Oregon and Washington to create a regional electric grid across the Western United States.

While Republicans claim that renewable energy isn’t affordable or dependable, Padilla stressed that solar and wind power are cheaper than both coal and natural gas, with solar power costing only half as much as coal. He highlighted that California’s historic economic growth across industries demonstrates the promise of a sustainable, clean energy future. In 2023, clean energy made up two thirds of California’s retail electricity. At the same time, the state’s grid has become more reliable as battery capacity in California has expanded by nearly 2,000% since 2019.

“This Administration is shamelessly working to block one of our best defenses against rising energy bills: renewable energy. And I say so because renewable energy is absolutely affordable, renewable energy is abundant, and whether you want to admit it or not, renewable energy sources are our future.”

“[California is] harnessing the power of solar and wind and hydroelectric power and nuclear, geothermal, even hydrogen power to our state. And it’s exactly because of those investments that even in a year like 2024, just last year, when we experienced record heat waves that we also saw record renewable energy generation, and we kept the lights on.”

“We know that with a growing population and a growing economy, including, but not limited to, the future of an AI boom, demand will continue to grow. But we’re committed to the kind of inclusive portfolio of energy options that has made our grid more reliable.”

Despite California’s leadership, the Trump Administration has decimated clean energy efforts, cutting historic tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act, canceling offshore wind projects, and withholding funding from solar projects that lower energy bills and create good-paying jobs. According to Climate Power, since Trump was elected, over 120 clean energy projects across the country have been canceled or delayed or are laying off staff, amounting to nearly 14,000 megawatts taken off the grid — enough to power over 8.4 million homes. Padilla further emphasized that by investing in older fossil fuel plants, the Administration will continue to raise energy costs and cede global leadership in renewable energy production and innovation to adversaries like China.

Padilla underscored that Trump’s dependence on fossil fuels will exacerbate the climate crisis and lead to more intense natural disasters, including drought, atmospheric rivers, and catastrophic wildfires like Los Angeles experienced in January. As President Trump has baselessly attacked California’s wildfire policy and withheld disaster aid for California, Senator Padilla highlighted his previous work to pass the FIRE Act to help FEMA better prepare for and respond to wildfires, his efforts to finalize the transfer of seven C-130s from the Coast Guard to California to retrofit for fighting wildfires, and his ongoing bipartisan push to pass the Fix Our Forests Act to combat devastating wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive.

“[Trump’s reliance on fossil fuels] is not just bad for consumers, it’s not just bad for reliability — it’s literally putting lives at risk.”

“It’s no surprise that Donald Trump loves to attack California’s leaders for wildfire policy and our climate leadership, and we also know he loves to play politics with disaster funding. That record is clear. Yet he continues to dig us deeper and deeper into an energy policy that actually increases the risk of the next great disaster. And Californians will be left to clean up the mess.”

“Reliance on fossil fuels comes at a cost, and Americans, not just Californians, but Americans are paying for it in the form of higher energy bills and in lives destroyed after these major disasters. So no matter how many times Trump says it, we can never and will never ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ our way to cheaper energy costs. Our solution has to be a more inclusive approach to energy portfolios.”

Padilla concluded by outlining his vision for a more efficient, lower-cost, and reliable clean energy future. He pushed for streamlining the approval and completion of energy projects while building out our transmission system and fostering regional cooperation to strengthen the grid.

“That’s how we meet our growing demand — more options, not less, more cooperation, not less, and more sources of energy, not less.”

“Trump might continue to lie to the American people about renewable energy, but Americans know that this energy crisis doesn’t have to continue forever, and California is proud to show the way forward.”

Watch Senator Padilla’s full remarks here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-merkley-wyden-bonamici-lead-bipartisan-group-demanding-administration-release-over-50-million-for-agricultural-farm-worker-students/,"Padilla, Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici Lead Bipartisan Group Demanding Administration Release Over $50 Million for Agricultural Farm Worker Students",2025-09-12,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), led 26 lawmakers in a bipartisan letter demanding that Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and Education Secretary Linda McMahon immediately release $52.1 million in previously mandated funds for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which support educational opportunities for students from agricultural farm worker families.

Across the nation, HEP and CAMP programs serve more than 8,000 students whose families work to put food on America’s tables. California receives the largest allocation of HEP/CAMP funding. The refusal to release this funding that Congress has previously approved threatens to undermine these students’ success.

“Continuing and potential new grantees, all of which are colleges and non-profit organizations, were slated to receive funding and begin providing support to students by July 1 but have yet to receive the funding that Congress provided earlier this year,” wrote the lawmakers. “We understand the Department of Education informed HEP and CAMP leaders in June that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was reviewing these programs, but grantees have not received follow up information as to when the funds will be released, which has imposed challenges on individuals and families served by these programs and applicants and grantees (and their employees) impacted by the uncertainty and delay.”

Specifically, HEP supports students from migrant and seasonal farm worker families in earning a high school equivalency diploma. The CAMP program provides tutoring, academic advising, counseling, stipends, housing assistance, and other services to first-year college students from migrant and seasonal farm worker families.

In a 2024 report to Congress, HEP and CAMP showed that the percentage of HEP participants who received a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) increased by 4.2 percentage points from FY 2021 to FY 2022, and 84 percent of HSED recipients entered postsecondary education or training programs, attained upgraded employment, or entered the military. Additionally, CAMP exceeded the national retention rates for first-time college freshmen returning for their second year.

“We should strive to retain more students enrolled in college, just as CAMP programs have achieved. These are results that can help strengthen the economy for agricultural farmworker families and rural communities,” continued the lawmakers.

In addition to Merkley, Wyden, Padilla, and Bonamici, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas-37), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.-03), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.-02), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-06), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.-01).

Earlier this week, Padilla also joined Merkley and a bipartisan group of Senators to sound the alarm over the Trump Administration delaying millions of dollars in federal education grants with no-cost extensions for TRIO programs, which support low-income, first-generation college students from all backgrounds.

Senator Padilla has repeatedly fought back against the Trump Administration’s efforts to cut critical educational services. In July, Padilla, Senator Schiff, and Representatives Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), and Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45) led the entire California Democratic Congressional Delegation in demanding the Department of Education and OMB immediately release nearly $7 billion in Congressionally appropriated funding for K-12 schools and adult education — including $928 million owed to California. Padilla and 31 other Senators also wrote to OMB Director Vought and Education Secretary McMahon demanding the immediate release of this funding. He and Schiff condemned the funding freeze when it was announced.

Full text of the HEP/CAMP letter is available here and below:

Dear Director Vought and Secretary McMahon:

We write today to express our strong support for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). We urge you to implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, which President Trump signed into law and requires $52,123,000 to be used for carrying out CAMP and HEP. This funding is necessary to ensure these educational programs provide critical access to educational opportunities for agricultural farmworker students.

Continuing and potential new grantees, all of which are colleges and non-profit organizations, were slated to receive funding and begin providing support to students by July 1 but have yet to receive the funding that Congress provided earlier this year. We understand the Department of Education informed HEP and CAMP leaders in June that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was reviewing these programs, but grantees have not received follow up information as to when the funds will be released, which has imposed challenges on individuals and families served by these programs and applicants and grantees (and their employees) impacted by the uncertainty and delay.

HEP helps students who have dropped out of high school get their High School Equivalency Credential and serves more than 6,000 students annually. CAMP assists students in their first year of college with academic, personal, and financial support, and serves approximately 2,400 participants annually. Overall, nearly three-quarters of all CAMP students graduate with baccalaureate degrees.

The HEP/CAMP FY 2024 Report to Congress shows that despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the percentage of HEP participants who received a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) increased by 4.2 percentage points from FY 2021 to FY 2022 and 84 percent of HSED recipients entered postsecondary education or training programs, attained upgraded employment, or entered the military.

Similarly, the CAMP program is achieving results for students. The HEP/CAMP FY 2024 Report to Congress shows that “Despite pandemic-related challenges, in both fiscal years[2021 and 2022], CAMP exceeded the national retention rates for first time college freshmen returning in their second year.” We should strive to retain more students enrolled in college, just as CAMP programs have achieved. These are results that can help strengthen the economy for agricultural farmworker families and rural communities.

HEP and CAMP programs rely on this funding to serve more than 8,000 students across the country. We urge the administration to release this previously allocated funding. We look forward to working with you to make this funding available as soon as possible.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-castro-condemn-trump-administrations-ending-of-discretionary-grants-for-hispanic-serving-minority-serving-schools/,"Padilla, Castro Condemn Trump Administration’s Ending of Discretionary Grants for Hispanic-Serving, Minority-Serving Schools",2025-09-11,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), Democratic co-chairs of the Senate and House Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucuses, issued the following joint statement after the Trump Administration announced during HSI week that the U.S. Department of Education would end discretionary grants for HSIs and Minority-Serving Institutions.

“The Administration’s reckless decision will devastate universities across the country in red and blue states as well as urban and rural areas that serve working-class students and students of color. Congress passed laws on a bipartisan basis to establish and support funding for our nation’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Minority-Serving Institutions that are economic mobility engines. This action not only jeopardizes the education of the millions of students who attend these institutions, but threatens the future of our workforce.

“All students, no matter their background, deserve the right to a good college education. We call on the Trump Administration to immediately reverse course and make sure that all universities can meet the unique needs of their students.”

HSIs are accredited, degree-granting, public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education with 25 percent or higher total undergraduate Hispanic or Latino full-time students. There are 615 HSIs in the United States that enroll 5.6 million Hispanic students, two-thirds of all Hispanic undergraduates, and 37 percent of total Pell recipients — empowering and improving communities. California is home to 171 HSIs and 43 Emerging HSIs.

Over half of students enrolled at HSIs are students of other races/ethnicities. In addition to their substantial Latino student bodies, HSIs enrolled approximately 285,000 Black/African American students, 311,000 Asian/Pacific Islander students, and 15,000 American Indian/Alaskan Native students.

Last month, Padilla and Castro condemned the Trump Administration’s letter declaring that they will no longer defend the $350 million HSI annual grant program in court, effectively ending the program.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schumer-murray-reed-we-will-reject-republican-attempts-to-include-anti-voter-legislation-in-defense-funding-bills/,"Padilla, Schumer, Murray, Reed: “We Will Reject” Republican Attempts to Include Anti-Voter Legislation in Defense, Funding Bills",2025-09-10,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Democratic Senators slam SAVE Act: “The burden of documentary proof required by this bill shows that its true impact is massive voter suppression.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, put Republican Senate leadership on notice that they “will use all procedural means to oppose” attempts to pass anti-voter legislation, including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, in any must-pass bills moving through the Senate.

As the Senate moves forward on considering defense authorization and government funding legislation this month, Trump allies, including Tea Party Patriots Action, are pressuring the Administration to use these bills to pass voter suppression legislation like the SAVE Act. The letter also comes after President Trump threatened to issue an unconstitutional executive order to ban all mail-in voting and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that the White House is considering a legislative strategy to enact the ban.

If passed, the SAVE Act would lead to the potential disenfranchisement of millions of eligible American citizens by creating overly burdensome documentation requirements, restricting access to the ballot box for new voters, married women, rural voters, servicemembers, communities of color, voters at new addresses, and the tens of millions of Americans who register to vote online or by mail. The Senators warned Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) that the SAVE Act would amount to “massive voter suppression,” emphasizing that 140 million Americans do not have a passport, over 21 million American citizens cannot easily access proof of citizenship documents, and tens of millions of married women have legal names that differ from their birth certificates.

“The SAVE Act uses President Trump’s election conspiracy theories to impose new federal mandates on states that would create major barriers to voter registration for millions of eligible American voters,” wrote the Senators. “It is wrong, un-American, and we will use all tools at our disposal to oppose efforts to ram it through the Senate contained in unrelated legislation.”

“Taken together, the SAVE Act’s federal mandates would burden voters of all political parties and walks of life but disproportionately harm large swaths of historically marginalized communities who already face obstacles in accessing the ballot box, including rural voters, Native voters, voters of color, and women,” continued the Senators. “While the cost of this bill would be great, the benefits would be nonexistent. Numerous reviews have found extremely low rates of noncitizen voting.”

Despite the Trump Administration’s unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud by noncitizens, multiple reviews, including an analysis of the Heritage Foundation’s database, have found that noncitizen voting is extremely rare. Moreover, the SAVE Act would impose excessive criminal penalties on election officials who accidentally provide noncitizens with voter registration paperwork, including fines and up to five years in prison. Voting by noncitizens is already a federal crime, and voters in every state must confirm their citizenship under penalty of perjury during registration.

“We want to be very clear that we will object to any attempt to add the SAVE Act or other anti-voter legislation to any must-pass moving bills in the Senate and will use all procedural means to oppose any efforts to do so,” concluded the Senators.

Senator Padilla has led the charge opposing President Trump and Republicans’ reckless attempts to restrict the right to vote. In May, Padilla stopped Senator Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) attempt to pass the anti-voter SAVE Act through the Senate by unanimous consent. Earlier this year, he convened a Rules Committee Democrats spotlight forum focused on Congressional Republicans’ SAVE Act and Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order. As President Trump marked 100 disastrous days in office, Padilla led his Democratic colleagues on the Senate floor to speak out against the SAVE Act and the Trump Administration’s attacks on election integrity. In April, he warned Secretaries of State, Lieutenant Governors, and Chief Election Officials across the country of the devastating potential impacts of the SAVE Act, concerns that have been echoed by top election officials across the country. Padilla also led a letter sounding the alarm on the devastating impacts on voting rights in Native American communities of the SAVE Act and Trump’s executive order. In July, Padilla convened a Rules and Judiciary Committee Democrats spotlight forum focused on racial gerrymandering and voter suppression.

Last month, Padilla blasted President Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting and America’s election systems.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Leader Thune:

We write to make clear our strong opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R. 22/S. 128) and the President’s ongoing attacks on our elections and to make clear that we will reject any attempts to attach this or any other highly controversial, anti-voter legislation to any pending must-pass bills.

The SAVE Act uses President Trump’s election conspiracy theories to impose new federal mandates on states that would create major barriers to voter registration for millions of eligible American voters. It is wrong, un-American, and we will use all tools at our disposal to oppose efforts to ram it through the Senate contained in unrelated legislation.

The SAVE Act purports to stop noncitizen voting, which is already exceedingly rare and a federal crime, with a new federal mandate that anyone registering to vote must provide specific documentary proof of citizenship. In reality, if the SAVE Act were to become law, millions of Americans would face major obstacles to vote because they either lack the required documents to prove citizenship or because they relied on ways to register that the bill would upend—including online voter registration, registration by mail, voter registration drives, or automatic voter registration. This goes far beyond “voter ID,” as a large majority of Americans live in states where even their driver’s license does not meet the requirements of the SAVE Act.

The burden of documentary proof required by this bill shows that its true impact is massive voter suppression. Over 140 million Americans do not have a passport, and over 21 million American citizens cannot easily access proof of citizenship documents. This anti-voter bill would prevent people who have changed their legal names from using their birth certificates, impacting tens of millions of married women. More than 12 percent of Americans also move every year and would be forced to access these documents to re-register at their new address. Making matters worse, its sweeping changes to state voter registration would become effective upon enactment, sowing chaos in upcoming elections for state administrators who are already overworked and underresourced, following years of inconsistent federal funding.

Taken together, the SAVE Act’s federal mandates would burden voters of all political parties and walks of life but disproportionately harm large swaths of historically marginalized communities who already face obstacles in accessing the ballot box, including rural voters, Native voters, voters of color, and women. While the cost of this bill would be great, the benefits would be nonexistent. Numerous reviews have found extremely low rates of noncitizen voting. For example, a 2017 Brennan Center analysis of 42 jurisdictions which tabulated 23.5 million votes in the 2016 election found that noncitizens were referred for investigation in just 30 cases—or 0.0001 percent of votes. Even the conservative Heritage Foundation’s database confirms that any meaningful amount of noncitizen voting does not exist.

If enacted, this bill would also impose severe criminal penalties against election officials, including fines and up to five years in prison, if they inadvertently provide a noncitizen with the paperwork to register to vote. Voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status under penalty of perjury when registering and voting in a federal election as a noncitizen is a federal crime.

In recent weeks, the President has threatened to issue additional unconstitutional executive orders to interfere in elections, including one that would ban vote by mail, despite casting his own ballot by mail in the 2024 election, its widespread adoption in many states, and the Republican party’s encouragement of this popular voting method. Alternatively, White House staff have indicated that the administration may pursue legislation rather than another blatantly unconstitutional executive order.

As a result, we want to be very clear that we will object to any attempt to add the SAVE Act or other anti-voter legislation to any must-pass moving bills in the Senate and will use all procedural means to oppose any efforts to do so.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-lead-17-senators-in-amicus-brief-fighting-trump-abuse-of-military-deployments/,"Padilla, Schiff Lead 19 Senators in Amicus Brief Fighting Trump Abuse of Military Deployments",2025-09-09,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Brief filed with circuit court hearing case against Trump’s use of military in Los Angeles warns of continued abuse of military in other U.S. cities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and 18 other Senators filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the lawsuit brought against President Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military earlier this year.

The lawsuit came from the State of California after Trump deployed 4,000 members of the California National Guard and 700 active-duty U.S. Marines to Los Angeles without legal justification or approval from state or local officials.

“Donald Trump’s militarized spectacle in Los Angeles was a blatantly unlawful attempt to distract from his failing political agenda and enact his cruel mass deportation campaign. Trump’s deployment of the military to ‘blue’ cities across America has never been about public safety — it’s about retribution and control,” said Senator Padilla. “This abuse of power is a threat to much more than just California or immigrant communities: if the Circuit Court allows the President to bypass the Governor of California to federalize the National Guard to suppress peaceful protests for immigrants’ rights, what’s to stop him from suppressing other rights across the country? Our arguments to the Court make clear that Trump’s unprecedented militarization of Los Angeles should not be used as a playbook for terrorizing other cities across America.”

“Donald Trump made his true motives for the deployment of our military in Los Angeles plain – instead of improving safety, he is focused on spectacle; instead of protecting Americans, he is punishing cities and states he believes are against him. Trump’s abuse of power is clear, illegal, and unconstitutional – and our arguments to the Court explain why this case must be the line drawn in the sand to prevent further misuse of our servicemembers on the streets of American cities,” said Senator Schiff.

The brief filed by the Senators in Newsom v. Trump warns of the potential for continued abuse of the military should the Court rule for the Administration.

“Our concern that President Trump will continue to act in bad faith and abuse his power is borne out by his recent deployment of state militias to Washington, D.C. and his stated intent to deploy state militias in other blue’ cities,” wrote the Senators.

After the Trump Administration deployed National Guard troops across Washington, D.C. and took control of the city’s police department, Padilla supported legislation granting the District full authority over the D.C. National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department. Additionally, Padilla placed a hold on Trump’s nominee to serve as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Thomas Carden, until the Trump Administration releases all remaining U.S. military forces from their unjustified deployment to Los Angeles.

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, and Durbin, Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also signed the brief.

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s militarization of Los Angeles. In June, Padilla led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities. Padilla and Schiff also recently demanded the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) provide information on operational details related to the ongoing deployment of California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles, first federalized by President Trump on June 9.

Full text of the amicus brief is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-supreme-court-ruling-paving-the-way-for-racial-profiling-in-los-angeles-immigration-enforcement/,Padilla Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Paving the Way for Racial Profiling in Los Angeles Immigration Enforcement,2025-09-08,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court granted the government’s request to lift restrictions on discriminatory raids happening as part of the Trump Administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement actions across Los Angeles:

“The Administration has said it themselves: they are detaining people simply based on whether they ‘look’ like an immigrant, on the language they speak, or where they work. Today’s radical Supreme Court decision tramples on our Constitution and enables racial profiling to continue without explanation.

“Trump isn’t just targeting violent criminals; he’s sweeping up hardworking people — including U.S. citizens — indiscriminately. And he’s sowing fear and damaging our economy in the process. This is not the final say. There is still time for the Courts to stop this blatantly racist policy from threatening the basic freedoms of Americans and immigrants alike.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-supports-legislation-to-grant-d-c-officials-full-control-over-its-national-guard-police/,"Padilla Supports Legislation to Grant D.C. Officials Full Control Over Its National Guard, Police",2025-09-08,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — After the Trump Administration deployed National Guard troops across Washington, D.C. and took control of the city’s police department, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL) in introducing legislation to grant the District full authority over the D.C. National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department. This need has only become more urgent as the Administration reportedly extended the Guard’s deployment through November 30 and as Congressional Republicans continue attacking the District’s right to self-governance.

“Los Angeles was just Donald Trump’s test case for his unprecedented militarization of cities across the country,” said Senator Padilla. “Now, he’s taking his authoritarian playbook to our nation’s capital, escalating tensions and bypassing local leadership once again by bringing in the National Guard and federalizing D.C.’s police force. Trump is manufacturing a spectacle to distract from his own failed agenda and refusal to release the Epstein files. Washington, D.C. has long deserved full control over its own police force and National Guard, and Trump and Republicans’ continued attacks on the city make this legislation even more urgent.”

“In a raw power grab, Donald Trump has overtaken D.C.’s police and brought in the National Guard to satisfy his desire to play dictator in our nation’s capital. As he looks to extend his authoritarian control over D.C., it is urgent that we act now to ensure the District’s leaders have the same authority over its National Guard and police force as other states and territories – while we continue to fight for D.C. statehood. If Trump and Republicans actually cared about the people of D.C. and their safety, they’d get out of the way of D.C.’s leaders and residents and allow them to manage the District and their own funds. Trump and Republicans’ continued withholding of over $1 billion of those funds is unacceptable,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“D.C. residents are Americans, fully capable of governing themselves, including having full control of their police force and National Guard like residents of the states,” said Representative Norton. “President Trump’s unprecedented federalization of the D.C. Police and his activation of the D.C. National Guard without D.C.’s consent underscore the necessity of D.C. statehood. Until we get the full protections that statehood would provide, our bills repealing the president’s authority to federalize the local D.C. police department and to give D.C.’s mayor control over the D.C. National Guard, like governors of states have over their National Guards, would place D.C. closer to having control over some of its most vital affairs and equality with the states, as we deserve. Senator Van Hollen, thank you for being D.C.’s determined partner in the Senate and a vigorous advocate for D.C. home rule.”

The District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act would name the mayor of Washington, D.C. as Commander-in-Chief of the D.C. National Guard, giving the mayor the same control over the D.C. National Guard that the governors of the states and the three territories with National Guards have over their respective National Guards. Under current law, the President is Commander-in-Chief of the D.C. National Guard. In addition to Padilla, this bill is cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and co-led in the House by U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08).

The District of Columbia Police Home Rule Act would repeal the provision in the Home Rule Act that gives the President the authority to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department. Currently, the Home Rule Act provides that, “whenever the President of the United States determines that special conditions of an emergency nature exist which require the use of the Metropolitan Police force for Federal purposes, he may direct the mayor to provide him, and the mayor shall provide, such services of the Metropolitan Police force as the President may deem necessary and appropriate.”

In addition to Padilla, this bill is cosponsored by Senators Alsobrooks, Booker, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Sanders, Schiff, Warren, and Welch.

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s militarization of Los Angeles with the deployment of National Guard troops and active-duty U.S. Marines in response to overwhelmingly peaceful protests. In June, Padilla led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities. Last week, Padilla applauded a federal judge’s ruling that President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth violated federal law through their deployment of military forces to Los Angeles. Padilla and Senator Schiff also demanded the U.S. Department of Defense provide information on operational details related to the ongoing deployment of California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles, first federalized by President Trump on June 9. Following the initial deployment of approximately 700 members of the U.S. Marine Corps, Padilla and Schiff told the Defense Department the action was “unjustifiable” and “irresponsibly rushed.” Padilla also placed a hold on Trump’s nominee to serve as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Thomas Carden, until the Trump Administration releases all remaining U.S. military forces from their unjustified deployment to Los Angeles.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-the-passing-of-longtime-california-political-leader-john-burton/,Padilla Statement on the Passing of Longtime California Political Leader John Burton,2025-09-07,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement on the passing of John Burton, a longtime member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the California State Legislature, as well as the former Chair of the California Democratic Party:

“The Golden State has lost one of its fiercest and most influential leaders. John Burton devoted his career to advancing justice, expanding opportunity, and standing up for working families.

“From his decades of service and leadership in the State Legislature, and as Chair of the California Democratic Party, Burton shaped California’s progressive legacy for generations. He led the fight to expand access to health care, strengthened protections for workers, increased funding for education, and helped establish our state as a national example for civil rights and environmental protection, while fiercely advocating for these core California values on the federal stage in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“John was a mentor to countless progressive leaders across California, including me. I’ll always be grateful for his counsel over our breakfasts at Delancey Street Restaurant in San Francisco, surrounded by residents working to rebuild their lives.

“John was bluntly honest and never shied away from a fight if it meant protecting the vulnerable and giving a voice to the voiceless — a mission he carried on even after his political career by providing a pathway to a better life for thousands of foster youth and securing billions of dollars to invest in their success.

“California is a better place because of John Burton. His impact on our politics and his dedication to progressive values will be felt for generations to come.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-merkley-cortez-masto-peters-urge-smithsonian-secretary-to-stand-strong-against-trumps-attacks-on-museums/,"Padilla, Merkley, Cortez Masto, Peters Urge Smithsonian Secretary to Stand Strong Against Trump’s Attacks on Museums",2025-09-05,2025,2025-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) encouraged Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie G. Bunch III to stand firm against any attempts by President Trump and his Administration to bully the Institution into undermining its mission and values. The Senators emphasized that oversight of the Smithsonian Institution is the responsibility of Congress — not the executive branch — and urged Bunch to remain steadfast in the face of recent attacks from the White House on its independence and integrity. Senators Padilla and Merkley’s committees have jurisdiction over the Smithsonian operations and Senators Cortez Masto and Peters are both members of its Board of Regents.

Last month, three White House officials sent a letter to Secretary Bunch requesting that the Smithsonian Institution provide various documents within 30, 75, and 120 days to facilitate a “comprehensive internal [White House] review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibits” ahead of America’s 250th birthday. A week later, President Trump posted a message on Truth Social claiming that “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL” and focuses too much on “how bad Slavery was,” while deploying his attorneys to investigate its museums.

The Senators highlighted that Congress — not the President — created the Smithsonian Institution as “an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge,” including both positive and painful chapters in American history, and stressed that Trump cannot exert unilateral control over its museums’ operations or content. They also emphasized that the Institution is uniquely funded with a nearly even split of private donations and public funding, including federal dollars appropriated by Congress for its core operations.

“Given its history and structure, oversight of the Smithsonian Institution is the responsibility of Congress. Presidents and their staff may be important stakeholders of the Smithsonian, but they do not have any legal authority to dictate how the Institution is run, or remove its leadership staff, much less dictate historical or scientific content of the Institution’s museums and exhibits,” wrote the Senators. “Nothing the President or his officials say can change these facts. The Smithsonian’s Board and leadership have an obligation to maintain the Institution’s independence and integrity in the face of any attempts to pressure the Smithsonian to follow a particular political agenda.”

“As an institution created ‘for the increase and diffusion of knowledge’, the Smithsonian must strive to tell the full story of America,” continued the Senators. “It should go without saying that this includes the troubling parts of our history such as slavery, forced removal of indigenous peoples, and other injustices committed that have shaped our nation, along with the historic struggles for freedom that make America a country that we are proud to call home. Similarly, there can be no question that the Smithsonian Institution must be committed to scientific integrity and accuracy, when it comes to established science regarding evolution, climate change, or other matters which some may find controversial.”

The Senators further underscored that the Smithsonian Board of Regents’ voting members include nine private citizens and six bipartisan Members of Congress, and does not include any voting authority from the executive branch. The Regents hold the sole trust responsibility and leadership over the Institution, including authority over the selection or removal of the Secretary of the Smithsonian.

As Secretary Bunch considers appropriate responses to the White House, the Senators requested that any materials or briefings provided to the White House also be sent to the congressional oversight committees on a bipartisan basis.

Earlier this year, Rules Committee Ranking Member Padilla introduced the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act to build a new Smithsonian museum on the National Mall that recognizes the accomplishments of Latinos. The bill follows the passage of bipartisan legislation that establishes a Latino history museum, which was signed into law in December 2020 during the first Trump Administration.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Bunch:

We write following the August 12 letter sent to you by three White House officials regarding their “comprehensive internal review” of Smithsonian Institution museums and exhibitions and the August 19 statement from President Trump denouncing the Smithsonian as “OUT OF CONTROL.” We deeply appreciate your leadership at this time and urge you to resist any attempts by the President or the White House to bully the Institution to go against its mission and values.

As you know, the Smithsonian Institution is a national treasure, and it is also a public-private partnership managed as an independent federal trust. It is not an executive agency over which the President can exert unilateral control over its historical, scientific or artistic content. The Institution was created by Congress to care for the bequest of James Smithson and to found “an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” In recent years, it has been funded with a relatively even split of private donations to support its programming, and federal appropriations provided by Congress to support its core operations including the maintenance of the facilities, further underscoring its unique status.

Congress assigned the trust responsibility for this gift of private property to the United States and its ongoing mission to the Smithsonian Board of Regents, not to the executive branch. As you are aware, the Board’s voting members consist of eight private citizens and six bipartisan Members of Congress, with the Chief Justice of the United States and the Vice President of the United States serving as ex officio members who do not vote on Board matters. The Secretary of the Smithsonian has the authority to lead the Institution and is selected by a vote of the Regents and may only be removed by the Regents.

Given its history and structure, oversight of the Smithsonian Institution is the responsibility of Congress. Presidents and their staff may be important stakeholders of the Smithsonian, but they do not have any legal authority to dictate how the Institution is run, or remove its leadership staff, much less dictate historical or scientific content of the Institution’s museums and exhibits. Nothing the President or his officials say can change these facts. The Smithsonian’s Board and leadership have an obligation to maintain the Institution’s independence and integrity in the face of any attempts to pressure the Smithsonian to follow a particular political agenda.

As Americans from different backgrounds, we are all proud of our heritage. As an institution created “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge”, the Smithsonian must strive to tell the full story of America. It should go without saying that this includes the troubling parts of our history such as slavery, forced removal of indigenous peoples, and other injustices committed that have shaped our nation, along with the historic struggles for freedom that make America a country that we are proud to call home. Similarly, there can be no question that the Smithsonian Institution must be committed to scientific integrity and accuracy, when it comes to established science regarding evolution, climate change, or other matters which some may find controversial.

We understand that prior to receiving the August 12 letter, the Smithsonian had already independently begun a review of its programs and exhibits to ensure that it meets its own standards and provides the appropriate context in its interpretive materials. We expect this review process to be conducted appropriately, free of political interference, and for the Institution to keep the Board and Congress regularly updated on that review.

Further, as you consider the appropriate response to the White House letter sent to you, we emphasize the necessity to consult closely with the Board of Regents and with Congress. Accordingly, we request that any materials that the Smithsonian determines are appropriate to provide in response to the letter also be provided to the appropriate congressional oversight committees on a bipartisan basis.

Thank you for your commitment to the long-standing independence and integrity of the Smithsonian Institution. We look forward to working with you to ensure that it remains a national treasure that tells the full story of America for generations to come.

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