Jeff is committed to protecting America from those who would do us harm, and to making sure we do so in a way that is consistent with American values and our Constitutional rights. Indeed, Jeff firmly believes that the measure of our strength isn’t just the power of our military, but that the United States is safer and stronger when we honor our fundamental American values like respect for the rule of law and invest in the hard work of working with our allies. In a dangerous world, with global threats ranging from terrorism to global warming to nuclear weapons proliferation, Jeff understands that we need to be able to work with other nations to confront these challenges together.
Having worked as a national security analyst at the Pentagon and at the Congressional Budget Office, Jeff has a unique understanding of national security policy. In both positions, he was immersed in the national dialogue on responsible management of nuclear weapons. Jeff also remained actively engaged in foreign policy issues as President of the World Affairs Council of Oregon.
Warren, Blumenthal, Duckworth, Peters, Merkley Press Hegseth on Reported Attempts to Make Investments in Defense Firms Ahead of Iran War; Slam Potential Conflict of Interest, Violations of Federal Ethics Agreement
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s broker reportedly attempted to invest in major defense companies in weeks leading up to Trump’s attack on Iran “This would be a…betrayal of the nation paying the price for this war and the troops you are sending into harm’s way.” Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C.
Merkley, Cruz, Kim, Curtis Launch Bipartisan Effort to Expand Taiwan’s Drone Production, Support U.S. National Security
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—partnered with U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and John Curtis (R-UT) to introduce bipartisan legislation that expands cooperation between the United States
Senators Markey, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Restrict Saudi Access to Nuclear Weapons Technologies
Bill Text (PDF) Washington (March 25, 2026) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today reintroduced the No Nuclear Weapons for Saudi Arabia Act, legislation that would mandate that any nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia can go into
Wyden, Merkley Demand Answers from Defense Department on the School Bombing and Civilian Casualties in Iran
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today pressed the Department of Defense to provide answers to the American people regarding the airstrikes on a school and civilian casualties in Iran. Trump’s Defense Department airstrikes on a girls’ elementary school reportedly killed 168 people – mostly children –
Wyden, Merkley, Crapo Call on Trump to Prioritize Opening Japanese Market to U.S. Potatoes
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Jeff Merkley, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, with Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today asked Donald Trump to prioritize gaining market access for U.S. fresh potatoes during Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s
Merkley: Senate Refuses to Stop Unauthorized War with Iran
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—released the following statement after the Senate voted to block U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)’s War Powers Resolutionaimed at stopping the unauthorized U.S.-Israel war in Iran: “The Trump Administration has repeatedly misled the American people about its plans for war against
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