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.
Congress Must Act NOW to End Trump’s Illegal War with Iran
Senator Jeff Merkley spoke in support of passing War Powers Resolutions to rein in President Trump’s unconstitutional war with Iran on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
Merkley Seeks Answers on Hegseth’s Role in Dismantling Military’s Civilian Harm Prevention Guard Rails in Advance of Iran War
Washington, D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—joined a group of Senators in seeking answers on U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s role in weakening civilian harm prevention programs and the catastrophic civilian impacts of President Trump’s war in Iran. “The high human
Merkley, Warren, Van Hollen, Sanders Probe Trump-Backed Board of Peace’s Plan to Rebuild Gaza with Shady Cryptocurrency
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley partnered with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to press the Trump Administration over its plans to reportedly develop a US dollar-backed stablecoin for Gaza as part of post-war reconstruction efforts. The Senators raise serious
Republicans Block Senate Democrats’ War Powers Resolution, Once Again Voting to Continue Trump’s Unjustified, Unpopular and Costly Iran War
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — In the seventh week of Donald Trump’s unjustified and illegal Iran war, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Andy Kim
Merkley Calls to Stop Bomb Sales to Israel and End U.S. Complicity
Senator Jeff Merkley spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of Senator Bernie Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to stop the sale of bombs and bulldozers to the Netanyahu government, end U.S. complicity in the destruction, and reassert Congress’ Constitutional responsibilities.
Ranking Member Shaheen, Senators Booker, Coons, Merkley, Van Hollen Statement on the Third Anniversary of the Sudan Civil War
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Africa and Global Health Policy Sub-Committee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued a statement on the