Tag: Foreign Policy and National Security

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Ranking Member Shaheen, Foreign Relation Democrats Statement on State Department Personnel Cuts

July 10, 2025

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released a statement on announced plans by the State Department to terminate personnel.

Sens. Markey, Merkley, Reps. Garamendi, Beyer Lead Effort to Rein in Dangerous, Wasteful “Golden Dome” Missile Plan

July 8, 2025

Letter Text (PDF) Washington (July 8, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Rep. John Garamendi (CA-08), and Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08), co-chairs of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today led their colleagues in writing to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, urging the

Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Protect LGBTQI+ Communities from Global Violence

June 30, 2025

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have introduced a bill to impose sanctions on foreign actors responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI+ communities abroad. “For far too long, the LGBTQI+ community has faced bigotry, hate, and violence all across the globe,” Wyden said. “We can’t

Merkley: Senate Fails Constitutional Test on Trump’s Strikes Against Iran

June 28, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—today issued the following statement after the Senate failed to advance Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) War Powers Resolution, which would have required the United States to end unauthorized military involvement in Iran and forcing a debate and

Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Explain Changing VA Hospital Guidelines in Secret

June 27, 2025

The changes include potentially hiring medical professionals and giving veterans health care based on certain protected traits such as political affiliation and sexual orientation Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined their Senate colleagues in demanding answers from the Trump

Congress has the power to declare war, not the President.

June 27, 2025

Senator Merkley spoke on the Senate floor in support of Senator Kaine’s war powers resolution on June 27, 2025.

Merkley Slams OMB Director Vought for ‘Unconstitutional Plan to Steal the Power of the Purse’

June 26, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee—issued the following statement after a hearing with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought on President Trump’s request to Congress to implement disastrous federal funding cuts: “Director Vought’s testimony clearly outlined his unconstitutional

Merkley Calls for Durable Peace Amid Tentative Israel-Iran Ceasefire

June 24, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Following President Trump’s unconstitutional strikes against Iran over the weekend and the announcement of a tentative ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley called for sustained de-escalation, a durable peace, and for the United States to use its leverage to lead a renewed

Merkley on Trump’s Iran Strike: “We know there was not an imminent threat.”

June 24, 2025

Senator Merkley discussed the national security and economic impacts of President Trump’s strikes on Iran. Merkley highlighted the Constitutional issues with launching military action without congressional approval.

Wyden and Merkley Introduce Legislation to Check Presidential Power Under the Insurrection Act

June 23, 2025

The senators are introducing legislation in the wake of Donald Trump deploying 2,000 more troops to Los Angeles Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore.) said today they have joined 20 senators to introduce legislation that would limit the president’s unrestrained authority under the 217-year-old