Oversight
Merkley Asks CBO to Detail How Investing in Flood Adaptations Can Affect the Federal Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, requested that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) conduct a study of how federal spending for flood adaptations now is likely to affect the federal budget. Merkley specifically asked CBO to estimate the amount of potential future savings that could accrue to the federal government for every dollar it spends on flood adaptation and mitigation. A previous CBO report published i… Continue Reading
06.16.26
Merkley Opening Statement at Duncan Nomination Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) delivered the following opening statement at the nomination hearing for Hal Duncan to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Sen. Merkley’s remarks, as prepared for delivery follow: Thank you, Chairman Graham. And thank you, Mr. Duncan, for joining us. Today, we will consider your nomination to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. This is a position of immense… Continue Reading
06.09.26
Merkley Responds to Trustees’ Reports That Big, Ugly Betrayal Law Moves Up Insolvency Dates for Social Security, Medicare
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees released their annual reports showing that Social Security’s Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund’s insolvency date moved up one quarter to late 2032, and Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund’s projected insolvency date moved up in 2033. These changes in insolvency dates are due in part to the… Continue Reading
06.05.26
Merkley Statement on Oil and Gas Lease Sales from Republican Big, Ugly Betrayal Law Failing to Meet the Levels Promised
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, released the below statement after the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management released a report stating that oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) totaled $3.7 million, with $1.8 million going to the federal government. This is tens of millions of dollars sho… Continue Reading
06.05.26
Merkley: Republicans Vote to Ignore Working Americans and Cater to Trump’s Demands
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement after Senate Republicans voted to pass their funding bill that will give Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nearly $70 billion. This bill provides zero relief to working families who are facing sky-high costs. “It is insanity to send $70 billion of Americans’ hard-earned money to two rogue agencies that are already sittin… Continue Reading
05.28.26
Warren, Merkley, Schumer, Lawmakers Urge Nonpartisan Congressional Scorekeeper to Determine True Cost of War in Iran
“The American people deserve to know the true costs of this conflict, and they deserve transparency and honesty when their government commits the nation to war.” Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, along with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), led a coalition of lawmakers in urging the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to determine the true cost of war in Iran… Continue Reading
05.21.26
Merkley, Wyden Demand Oz Detail How Health Care Providers’ Personal Information, Including Social Security Numbers, Were Published to Public Portal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, and Ron Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, ask Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to answer for how the highly sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, of health care providers ended up on the public provider directory portal, leaving these providers subject to a substantial risk of identity theft. “Repo… Continue Reading
05.20.26
As Senate Republicans Move to Give ICE, CBP $70 Billion, Agencies Are Sitting on $100 Billion from Previous Reconciliation Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Senate Republicans prepare to pass a funding bill that would give Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nearly $70 billion in new funding, data from the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) SF-133 reports shows that, as of the end of April, the two agencies are sitting on $100 billion in unobligated funding from the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that passed last July. Following this news, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR),… Continue Reading
05.20.26
Merkley Calls on Independent Watchdogs to Probe Trump’s New “Golden Fleet” Battleship Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, called on two independent, nonpartisan agencies—the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)—to investigate President Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Fleet” initiative, including the new Trump-class battleship and frigate that together could cost more than $200 billion. Merkley is requesting in-depth reviews citing the Navy’s decades-long pattern… Continue Reading
05.20.26
Merkley Opening Statement at Budget Committee Markup on Republican ICE and Border Patrol Slush Fund Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at a Senate Budget Committee markup hearing on the Republican bill that would gift Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nearly $70 billion and throw $1 billion at Trump’s gilded ballroom. Sen. Merkley’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow: American families are pressed to the wall. I recently hel… Continue Reading
05.16.26
Leader Schumer, And Ranking Members Merkley, Durbin, Peters, Whitehouse, Heinrich Statement On Successfully Striking GOP’s First Attempt To Fund $1 Billion For Trump’s Gilded Ballroom In Republican Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Nat… Continue Reading
05.16.26
Golden Ballroom Slush Fund Violates Byrd Rule, According to Senate Parliamentarian
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Parliamentarian advised that the provision in the Judiciary Committee title of the Republicans’ bill that provides $1 billion for Trump’s gilded ballroom would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if it remains in the bill. “The American people shouldn’t spend a single dime on Trump’s gold-plated ballroom boondoggle. That’s why in a bill where Republicans are ignoring the needs of working America and instead attempting to funnel a billion dollars into Trump’s L… Continue Reading
05.14.26
Senate Parliamentarian Advises Byrd Rule Violations in Republicans’ ICE and Border Patrol Slush Fund Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Parliamentarian advised that provisions in the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) title of the Republicans’ bill that would gift Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nearly $70 billion in new spending would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if they remain in the bill. “As Senate Democrats warned time and time again, we were prepared to look at every line of this bill to ensure it was co… Continue Reading
05.12.26
CBO Tells Merkley: Trump’s “Golden Dome” Could Cost Taxpayers More Than $1.2 Trillion
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, at the request of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released independent analysis showing that President Trump’s plan to deploy a next-generation missile defense shield—dubbed “Golden Dome”—will cost U.S. taxpayers more than of $1.2 trillion. This is an alarming amount compared to what Trump has previously stated would cost $175 billion. “The President’s so-called ‘Golden D… Continue Reading
05.04.26
Merkley Statement on Republicans’ Bill Gifting ICE, Border Patrol Billions While Ignoring Middle Class Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement after Senate Republicans released bill text that will gift the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nearly $70 billion in new spending. “Now that Republicans have unveiled their bill gifting ICE and Border Patrol nearly $70 billion to continue propping up Trump’s rogue police a… Continue Reading
04.30.26
Merkley Statement on House Passage of Budget Resolution That Ignores the Needs of Working Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement after Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives agreed to the Senate Republican budget resolution that could gift Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) up to $140 billion in new spending. Last week, Merkley unveiled an analysis of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) SF-133 reports showing that, as of the… Continue Reading
04.23.26
Merkley: Republican Budget Resolution Ignores the Needs of Working Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement after Senate Republicans voted to pass their Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Resolution that will enable a reconciliation bill to provide up to $140 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). “During an all-night vote-a-rama, Democrats offered amendment after amendment to correct the course of this bill and meet the needs of … Continue Reading
04.22.26
As Senate Republicans Move to Give ICE, CBP Up to $140 Billion, Data Emerges Showing the Agencies Sitting on Over $100 Billion from Previous Reconciliation Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Senate Republicans prepare to vote on a budget resolution that dictates giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) up to $140 billion in new funding, data from the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) SF-133 reports shows that as of the end of March, the two agencies are sitting on more than $103 billion in unobligated funding from the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that passed last July. Following this news, U.S. Senato… Continue Reading
04.21.26
Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Merkley Releases Statement on Republicans’ Push to Pass a Second Unpopular Reconciliation Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the below statement following the Senate Republicans’ release of a fiscal year 2026 budget resolution to tee up the passage of a second reconciliation bill that would throw up to $140 billion at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). “Last summer, Republicans passed a mega bill betraying hardworking American families, cutting more than $1 … Continue Reading
04.16.26
Merkley Delivers Opening Statement at Oversight Hearing on the President’s Budget Request
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at a Committee oversight hearing on the President’s FY2027 Budget request. Sen. Merkley’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow: Thank you, Chairman Graham, for convening this hearing. And thank you, Director Vought, for being here today to discuss the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2027. Your budget opens with a message from you, in which… Continue Reading