See how Tammy Baldwin's votes line up with your values.
DeepSyte scores Tammy Baldwin's record on the issues you care about — not party, not press releases. Take the 2-minute values quiz to see your personal alignment.
Sign in and take the values quiz to see how Tammy Baldwin's votes line up with your views.
Prediction track record
How often we called Tammy Baldwin's passage votes correctly, from their stated positions on each bill's tagged topics. Excludes “unclear” calls and abstentions.
100%
Accuracy
1
Correct
0
Incorrect
382
Pending
Right119-sjres-184
A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
Based on 8 data points across public statements and recorded votes · AI analysis of public records
119-sjres-184·Consistent
A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
95/100
What they said
Sep 24, 2026
Senator Baldwin opposes the ongoing war in Iran and advocates for passage of a War Powers Resolution to end it. She argues the war has imposed significant costs on American taxpayers, Wisconsin families, and businesses through increased fuel prices and military expenditures.
Voted Yea on A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
Senator Baldwin's statement explicitly advocates for passage of a War Powers Resolution to end the war in Iran, citing costs to taxpayers and Wisconsin families. The bill is precisely that resolution—directing removal of U.S. Armed Forces from Iran absent congressional authorization. Her yes vote on passage directly aligns with her stated position opposing the war and supporting the resolution's passage.
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services".
92/100
What they said
Jun 24, 2026
Senator Baldwin opposes the Dobbs decision and calls for federal law to protect abortion access nationwide, stating that the government should not make reproductive decisions for women and that constitutional and statutory protections are needed to guarantee abortion rights.
Voted Nay on A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services".
Senator Baldwin's statement opposes abortion restrictions and calls for federal protections guaranteeing abortion access. The bill nullifies a VA rule that expands abortion-related care for veterans. Baldwin's NO vote rejects the nullification, thereby supporting the VA rule that provides abortion services. Her vote and stated position are directly aligned on the specific question of whether abortion access should be protected and expanded.
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services".
92/100
What they said
Jun 23, 2026
Senator Baldwin supports federal legislation to help women access abortion care by offsetting travel costs and funding training for healthcare providers in states with abortion restrictions.
Voted Nay on A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services".
Senator Baldwin's statement supports federal legislation to expand access to abortion care and help women overcome barriers to obtaining reproductive services. The bill is a congressional disapproval resolution that would nullify a VA rule authorizing abortion-related care for veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries. Baldwin's NO vote on the disapproval resolution is consistent with her stated position: voting against nullification preserves the VA's authority to provide abortion care, directly supporting her stated goal of expanding access to abortion services.
A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
88/100
What they said
Aug 14, 2026
Senator Baldwin opposes the Trump Administration's Iran War and supports legislation to prevent the Pentagon from reclassifying or hiding casualty figures from that conflict. She argues the war was poorly prepared, has caused significant casualties, and that the administration is attempting to obscure its human and financial costs.
Voted Yea on A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
Senator Baldwin's statement opposes Trump's Iran War and criticizes the administration for concealing its costs and casualties. The bill she voted for directs removal of U.S. Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in Iran, invoking the War Powers Resolution. Her YES vote on the removal resolution aligns with her stated opposition to the war and her call for accountability. The statement focuses on casualty transparency and ending the war; the bill addresses the legal authorization and removal of forces. Both reflect opposition to the conflict, though they address somewhat different mechanisms (transparency/accountability vs. force removal).
Senator Baldwin opposes the Dobbs decision and calls for federal law to protect abortion access nationwide, stating that the government should not make reproductive decisions for women and that constitutional and statutory protections are needed to guarantee abortion rights.
Senator Baldwin's statement opposes restrictions on abortion access and calls for federal protections of abortion rights. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act establishes criminal penalties for healthcare practitioners who fail to provide care to children born alive after abortion attempts. Baldwin voted no on cloture, blocking the bill's advancement. While the vote is procedural rather than a direct passage vote, her opposition to the bill aligns with her stated position that the government should not interfere with reproductive decisions and healthcare. The bill's focus on post-birth care requirements and criminal penalties represents the type of governmental restriction on abortion-related care that Baldwin opposes.
Senator Baldwin opposes the Trump Administration's decision to allocate only $2 million in USDA rural housing loan funding to Wisconsin this year, down from an average of $13.1 million in previous years, and criticizes the Administration for failing to spend nearly half of the $1 billion Congress appropriated for the program nationwide.
The statement criticizes Trump Administration decisions in 2026 regarding USDA rural housing funding allocation. The bill is a 2024 omnibus appropriations act that includes the Agriculture, Rural Development appropriations division, which would fund the USDA Single Family Housing program Baldwin references. Baldwin's YES cloture vote in 2024 is consistent with supporting appropriations for rural housing programs broadly, but the vote is procedural (cloture on passage) rather than a direct substantive choice, and the bill predates the 2026 funding allocation decisions Baldwin criticizes. The specific question—whether to appropriate funds for rural housing in 2024—aligns directionally with Baldwin's stated support for the program, but the cloture vote does not directly address the 2026 administrative allocation choices that prompted the statement.
A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.
45/100
What they said
Oct 1, 2026
Senator Baldwin and colleagues oppose Department of Homeland Security efforts to assert federal control over elections, condition federal grants on voter data sharing, and deploy immigration enforcement agents to polling places. They call for the department to halt these activities and release withheld FEMA funding to states.
Both the statement and bill address election administration, but they target different specific questions. The statement opposes DHS efforts to control elections, condition grants on voter data sharing, and deploy immigration enforcement at polls. The bill would require photo ID for voting. Baldwin's NO vote on the cloture motion is consistent with opposing voter ID requirements (a restrictive voting measure), which aligns with her broader stated concern about election integrity and federal overreach. However, the cloture vote is procedural rather than a direct passage vote, and the bill's specific photo ID requirement is not explicitly mentioned in the statement, creating ambiguity about whether the NO vote reflects opposition to the ID requirement itself or to the bill's procedural path.
A joint resolution directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Syria that have not been authorized by Congress.
45/100
What they said
Aug 14, 2026
Senator Baldwin opposes the Trump Administration's Iran War and supports legislation to prevent the Pentagon from reclassifying or hiding casualty figures from that conflict. She argues the war was poorly prepared, has caused significant casualties, and that the administration is attempting to obscure its human and financial costs.
Voted Nay on A joint resolution directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Syria that have not been authorized by Congress.
Both the statement and bill address unauthorized military operations and congressional oversight of war, but they concern different conflicts and different legislative mechanisms. The statement opposes Trump's Iran War and supports transparency/accountability for casualty reporting; the bill directs withdrawal from Syria operations lacking congressional authorization. Baldwin's NO vote on the Syria withdrawal resolution is inconsistent with her stated commitment to ending unauthorized wars and holding the administration accountable, though the bill addresses a different theater and the vote's procedural context (timing, amendments, bundled provisions) is unclear from the record alone.
Pairs with ambiguous language and high uncertainty are withheld until more data is available. Procedural, cloture, and amendment votes are excluded — they don't cleanly signal substantive support or opposition.
Pro analysis
AI rep analysis — Pro
Get an AI-narrated read on Tammy Baldwin's full voting record against your stated values — aligned themes, conflicts, notable votes, and what to watch for.
We haven't extracted campaign positions for Tammy Baldwin yet. Once their campaign website or position pages are processed, this card will track what they said vs how they voted.
Crossing the aisle
No party-break passage votes recorded for Tammy Baldwin. Either they've voted with Democrats on every substantive passage vote in the corpus, or their tenure overlaps few high-threshold party-line votes so far.
Baldwin, Evers Secure Nearly $220 Million for Passenger Rail Between Chicago and Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dane Counties | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Position: The release announces federal funding of over $218 million for the Hiawatha West passenger rail project between Chicago and Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dane Counties, and states support for expanding passenger and freight rail in Wisconsin.
Hiawatha West Project will build out train route from Chicago to Madison, while also improving freight rail safety, speeds, and reliability
WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced they have successfully secured over $218 million in federal funds to expand Amtrak’s Hiawatha passenger rail service in Wisconsin while strengthening a critical freight corridor that supports Wisconsin's economy. Specifically, a Federal Railroad Administration program will fund the final design and construction of the Hiawatha West Project, creating an intercity passenger service between Chicago and Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dane Counties. The Hiawatha West Project, which is funded by the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual government funding bills, will also improve freight rail safety, speeds, and reliability, create 200 permanent jobs, and spur $46 million in annual economic benefits.
“Expanding passenger rail means more safe, easy ways to get to and from work or school, more tourists coming into our communities and buying things in our shops, and more good-paying jobs across our state,” said Senator Baldwin. “For our agricultural and manufacturing businesses that use freight rail, this investment will reduce delays and give them reliability and confidence that their products are getting in the hands of customers on time. I am proud to work with Governor Evers to bring home this investment to get folks where they need to go safely, support our Main Street businesses, and keep Wisconsin’s agricultural and manufacturing industries the powerhouses they are.”
“We’ve been working hard to build the safe, reliable 21st-century infrastructure needed to support Wisconsin’s growing 21st-century economy and workforce, and we’re excited to move this critical project forward to do just that,” said Gov. Evers. “We’re creating new passenger rail opportunities for folks to get to and from work, school, and other activities, all while creating 200 good-paying, family-supporting jobs that fuel our economy, and that’s a win-win for Wisconsin. I’m grateful for all the good work Sen. Baldwin and the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have done to support essential projects like these across our state.”
Senator Baldwin advocated to the Trump Administration to fund this project, citing increased tourism and economic activity along the route, reduced delays and improved reliability for Wisconsin’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors, and increased safe transportation options for families and workers.
The federal funding comes from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program and will be used to rehabilitate and expand the capacity of track, bridges, and crossings, and construct new intercity passenger rail stations. CRISI is supported by the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which all of Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation voted against, and also Fiscal Year 2025 and Fiscal Year 2026 annual government funding bills, which Senator Baldwin voted for.
The investment comes after Baldwin and Evers recently secured more than $140 million from the Federal Railroad Administration to update up to 41 passenger locomotives, which serve Amtrak’s Midwest and Pacific Northwest routes, including the Milwaukee-Chicago Hiawatha route.
Senator Baldwin Brings Home $34 Million to Repair and Upgrade Green Bay Rail Bridge, Improve Safety and Reliability | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Position: Senator Baldwin announces $34 million in federal CRISI grant funding to repair and modernize the Luxemburg Swing Bridge in Green Bay, citing safety, reliability, and the economic importance of freight rail for Wisconsin businesses.
A new Luxemburg Swing Bridge will strengthen freight rail infrastructure, reduce service disruptions, and support Wisconsin businesses
WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced she helped secure $34 million in federal funding for the Fox Valley and Lake Superior Rail System (FOXY) to repair and upgrade the Luxemburg Swing Bridge over the Fox River in Green Bay, improving safety and reliability for freight rail and maritime traffic. The funding comes through the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual government funding bills and will help upgrade the aging bridge, reduce service disruptions, and strengthen a critical transportation link for Wisconsin businesses.
“Wisconsin businesses rely on our railways and waterways to get their Made in Wisconsin products to customers across the country,” said Senator Baldwin. “But when aging infrastructure causes delays and disruptions, it hurts our businesses, costs them time and money, and makes it harder for them to compete. That’s why I’m proud to bring home this investment to repair and modernize this critical bridge, keep folks safe, and make sure Wisconsin businesses have the reliable infrastructure they need to grow and succeed.”
“The Fox Valley & Lake Superior Rail System (FOXY) is thrilled to accept this federal award and thanks Senator Baldwin for her strong support,” said Ken Lucht, Assistant Vice-President of Government Affairs for Watco. “A resilient and modernized freight rail network has a direct positive impact on our economy and public safety throughout Brown County.”
Built in 1923, the Luxemburg Swing Bridge plays a critical role in connecting businesses in Green Bay and Brown County to freight rail service, including Wisconsin's transportation and paper industries. The bridge currently carries over 25,000 carloads of freight annually; however, after more than a century of service, the bridge is in need of critical repairs to ensure it can continue serving Wisconsin businesses.
The $34 million investment from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program will support the rehabilitation and modernization of the Luxemburg Swing Bridge, including upgrades to its mechanical, electrical, and structural components to improve safety and reliability. The improvements will help eliminate frequent service interruptions to freight rail and maritime commerce and allow the bridge to accommodate railcars weighing up to 286,000 pounds.
In June, Senator Baldwin advocated to the Trump Administration for the project’s funding, citing the widespread consequences for Wisconsin businesses if the bridge were to fail.
Baldwin, Murray Call on Education Department to Abandon Latest Tactic to Cut Grant Funding to Communities | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Position: Senators Baldwin and Murray urge the Department of Education to reverse its policy of frontloading multi-year grants, arguing it reduces the number of communities and students receiving federal education funding and conflicts with congressional intent.
Funding for program at Madison College to provide childcare for student parents was cut as the admin is preventing over $600 million from reaching schools and students this year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called on Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon to reverse the department’s policy that is dramatically reducing the number of recipients of federal funding. This concerted effort to get fewer grants and fewer resources to local communities is in line with the Administration’s stated goal to shutter the Department of Education entirely.
The Department of Education significantly expanded its use of “frontloading” grants— the tactic wherein it pays for a multi-year grant fully up front instead of one year at a time, thereby dramatically decreasing the number of grants it awards—across a number of grant programs in unprecedented ways in Fiscal Year 2026. This has occurred at the same time the Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget are seeking broader authority to terminate grants, raising the specter that they will terminate some of these grants in the future, and the funding will never reach communities that need it—yet another backdoor way of withholding appropriated funding.
“This administration has chosen—brazenly and repeatedly—to prioritize its own backwards agenda over the needs of students, families, and communities across the United States. The Department of Education’s extensive ‘frontloading’ of grants is just the latest example,” wrote the Senators in a letter to Sec. of Education Linda McMahon. “By ‘frontloading’ grants—paying out many years of a multi-year grant in one lump sum instead of funding a larger number of grants right now—your Department is dramatically reducing the number of students and schools that are helped by federal funding. This policy defies congressional intent and effectively cuts investment in communities across the country.”
Senator Baldwin’s office has heard directly from Wisconsin schools whose funding was impacted by the Trump administration’s decision, including Madison Area Technical College, for a program to help low-income student parents access childcare while pursuing higher education. While the program had previously been awarded a competitive grant and funded on an annual basis from Fiscal Year 2022 to Fiscal Year 2026, they were not selected for funding when reapplying for the grant as the Trump Administration dramatically cut the number of programs they funded in the childcare access program. In their letter, Murray and Baldwin explain how frontloading grants for several programs resulted in a steep drop-off in awards made in fiscal year 2026.
“Instead of deploying funds immediately to hundreds of additional communities for essential education and related services, the Department is withholding approximately $630 million in appropriated resources across approximately 35 grant programs, preventing those funds from reaching students and families now. These are all programs where the Department has historically funded grants on an annual basis,” wrote the Senators. “If the Department continued that practice in administering these programs, the Department could have awarded well over 1,000 additional grants this year, supporting everything from evidence-based student literacy programs, to improving student mental health, to recruiting and preparing high-quality teachers, to supporting additional education research and to helping first-generation students succeed in college.”
“This policy is indefensible. The Department must immediately abandon this approach and administer appropriated funds in full alignment with both the law and the needs of the communities that rely on these programs,” they concluded.
“We can’t move forward on equitable access to student success and workforce development in Wisconsin while ignoring the basic supports that make that happen. Losing CCAMPIS funding threatens to interrupt Madison College students’ education at the very moment they are building a better future for their families. We must work together on a solution for student parents to keep learning, complete their credentials and contribute to Wisconsin’s economic prosperity,” said Dr. Jennifer Berne, President of Madison Area Technical College.
The full letter is available here and below:
This administration has chosen—brazenly and repeatedly—to prioritize its own backwards agenda over the needs of students, families, and communities across the United States. The Department of Education’s (Department) extensive “frontloading” of grants is just the latest example. By “frontloading” grants—paying out many years of a multi-year grant in one lump sum instead of funding a larger number of grants right now—your Department is dramatically reducing the number of students and schools that are helped by federal funding. This policy defies congressional intent and effectively cuts investment in communities across the country: the Department could have funded well over 1,000 more grants by committing funds for use without delay. The Department should immediately reverse this deeply misguided and unacceptable approach to implementation of federal appropriations, including funds provided in the FY2026 appropriations law.
In implementing this policy, the Department is intentionally and sharply limiting the number of new grants it will award, by concentrating funds into fewer grants and withholding significant portions of appropriated resources for use in future budget periods. The decisions made to frontload a huge swath of departmental grants came just weeks after the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Services and Acting Secretary of Labor wrote a letter to Congressional leadership touting the purported success of the illegal interagency agreements (IAAs) they have reached, which highlighted there were “record application levels” for certain grant competitions compared to prior years. Needless to say: record application levels are meaningless to students and families when the Department is choosing to fund fewer new grants under these competitions.
This policy blatantly disregards congressional directives and withholds urgently needed federal resources from the very communities these programs are meant to serve. Instead of deploying funds immediately to hundreds of additional communities for essential education and related services, the Department is withholding approximately $630 million in appropriated resources across approximately 35 grant programs, preventing those funds from reaching students and families now. These are all programs where the Department has historically funded grants on an annual basis—if the Department continued that practice in administering these programs, the Department could have awarded well over 1,000 additional grants this year, supporting everything from evidence-based student literacy programs, to improving student mental health, to recruiting and preparing high-quality teachers, to supporting additional education research and to helping first-generation students succeed in college.
This policy is indefensible. The Department must immediately abandon this approach and administer appropriated funds in full alignment with both the law and the needs of the communities that rely on these programs. Congress expects no less, and the public deserves no less.
Last year, the Department stated that literacy was its top priority. Yet its recent actions tell a different story. The FY2026 appropriations law provided $30 million for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program, which supports improved literacy for children and students from birth through 12th grade—including strengthening school libraries and expanding early literacy services in low-income communities nationwide. When the Department issued its grant competition notice earlier this year, it indicated that it would make 25 to 35 new awards using these funds. Unfortunately, just weeks ago, the Department announced that it would make only four new awards and would set aside $13 million for future years of these grants. Those funds could have been used to make roughly 25 additional awards. It is inexplicable that a Department claiming literacy as its top priority would so drastically limit the number of new grants supporting evidence-based literacy programming. In addition, the number of new awards is also a dramatic reduction from the last grant competitions under the Biden administration in FY2023 when 12 new awards were made and FY2021 when 29 new awards were made with total IAL program funding at the same or a smaller level. This Department of Education is doing significantly less to support evidence-based literacy despite its claim of “supercharging” evidence-based literacy programming.
Sadly, the Department also has chosen to restrict grants that support child care for low-income student parents so they can pursue postsecondary education and workforce training. Congress provided $75 million to the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS) in the final FY2026 appropriations law, funding that is critical to ensuring low-income students receive the support they need while attending college. The Department estimated it would make 148 awards with the CCAMPIS appropriation when it published the notice inviting applications earlier this year and did not announce an intention to frontload. Yet, when the Department announced the new CCAMPIS grantees for FY2026, it made only 40 total new awards and set aside $53 million for future years of these grants. It is perplexing that an Administration that says it wants to improve affordability for Americans and help Americans find good-paying jobs would curtail a program that helps Americans afford higher education and workforce training.
In addition, there are widespread teacher shortages facing our local public schools. According to a recent analysis of Department data, there are an estimated 425,412 teaching positions either unfilled or filled by teachers not fully certified for their assignments, representing about 1 in 8 of all teaching positions nationally. Yet, the Department restricted the number of new grants to help train effective educators through the Supporting Effective Educator Development program this year, limiting it to just 16 new awards when it could have funded dozens more. Similarly, the Department only awarded 12 grants under the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program and set aside $59 million of the $70 million appropriation for future years of these grants. Sadly, the Department also chose to front load most of the appropriation for the Augustus Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program which supports teacher preparation programs in minority-serving institutions, by setting aside over $14 million for future years.
Finally, while state and local education leaders and educators continue to face an ongoing and urgent need for actionable evidence on challenges for education policy and practice, the administration has basically shuttered its research arm, the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) since last January. IES chose not to make new awards from grant competitions posted in 2024 to which institutions had already applied for funding and issued no new awards from grant competitions in FY2026. As a result, IES simply frontloaded existing research grants in order to meet its spending requirement by September 30, 2026. Unfortunately, this same story is repeated throughout the Department’s mishandling of many grant programs this year.
There is no meaningful benefit to this policy change, and certainly nothing that outweighs the significant costs of withholding this funding. The Department is doing this because it wants to eliminate the Department of Education, eliminate these programs, and significantly cut funding for schools. It does not increase certainty for grantees because at the same time, the Department and Office of Management and Budget are both proposing changes to grants management rules that empower agencies to terminate grants for any reason. This suggests even more nefarious motives—awarding funding that can only be used in future years now while empowering agencies to terminate that very funding in the future before it ever reaches students and schools.
The Department has proposed to rewrite the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) that govern grant programs Congress has authorized it to administer. One of the major changes in the EDGAR proposal would allow the Secretary of Education to terminate multi-year grants “for convenience”. OMB has proposed similar changes in its federal financial assistance regulation that would rewrite uniform guidance governing grants management government-wide. That proposed rule would empower political appointees to terminate grants for any reason. If the proposed changes to EDGAR or OMB's uniform guidance were to go into effect, this means the Department could easily terminate all these frontloaded funds, effectively terminating a large swath of FY2026 funds that Congress appropriated on a bipartisan basis. This would also make it more difficult for grantees to hire staff and plan to achieve grant objectives as efficiently and effectively as possible. And it would mean that the Department could satisfy Congressional requirements to obligate funds for programs and activities and later turn around and terminate the very grants that were made to satisfy Congressional spending requirements in future fiscal years.
Students deserve timely access to evidence-based literacy resources; parents deserve access to childcare services that allow them to pursue postsecondary education; and all students should have a classroom staffed by a high-quality educator. Congress provided resources for these purposes, and the Department has an obligation—not an option—to use them accordingly.
Baldwin Secures $15 Million to Improve Highway Safety and Expand Truck Parking Along I-41 in Dodge County | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Position: The release announces $15 million in federal INFRA grant funding to expand truck parking and improve rest areas along I-41 in Dodge County, citing highway safety and supply chain needs.
Baldwin-backed investment will expand two rest areas to prevent shoulder parking, improve road safety, and support Wisconsin supply chains and businesses
WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced she successfully secured $15 million in federal funding to boost highway safety, improve two rest areas, and expand truck parking along Interstate 41 in Dodge County. Senator Baldwin advocated for the funding to the Trump Administration, citing the corridor’s essential role in connecting Wisconsin manufacturing and agricultural industries to markets and the need to keep truck drivers and roadways safe. The funding comes through the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects (INFRA) grant program, which received an influx of resources through the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Wisconsin truck drivers work hard every day to deliver the goods we rely on, support our farmers and manufacturers, and keep our Made in Wisconsin economy moving forward,” said Senator Baldwin. “But when truck drivers can't find a safe place to pull over and rest, it puts them and everyone else on the road at risk. That's why I am proud to bring home this investment that will give truck drivers more safe places to rest, help prevent accidents that clog up our highways and put folks in harm’s way, and make our roads safer for everyone who uses them.”
“WisDOT is thrilled to receive this grant to help transform two more safety rest areas in Wisconsin into modernized, safer, and accessible facilities,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “We’ve already seen success applying previously awarded federal grants to upgrade safety rest areas with accessible facilities and extra truck parking in Sparta, Denmark, and Maribel. We know access to truck parking is critical to the success of Wisconsin’s manufacturers, farmers, and businesses. WisDOT’s recently completed truck parking study documented a lack of truck parking in areas of the state. This grant will help directly address that issue by adding more than 100 truck parking spaces between the two safety rest areas along a rural stretch of I-41 in Dodge County. We’re excited to get to work and make these improvements.”
According to WisDOT, the I-41 corridor carries approximately 35,400 vehicles per day, with commercial trucks accounting for 33-37% of traffic, connecting Wisconsin's manufacturing and agricultural industries to domestic and global markets. However, a lack of reliable truck parking contributes to unauthorized shoulder or ramp parking, putting truck drivers and American families at risk. Per WisDOT, in Wisconsin between 2017 and June 2025, approximately 93% of fatal crashes and 92% of injury crashes involving a parked CMV (Commercial Motor Vehicle) occurred when the CMV was parked in an unauthorized location.
The Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law increased INFRA’s budget over five years by 78%, investing approximately $8 billion into the grant program. In July, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urging him to support this project.
NEW: Trump Threatens Survival of Initiative Baldwin Created to Support American Dairy | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Position: Senator Baldwin opposes a Trump Administration USDA policy requiring a 25 percent matching fund requirement for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, arguing it threatens the program's survival and harms small and mid-sized dairy farmers already struggling with trade tariffs and high fuel costs.
Baldwin demands Trump USDA reverse course on policy that deliberately threatens support and funding for small- and mid-sized dairies
WISCONSIN – Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is demanding the Trump Administration reverse course on a policy that threatens to shut down the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, a program Senator Baldwin created to help small- and medium-sized dairy businesses expand their product line and diversify their revenue streams. On September 30, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rolled out a new unattainable requirement that the four Dairy Business Innovation Initiative Centers, one of which is in Wisconsin, provide a 25 percent match for federal funding. All four centers – through which DBII funding is awarded – have warned they do not have the capital to comply with this requirement, threatening their ability to provide grants to family farms and small dairy businesses.
“By requiring each Dairy Business Innovation Center to provide a match that Congress never intended and centers do not have the resources to meet, USDA is threatening the program’s survival and the success of the farmers and producers that it supports,” wrote Senator Baldwin in a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This new financial hurdle comes at a time when dairy farmers are already struggling financially with fewer market opportunities and record-high fuel prices amid President Trump’s trade war and war in Iran. I urge USDA to reverse this new requirement and ensure that the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives may continue providing a lifeline for dairy farmers and processors when they need it most.”
Last month, USDA issued the Fiscal Year 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity to the four Dairy Business Innovation Centers in Wisconsin, Vermont, Tennessee and California, and for the first time, attached a new requirement that the centers provide a 25 percent cash match—up to $1 million from each center—in order to receive federal funds that support dairy businesses. The centers have indicated they do not have the capital available to meet this new matching requirement, putting the future of the program at risk. This comes after the Trump Administration chose to freeze funding for the program in early 2025. USDA finally released funds after Baldwin demanded they restart payments that had already been awarded to farmers.
In her letter, Senator Baldwin requested that USDA reissue the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives without the new matching requirement. Senator Baldwin also highlighted how this new requirement comes as President Trump’s war in Iran and tariffs are jacking up the cost of diesel, fertilizer, and transportation for Wisconsin farmers.
“The Administration’s decision to put new barriers in the way of assistance for dairy farmers comes when they can afford it the least. Wisconsin farmers do backbreaking work to produce world-class products that feed the world. The President came into office promising to support our farmers but instead has taken every opportunity to make their livelihoods increasingly more difficult. Between the trade war and unnecessary war in Iran, Wisconsin farmers are paying more for everything. I request that the Administration reverse course on this decision,” Senator Baldwin concluded.
DBII is a lifeline for dairy farmers and processors, providing direct farm technical assistance, business consulting, strategic planning, marketing, product development, and distribution. DBI centers have awarded more than $106 million in grants to 911 dairy businesses since 2019. Additionally, a significant portion of Dairy Business Innovation funds are dedicated as small-dollar grants to small- and medium-sized, family-owned businesses. Senator Baldwin successfully created the DBI Initiatives through the Dairy Business Innovation Act in 2018, which passed as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.
“Many dairy farmers and processors are struggling to make it right now, faced with soaring fuel prices, the volatility of trade and tariffs, and a labor shortage. They need the support Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives provide now more than ever – and they know that adding a cost-share provision to the program will end it,” said Rebekah Sweeney, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association senior director of programs and policy. “We are grateful Sen. Baldwin is giving voice to this concern, and we urge every member of Congress to work to see this provision removed – and full funding restored.”
Full text of the letter can be found here.
I am writing to raise serious concerns about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) newly imposed matching requirement on the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII), which threatens to undermine a proven resource of funding that supports dairy farmers and processors in Wisconsin and across the country. By requiring each Dairy Business Innovation Center to provide a match that Congress never intended and centers do not have the resources to meet, USDA is threatening the program’s survival and the success of the farmers and producers that it supports. This new financial hurdle comes at a time when dairy farmers are already struggling financially with fewer market opportunities and record-high fuel prices amid President Trump’s trade war and war in Iran. I urge USDA to reverse this new requirement and ensure that the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives may continue providing a lifeline for dairy farmers and processors when they need it most.
Last month, USDA issued the Fiscal Year 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity to the four Dairy Business Innovation Centers in Wisconsin, Vermont, Tennessee and California, and for the first time, attached a new requirement that the centers provide a 25 percent cash match—up to $1 million from each center. USDA indicated in their notice that the agency would only accept cash and would refuse any in-kind contribution, such as technical assistance, to meet the requirement. The centers do not have the capital available to meet this new matching requirement, putting the future of the program at risk. Congress has consistently supported the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives on a bipartisan basis and has provided funding for the program without requiring centers to provide a cash match. By imposing this new requirement, USDA is adding a financial condition that Congress never intended and that could effectively bring a successful, bipartisan program to an end.
I request that USDA reissue the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives without the new matching requirement. These initiatives are a lifeline to dairy farmers and processors in over 40 states by providing direct farm technical assistance, business consulting, strategic planning, marketing, product development, and distribution. Additionally, a significant portion of Dairy Business Innovation funds are dedicated as small-dollar grants to small- and medium-sized, family-owned businesses. These dairy businesses provide job opportunities in rural communities and help their economies thrive.
The Administration’s decision to put new barriers in the way of assistance for dairy farmers comes when they can afford it the least. Wisconsin farmers do backbreaking work to produce world-class products that feed the world. The President came into office promising to support our farmers but instead has taken every opportunity to make their livelihoods increasingly more difficult. Between the trade war and unnecessary war in Iran, Wisconsin farmers are paying more for everything. I request that the Administration reverse course on this decision
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
NEWS: Baldwin Calls Out Trump Admin for Canceling $1.5 Million in Funding for Appleton Airport | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Position: Senator Baldwin opposes the Trump Administration's cancellation of $1.5 million in federal funding for an energy efficiency and resilience project at Appleton International Airport, arguing the decision is politically motivated and harmful to the local economy.
WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is calling out the Trump Administration for canceling $1.5 million in federal funding for the Appleton International Airport that would have helped the airport cut energy costs and improve resiliency.
“The Appleton International Airport plays a critical role for the Fox Valley economy – bringing visitors and tourism dollars into our communities, connecting local businesses to customers and markets, and supporting good-paying jobs,” said Senator Baldwin. “Now, President Trump is playing politics and shutting down a commonsense project that would modernize the airport and lower energy costs for years to come. This is flat out wrong, and the administration should reverse this decision immediately. Wisconsin families deserve to have their hard-earned dollars invested back in their communities, and I’m going to keep fighting to do just that.”
The $1.5 million was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and would have been used to install a solar array and microgrid system with battery storage. The project would enhance sustainability and ensure that the Airport remains operational during grid outages and adverse weather conditions. The Trump Administration’s Department of Transportation (DOT) discontinued the grant, claiming that the project did not meet agency priorities.
Baldwin Demands Answers from Verizon on Plans to End Landline Service | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Position: Senator Baldwin expresses concern that Verizon's planned discontinuance of copper-based landline service in Wisconsin could leave rural residents without reliable phone service, particularly for emergencies, and calls on Verizon to ensure adequate replacement service is in place before retiring copper facilities.
Baldwin raises concerns that rural Wisconsinites could be left without reliable phone service, including during emergencies
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) demanded answers from Verizon CEO Dan Schulman regarding the company’s plan to transition away from copper-based voice service, raising concerns that some Wisconsinites could be left without reliable phone service if an adequate alternative is not in place, particularly in rural areas where wireless or other replacement services may be limited. Baldwin’s call comes as Verizon plans to retire copper facilities at 136 Wisconsin wire centers and discontinue traditional landline service.
"While I recognize the need to modernize aging telecommunications infrastructure, I am concerned that some affected Wisconsinites, particularly those in rural areas, may not have access to an immediate, adequate and reliable replacement service,” wrote Senator Baldwin in the letter to Verizon CEO Dan Schulman. “These concerns are especially important where customers rely on landline service for emergency communications."
"I request that Verizon commit to ensuring that no Wisconsin customer loses copper-based voice service until an adequate replacement has been successfully installed and activated,” Baldwin concluded.
Despite Verizon’s assurances, Wisconsin communities remain concerned that available alternatives may be inadequate because of geographic limitations, high costs associated with certain replacement options, and existing gaps in reliable cellular coverage.
In her letter, Senator Baldwin pressed Verizon to answer several questions about its plans to retire copper-based telephone service across Wisconsin, including:
Full text of the letter is available here and below.
I am reaching out regarding Verizon’s planned discontinuance of legacy telecommunications services, including Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) and Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), and the related retirement of copper facilities across Wisconsin. As part of Verizon and Frontier Communications’ Section 214 discontinuance application (WC Docket No. 26-170), Verizon may begin discontinuing covered TDM/POTS voice services on or after November 16, 2026. Separately, Verizon has announced plans to retire remaining copper facilities at 136 wire centers across Wisconsin. While I recognize the need to modernize aging telecommunications infrastructure, I am concerned that some affected Wisconsinites, particularly those in rural areas, may not have access to an immediate, adequate and reliable replacement service. These concerns are especially important where customers rely on landline service for emergency communications.
To better understand how Verizon intends to protect affected customers during this transition, I request that you provide answers to the following questions:
I request that Verizon commit to ensuring that no Wisconsin customer loses copper-based voice
service until an adequate replacement has been successfully installed and activated.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and I look forward to your response.
NEWS: Baldwin Blasts Trump Admin for Slashing $11 Million in Rural Housing Funding for Wisconsin | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Position: Senator Baldwin opposes the Trump Administration's decision to allocate only $2 million in USDA rural housing loan funding to Wisconsin this year, down from an average of $13.1 million in previous years, and criticizes the Administration for failing to spend nearly half of the $1 billion Congress appropriated for the program nationwide.
Wisconsin received 85% less in funding for rural home loans this year, only $2 million this year compared to an average of $13.1 million in previous years
WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is calling out the Trump Administration for slashing $11 million in federal funding that helps low-income families in rural Wisconsin afford to buy a home. This year, despite the Trump Administration having the resources to fully fund the program across the country, Wisconsin received roughly $2 million through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans program, compared to an average of $13.1 million in previous years – a decrease of more than $11 million. Democrats and Republicans in Congress passed a law to provide $1 billion for the program, but President Trump’s USDA refused to allocate nearly half of it.
“Wisconsin families are working harder than ever, but too many folks feel stuck or are falling behind with the rising costs of just about everything. The price of housing is crushing families and is putting the dream of homeownership further and further out of reach,” said Senator Baldwin. “And for folks in our rural areas – which is about 1 in 4 Wisconsinites – this pinch can drive them out of the places they love and out of Wisconsin’s iconic agriculture economy. Instead of helping these folks afford the roof over their heads, the Trump Administration is making matters worse by slashing resources that help working families in our rural communities afford a home. The Trump administration has the money, but they are making an active choice not to use it and not to invest in rural America. I’m fighting to bring housing costs down and make sure every Wisconsinite, no matter where they live, has every opportunity to live a good life and own a home.”
The USDA’s Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans program helps low-income families in rural communities get the financing they need to afford a home. The drastic drop in funding for Wisconsin comes as the Trump Administration failed to spend nearly half of the $1 billion Congress provided for the program nationwide. While $250 million of the nearly half billion in unspent funds can be used in the next fiscal year, the Administration allowed more than $230 million in funding to expire, resources that could have helped approximately 850 more rural families across the country afford to buy a home.
Senator Baldwin has long worked to lower housing costs and expand access to affordable homeownership for Wisconsin families. Earlier this year, the Baldwin-backed 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan bill to build more affordable housing and bring down housing costs, became the law of the land.
A state-by-state breakdown comparing funding the Trump Administration has gotten out to help rural families buy homes this year versus the prior-year average is available here.
Baldwin, Colleagues Demand Trump Admin Halt 2026 Election Interference Efforts | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Position: Senator Baldwin and colleagues oppose Department of Homeland Security efforts to assert federal control over elections, condition federal grants on voter data sharing, and deploy immigration enforcement agents to polling places. They call for the department to halt these activities and release withheld FEMA funding to states.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her colleagues are demanding Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin immediately halt the Department’s efforts to assert federal control over and undermine public trust in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
Specifically, the Senators raised concerns about Mullin’s refusal to publicly affirm that the Department will not send ICE or CBP agents to polling places and his unsupported claim that 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote in four states. The Senators are also calling on DHS to rescind new election-related conditions on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) homeland security grants, release the full grant funding to states, and end the alleged “Unlawful Voter Initiative” disclosed by a recent whistleblower.
“We write to warn you against continued activities at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that seek to undermine the Constitutional authority of both Congress and states to administer elections and defy the directions of federal courts. As Secretary of Homeland Security, you have promoted the President’s conspiracy theories about our elections, pressured states to participate in illegal activities, and explicitly threatened to reduce grant funding and initiate criminal investigations for those states that do not comply with the Administration’s demands,” Baldwin and the Senators wrote.
The lawmakers also criticized DHS efforts to pressure states to provide sensitive voter roll information to be run through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, despite the Administration’s acknowledgment of problems with the underlying data.
The Senators further objected to new election-related conditions on FEMA’s Homeland Security Grant Program, which have been retroactively applied to previously awarded Fiscal Year 2025 funding and are threatening Fiscal Year 2026 funding. By threatening to withhold funding that communities rely on to prevent acts of terrorism and other threats, Mullin is putting Americans' safety at risk as political leverage.
The Senators also highlighted allegations from a federal whistleblower about an effort referred to as the “Unlawful Voter Initiative.” According to the whistleblower, USCIS personnel were allegedly directed to use sensitive, personally identifiable information and improperly access state voter registration websites to find non-citizen voters. The whistleblower also alleged that personnel were directed to create law enforcement records using incomplete and unverifiable data for potential referral to law enforcement.
“The 2026 midterm elections are already underway. Your unsubstantiated allegations of noncitizen voter fraud, public recitation of unreliable data, and unwarranted conditioning of continued grant funding for state election security measures on compliance with politically motivated requests for voter data appear to be calculated efforts to undermine confidence in our elections and risks wrongly disenfranchising voters,” the Senators wrote.
The Senators called on Mullin to immediately provide all information substantiating his allegations regarding noncitizens who registered to vote, rescind the unreasonable election-related conditions on FEMA homeland security grants and release all withheld funds to states without further delay; and provide information about the “Unlawful Voter Initiative” and immediately cease its activities.
Full text of the letter is available here and below.
We write to warn you against continued activities at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that seek to undermine the Constitutional authority of both Congress and states to administer elections and defy the directions of federal courts. As Secretary of Homeland Security, you have promoted the President’s conspiracy theories about our elections, pressured states to participate in illegal activities, and explicitly threatened to reduce grant funding and initiate criminal investigations for those states that do not comply with the Administration’s demands.
You have been unwilling to publicly affirm that you will not send U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel to the polls, despite federal law barring their presence. Most recently, you deployed Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents across nine states for a “coordinated criminal voter fraud surge initiative,” despite the lack of verifiable evidence of wide-spread noncitizen voter fraud. Your actions as Secretary are intentionally undermining Americans’ trust in the 2026 midterm elections and appear to purposefully disenfranchise eligible voters. Taken together, these actions amount to an illegal attempt to federalize the administration of the upcoming midterm elections.
At the direction of President Trump, you have endeavored to coerce states into divulging sensitive voter roll information, raising serious concerns about how that information will be stored and used. On March 25, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order No. 14248, which required DHS to compare state voter registration lists against federal immigration databases. The Executive Order was followed by an overhaul of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, which transformed the program from one used for individual benefits eligibility checks to a system that could carry out bulk searches of records using Social Security numbers. Since then, DHS has repeatedly pressured states to share their voter rolls and run them through the modified SAVE program, despite legal concerns and known accuracy issues. You have exerted this pressure despite the fact that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which administers the SAVE program, has acknowledged that its results can be inaccurate. Additionally, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has acknowledged that its citizenship data for naturalized citizens – which is used by the SAVE program – is incomplete and unreliable. Even though the Supreme Court has allowed you to use the SAVE program for now, we remind you of the requirement of the National Voter Registration Act, 52 U. S. C. §20507(c)(2)(A) that bars any systematic removal of ineligible voters within 90 days of Election Day.
On July 17, 2026, you claimed, without evidence, that 250,000 non-citizens were registered to vote in four states. This claim has been refuted, even by other administration officials. For example, you claimed that around 16,000 noncitizens illegally registered to vote in Nevada, but later, other DHS officials alleged the number was only 185. A subsequent review by Nevada state officials found all 185 individuals were U.S. citizens. These states did not agree to give you their sensitive state voter roll information and judges in each state dismissed the Department of Justice’s efforts to access that information. Moreover, elections experts have challenged the legitimacy of these numbers. Considering the inaccuracies in SSA’s citizenship categorizations and the questions surrounding how you obtained the voter roll information needed to analyze this data, we cannot trust the numbers as reported.
Further, under your leadership, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently added new terms and conditions to fiscal year (FY) 2025 and 2026 Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program awards. These are grants provided to states to help them protect their communities from terrorism and other hazards. In the FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), FEMA mandated that 3% of the target allocations for these grants be spent on enhancing election security, including critical activities like hardening election locations. Now, after FY25 agreements have already been signed, this Administration is threatening to withhold a percentage of the funding hostage if recipients do not meet these new, specious requirements, despite serious legal and implementation concerns. FEMA also added requirements to the recently released FY26 Homeland Security Grant Program NOFO, conditioning 20% of the full amount of the grants on states’ compliance with election requirements that states have contested in litigation. DHS’s continued interference with FEMA’s grants puts FEMA’s mission at risk, slows down the administration of grants, and ultimately hurts communities.
Now, a federal whistleblower has alleged that, at the direction of DHS and USCIS leadership, the component’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate staff may have violated laws and DHS policies in furtherance of a new “Unlawful Voter Initiative.” According to the whistleblower, USCIS staff were given a list of names and told to use sensitive personally identifiable information to impersonate voters and access state voter registration websites to verify individuals’ immigration and voter registration statuses. Equipped with incomplete and unverifiable data compiled with “supplemental magic,” USCIS staff are allegedly being directed to create law enforcement records on individuals, including U.S. citizens, for possible referral to HSI for further investigation. If true, this is just another alarming effort by the Department to use data that USCIS materials admit may be inaccurate, coupled with questionable means to potentially disenfranchise voters.
The 2026 midterm elections are already underway. Your unsubstantiated allegations of noncitizen voter fraud, public recitation of unreliable data, and unwarranted conditioning of continued grant funding for state election security measures on compliance with politically motivated requests for voter data appear to be calculated efforts to undermine confidence in our elections and risks wrongly disenfranchising voters.
We are deeply troubled by the actions that you, DHS, and the Trump Administration have taken. As such, we demand that you immediately cease the aforementioned activities and provide us with all information underpinning the allegations made in your July 17, 2026, letter regarding non-citizens registered to vote, rescind Information Bulletin Nos. 569 and 569(a), release all withheld funds to the states without further delay, and provide information about the “Unlawful Voter Initiative.
Thank you for your prompt attention and cooperation in this matter.
NEWS: Baldwin Secures Return of Mental Health Help on 988 for LGBTQ Kids | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Position: Senator Baldwin secured the restoration of specialized mental health crisis services for LGBTQ youth through the 988 lifeline after the Trump Administration had shut down the service. She advocated for and helped enact legislation requiring these services be restored.
Return comes 14 months after the Trump Administration shuttered the service
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After more than a year of pressure from U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), 988’s specialized “Press 3” services for LGBTQ youth resumed today. This news comes after the Trump Administration abruptly canceled “Press 3” over a year ago and has since dragged their feet on following Senator Baldwin's bipartisan law that mandated a return of these services. For more than 14 months, the Trump Administration withheld specialized services for a population that is more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
“Suicide and mental health struggles touch every community across our state, and that’s why creating the 988 crisis lifeline to make sure help is there for everyone is one of my proudest accomplishments,” said Senator Baldwin. “But, last year, the Trump Administration decided to make these real struggles a political football and ripped away the specialized line that helped LGBTQ children. This was a deliberate choice. The Trump Administration chose to put children’s lives on the line to score some political points. I’ve fought tooth and nail to restore this lifesaving resource. When I realized the Trump Administration was not going to do it on their own, I wrote it into federal law to require them to restore the Press 3 option. This lifesaving resource never should have gone away in the first place, but I am glad the lifesaving support Press 3 provides is once again there for people who need it.”
Since the first reports of the Trump Administration’s planned shuttering of 988’s specialized services for LGBTQ youth, Senator Baldwin pushed for the reinstatement, including:
May 2025: Senator Baldwin led her colleagues in slamming the Trump Administration’s plan to take away lifesaving mental health services at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline from LGBTQ youth.
June 2025: Baldwin condemned the Trump Administration’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announcement of their plans to shut down the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ youth in 30 days.
July 2025: On the third anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Baldwin highlighted the Trump Administration’s dangerous decision to cut services for at-risk children.
July 2025: As ranking member of the Senate Labor-HHS (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee, Baldwin helped write and advance a fiscal year 2026 bill providing $535 million for 988—a $15 million increase—and restored dedicated funding for LGBTQ youth specialized services. The bill also rejected proposed cuts to SAMHSA and preserved it as an independent agency.
September 2025: U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced bipartisan legislation, the 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act, to codify the 988 lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ young people.
January 2026: Baldwin released the LHHS bill that provides $535 million, a $15 million increase over fiscal year 2025, for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to provide additional support for the program as reliance on 988 continues to increase since its launch.
January 2026: The Senate passed Baldwin’s bipartisan bill to fund the Department of Health and Human Services. Included in the bill is language mandating the return of 988’s LGBTQ youth specialized services.
April 2026: When Secretary Kennedy testified in front of the Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Baldwin secured a commitment from Secretary Kennedy to follow the law and restore the 988 “Press 3” option.
June 2026: Senator Baldwin toured the 988 call center in Green Bay and held a roundtable with 988 Lifeline staff and local stakeholders about the impact the crisis line has had on mental health outcomes.
July 2026: Baldwin celebrated the fourth anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which came on the heels of a new study that found that since the launch of the three-digit crisis line, youth suicide deaths dropped 11% below projections, saving 4,372 lives.
September 2026: Senator Baldwin questioned several of President Trump’s nominees for positions within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at a Senate hearing and secured commitments that the Trump Administration will restore the ‘Press 3’ option for LGBTQ youth at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by the end of September.
Senator Baldwin wrote and passed the legislation to create the three-digit 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and has led the fight to ensure it gets properly funded each year. To support Wisconsin’s implementation of 988, the Senator also secured over $3 million in dedicated federal funding. When it was established, Baldwin and her Republican counterpart incorporated a specialized service for veterans, who disproportionately have suicidal ideation. Baldwin then successfully stood up a pilot program to address higher rates of suicide and mental health challenges among LGBTQ youth.
As ranking member of LHHS Senator Baldwin fought to secure $535 million for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and to restore dedicated funding for LGBTQ youth specialized services in Fiscal Year 2026 funding legislation.
The demand for 988 continues to rise, with the volume of calls, texts, and chats 15% higher than a year earlier and nearly 50% higher than two years ago. Since the lifeline launched, it has received over 27 million contacts, including over 18 million calls, 4 million texts, and 3 million chats.
Source: GDELT 2.0 GKG, filtered to a curated list of national outlets. Inclusion is not endorsement; opinion pieces and reported news are mixed.
Recent stock activity
Periodic transaction reports filed under the STOCK Act — disclosed by the rep, sourced from public filings.
No disclosed trades on record.
Source: open-data mirrors of the Senate eFD and House Clerk financial-disclosure systems. Disclosure within 30 days of trade is required by law (45 for spouse/dependent trades).
Top PAC donors · 2026 cycle
Political action committees that gave the most to this rep's principal campaign committee this cycle. PAC giving is direct organizational support — industry, ideological, or leadership.
1.DELTA DENTAL PLANS ASSOCIATION PAC1 contribution$5,000
2.ALLIANCE FOR PHARMACY COMPOUNDING PAC (COMP PAC)1 contribution$5,000
3.INGRAM BARGE COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEETransport1 contributionBarge and inland waterway transportation company PAC — supports candidates and policies favoring maritime commerce, infrastructure investment, and river transportation regulation.AI$5,000
4.DIRECT SUPPLY, INC. PARTNERS PAC (DSI PARTNERS PAC)1 contribution$5,000
5.D.R.I.V.E. - DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, INDEPENDENT VOTER EDUCATION (THE PAC OF THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS)Labor1 contributionTrade-union PAC of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters — supports candidates backing union organizing rights, prevailing wages, and worker protections across party lines.AI$5,000
6.UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE2 contributions$5,000
7.WEC ENERGY GROUP PAC2 contributions$3,500
8.CARGILL, INCORPORATED POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE1 contribution$3,000
9.EMPLOYEES OF RTX CORPORATION PAC2 contributions$3,000
10.SCHWAN'S COMPANY PAC1 contribution$2,500
Source: OpenFEC (api.open.fec.gov) Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “committee.” Aggregated by contributing committee. Self-transfers from joint-fundraising / victory committees are excluded.
Top individual contributors · 2026 cycle
Itemized individual contributions over $200 to this rep's campaign committee, aggregated by donor employer. PAC giving is shown above; this section is people, not organizations.
1.MARQUIS MANAGEMENT INC$14,000
2.SELF$13,578
3.EPIC$8,794
4.UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN$6,820
5.OSHKOSH CORPORATION$6,500
6.ULTRATEC INC$6,000
7.APPLE FARM MANAGEMENT INC$5,609
8.URBAN LAND INTERESTS$4,500
9.DB3$4,000
10.ARNOLD VENTURES$3,500
Source: OpenFEC Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “individual,” aggregated by the donor's self-reported employer. This is a geographic / industry correlation, not a corporate endorsement.
