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Prediction track record
How often we called Tammy Duckworth'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
98
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.
To prohibit the disclosure of records by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of individuals for the purposes of immigration enforcement, and for other purposes.
Based on 3 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
May 1, 2026
Senator Duckworth opposes the Trump administration's military action in Iran, characterizing it as an unjustified war of choice that lacks strategic planning, has resulted in military casualties, and diverts resources from Indo-Pacific readiness. She advocates for passage of a War Powers Resolution to cease hostilities.
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 Duckworth's statement explicitly opposes the Trump administration's military action in Iran as an unjustified war of choice lacking strategic planning, and she advocates for passage of a War Powers Resolution to cease hostilities. Her yes vote on S.J.Res. 184, which directs removal of U.S. Armed Forces from Iran hostilities absent congressional authorization, directly aligns with her stated position. Both the statement and vote reflect opposition to the ongoing military operations and support for congressional action to end them.
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
Apr 29, 2026
The senators oppose the ongoing military conflict in Iran as unauthorized under the War Powers Act and call for Congress to pass a War Powers Resolution to immediately end the conflict and withdraw U.S. forces.
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 Duckworth's statement explicitly calls for passage of a War Powers Resolution to end the unauthorized military conflict in Iran and withdraw U.S. forces. Her vote in favor of S.J.Res. 184, which does precisely that by directing removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Iran absent congressional authorization, is directly consistent with her stated position. Both the statement and vote align on the core substantive question of ending the unauthorized war.
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.
92/100
What they said
Aug 24, 2026
The senators call for a congressional hearing to investigate the Trump Administration's handling of extended military deployments in Iran, citing deteriorating conditions, supply shortages, and negative impacts on troop morale, readiness, recruitment, and military families.
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 Duckworth's statement criticizes the Trump Administration's extended, unauthorized military deployments in Iran and calls for investigation into the resulting harm to troops and military readiness. The joint resolution directly addresses the same specific question—whether U.S. Armed Forces should remain engaged in hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization—and mandates their removal. Her yes vote on passage aligns clearly with her stated position opposing the unauthorized, indefinite war and its documented toll on servicemembers.
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.
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Crossing the aisle
No party-break passage votes recorded for Tammy Duckworth. 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.
Following New Reports of Pentagon Covering Up More Troop Casualties in Iran War, Duckworth and Ryan Call on Congress to Pass Their Bill to Ban Pentagon from Manipulating Casualty Records | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
Position: Senator Duckworth and Representative Ryan are calling for Congress to pass the Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act to prevent the Pentagon from manipulating casualty records related to the Iran War and to ensure accurate reporting of servicemember deaths and injuries.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Following new reports that the Pentagon has covered up 4 additional American servicemember deaths in President Donald Trump’s Iran War, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (D-NY-18)—both Iraq War combat Veterans—are calling on Congress to pass their legislation that would prevent the Trump Administration from continuing to do this. The lawmakers’ Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act would ban Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from manipulating casualty records and jeopardizing the benefits of our military families.
“Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth are proving once again they will stop at nothing to hide the true cost of this war from the American people. Reports now indicate as many as 22 of our servicemembers have laid down their lives fighting in a conflict we never should’ve been in. And instead of honoring their sacrifice and telling the truth, this Administration is trying to cover it up in attempt to cover up what a failure they are ahead of an election,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth. “We’ve been here before. Trump tried to hide the deaths of four of our heroes nearly 2 months ago, which is why I wrote the Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act and called for its passage then. Now that it’s clear they’ll keep this up, Congressional Republicans must join us and help immediately pass our legislation to put a stop to this dishonorable playbook for good. Our fallen heroes deserve better than a five-time draft dodger who manipulates their sacrifices this way.”
“Pete Hegseth is engaged in a coverup to downplay his failed leadership when it comes to the war in Iran. We now know that 22 servicemembers made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and fellow soldiers. Instead of honoring their heroism and Patriotism, Trump and Hegseth are trying to sweep it under the rug. They’d rather dishonor our fallen heroes than tell the truth,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “It’s a complete and total betrayal of our servicemembers by the very people that swore to protect and do right by them. This is exactly why I introduced bicameral legislation to force the Pentagon to be honest with the American people about the enormous human cost of this war. Congress must pass our bill and fully honor each and every one of the Patriots who lost their lives in Trump’s war because it’s infuriatingly clear we can’t trust Hegseth to do the right thing.”
To ban the Secretary of Defense from hiding the true cost of war, the Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act would:
The original bill introduction in the Senate came after the Pentagon unprecedentedly recategorized recent casualties suffered in Trump’s Iran war—including four killed and over 200 wounded servicemembers—under a separate category outside Operation Epic Fury in a shameless attempt to downplay the damage done and evade accountability to the American people.
Duckworth, Schumer Call on Airlines to Guarantee That Emergency Medical Kits Aboard Their Commercial Planes Include Life-Saving Epinephrine | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
Position: Senators Duckworth and Schumer call on U.S. airlines to include epinephrine in emergency medical kits aboard commercial aircraft in easily self-administered forms, and oppose the FAA's proposed rule that would not require epinephrine as a standard component.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—and U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today called on every U.S.-based passenger airline to guarantee that the emergency medical kit (EMK) kept on-board their aircraft include epinephrine—a life-saving medication to treat passengers who go into anaphylactic shock—in delivery methods designed that can be easily self-administered by individuals without medical training. The Senators’ letter comes after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a new rule that wouldn’t require medications to be standard, consistent and dependable for passengers in need on commercial flights. In the landmark FAA Reauthorization Law that she co-authored, Duckworth successfully secured a provision which required the FAA to ensure commercial airlines have adequate emergency medical kits on-board to treat conditions like anaphylaxis. And yet, the FAA’s proposed rule would not require them to carry epinephrine, the only medication that reliably treats this medical emergency.
“The Trump Administration’s proposed rule will reduce public safety and trust when flying by increasing ambiguity, subjectivity and opacity with respect to EMK components,” wrote the Senators. “There have already been reports of incomplete, outdated and unusable EMKs, with some physician passengers being forced to crowdsource medication from passengers. Further, airlines are not required to publicly or centrally report the real-time inventory and exact contents of their EMKs and have continued to operate under exemptions granted from the FAA for years.”
Without EMKs containing epinephrine delivery methods that can be easily self-administered, like auto-injectors or nasal sprays, passengers experiencing anaphylaxis must rely on carrying their own medication or hope there is a medical professional aboard the flight who can quickly determine the correct dosage from a vial and then administer it correctly and quickly enough to save their life. This rule creates unnecessary risk that can put passengers’ lives in danger, which is exactly what happened to constituents of both Duckworth and Schumer.
In their letter, the Senators describe the terrifying scenario one of Duckworth’s constituents from Illinois was faced with: “In 2019, an 18-year-old traveling home to Chicago after completing her freshman year at college had an in-flight anaphylactic reaction to a salad containing tree nuts. According to her account, the flight crew was unsure if epinephrine was in the EMK and none of the crewmembers knew how to administer the medication. Fortunately, she had her own epinephrine auto-injector and was able to administer the medication in the bathroom of the plane. However, she was only carrying a single dose, raising her level of risk because, if her single dose failed to keep her airways open, she could not access additional lifesaving medication on the flight.”
In the letter, the Senators also recounted a scenario where, because the aircraft’s EMK was not equipped with epinephrine that could be easily self-administered, a New York doctor had to act with speed and precision to save the life of another passenger experiencing anaphylactic shock: “Even if an aircraft’s EMK contains a vial of epinephrine, the lack of an easily self-administered delivery system, such as an auto-injector, could make providing the medication dangerous for a layperson or even challenging for a trained medical doctor. This type of harrowing scenario occurred that same year, in 2019, when a prominent New York-based physician was forced to make split-second calculations to draw from a vial a safe, diluted fraction of the available cardiac arrest formulation of epinephrine to save the life of a young man having a severe allergic reaction,” continued the Senators.
In light of the FAA’s misguided and dangerous proposed rule change, Duckworth and Schumer stressed the urgency of ensuring each EMK is equipped with the proper life-saving medication the flying public deserves, especially amid the significant increase in allergies among children over the past decade. The lawmakers demanded detailed answers from each airline by September 25, 2026, regarding the contents of their EMKs, their capabilities to treat anaphylaxis and whether they have sought out exemptions from FAA requirements for carrying epinephrine or other medications.
Full text of the letter can be found below and on Senator Duckworth’s website:
We are writing to request information about the composition of the emergency medical kit (EMK) carried aboard your aircraft, including the availability of epinephrine via accessible delivery methods, in light of the recent Trump Administration rulemaking regarding EMK contents.
EMKs are supposed to enable initial treatment of a passenger experiencing moderate to severe injuries or illnesses until the aircraft can land and the passenger can be transferred to emergency medical personnel. Without proper medications that can easily be administered on board, medical emergencies happening while 35,000 feet in the air could turn deadly.
For example, in 2019, an 18-year-old traveling home to Chicago after completing her freshman year at college had an in-flight anaphylactic reaction to a salad containing tree nuts. According to her account, the flight crew was unsure if epinephrine was in the EMK and none of the crewmembers knew how to administer the medication. Fortunately, she had her own epinephrine auto-injector and was able to administer the medication in the bathroom of the plane. However, she was only carrying a single dose, raising her level of risk because, if her single dose failed to keep her airways open, she could not access additional lifesaving medication on the flight.
Even if an aircraft’s EMK contains a vial of epinephrine, the lack of an easily self-administered delivery system, such as an auto-injector, could make providing the medication dangerous for a layperson or even challenging for a trained medical doctor. This type of harrowing scenario occurred that same year, in 2019, when a prominent New York-based physician was forced to make split-second calculations to draw from a vial a safe, diluted fraction of the available cardiac arrest formulation of epinephrine to save the life of a young man having a severe allergic reaction.
Having multiple doses of epinephrine on every aircraft, in delivery methods that can be easily self-administered by individuals without medical training, is more urgent than ever due to the on-flight presence of food items containing unlabeled allergens, a steady increase in the number of children with food allergies, the increased prevalence of a tick-borne illness that could create life-threatening allergies and the very real possibility that more than one passenger may require epinephrine during a single flight.
In 2019, after hearing from our constituents and learning that the airlines had successfully sought a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exemption from the requirement to stock EMKs with epinephrine, we sent a letter to the airline carriers demanding that they reverse course and include epinephrine auto-injectors in EMKs. Seven years later, the FAA has yet to require epinephrine in forms that can be easily self-administered, and air carriers continue to operate under the same exemptions. This will not fly.
In the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, we secured language that directed the FAA to assemble a panel of experts to make recommendations on EMKs and issue a proposed rule. The FAA Onboard Medical Kits Working Group included aerospace medicine experts and physicians, physiologists, psychologists, human factors specialists, cabin safety professionals and researchers. This working group submitted its report, dated May 1, 2025, to the FAA. The report stated:
“The items proposed … are intended to provide initial stabilizing Basic Life Support (BLS) care for immediately life-threatening conditions such as cardiac arrest, airway emergencies, major hemorrhage, and anaphylaxis (emphasis added), as well as to facilitate provision of limited basic first-aid interventions for minor injuries and illnesses that are known to occur in-flight.”
Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. Importantly, the proposed EMK content list in the report includes both “pre-measured auto-delivery device” or “vial-drawn kit.” Yet, more than one year later, the Trump administration publicly defied the recommendations in this report developed by the expert working group the FAA itself commissioned. Through rulemaking, the Trump Administration is seeking to downgrade the EMK content list, from a binding requirement to mere optional guidance.
On August 5, 2026, the FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Improving Emergency Medical Kit Efficacy and Flexibility in Commercial Airline Operations,” which would make drastic changes to how the FAA determines the composition of EMKs. Specifically, this new proposed rule would allow operators to determine what components should be included in EMKs, so long as the EMK is “practical and sufficient” to address nine conditions, including anaphylaxis. The proposed rule would also eliminate the exemption process, which was created due to challenges in stocking EMKs due to drug shortages and allow airlines to substitute drugs, “without requesting an FAA exemption.” While we recognize that drug shortages may make it difficult to meet existing standards, there is no alternative to epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis.
The FAA currently requires an EMK to contain two epinephrine 1:1,000, single dose ampule or equivalent. Under the proposed rule, the operator will be able to make the decision about whether to include epinephrine:
“…FAA recommends sufficient resources for anaphylaxis (sudden/acute severe allergic reaction), which may include the following signs and symptoms: hives; swelling of the mouth, throat, or tongue; difficulty breathing, rapid or weak pulse, dizziness; stomach pain; nausea or vomiting; or loss of consciousness. Treatment options could (emphasis added) include medication such as epinephrine.”
Air carriers typically carry epinephrine vials on flights which then need to be correctly dosed, drawn and administered to a passenger experiencing anaphylaxis. If a passenger is experiencing anaphylaxis, they could have mere seconds until they are unable to breathe. Without Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved epinephrine delivery methods designed to be easily self-administered, passengers rely on the chance that there will be a good Samaritan on the flight who is a trained medical professional, or a flight attendant, in consultation with a medical professional on the ground, to quickly measure an appropriate dose of epinephrine using a vial and syringe. This is both risky and unnecessary.
The Trump Administration’s proposed rule will reduce public safety and trust when flying by increasing ambiguity, subjectivity and opacity of EMK components. There have already been reports of incomplete, outdated and unusable EMKs, with some physician passengers being forced to crowdsource medication from passengers. Further, airlines are not required to publicly or centrally report the real-time inventory and exact contents of their EMKs and have continued to operate under exemptions granted by the FAA for years. EMK suppliers and airlines can track when an EMK is opened and needs restocking, but only in instances where the kit was used. There is no means of systematically tracking incidents of allergic reactions or anaphylaxis, especially when passengers use their own epinephrine.
The proposed rule argues that increased flexibility is needed to keep up with advances in medicine, but without appropriate reporting and tracking, the Trump administration is significantly increasing the risk of major inconsistencies in EMKs from flight to flight. Predictability, consistency and transparency are all necessary to ensure passengers’ safety, particularly in cases of anaphylaxis, when minutes, or even seconds, matter.
Recent high-profile incidents underscore the gravity of this issue. In January 2026, a Virgin Australia passenger on a regional flight experienced a severe anaphylactic reaction requiring two successive doses of epinephrine—first from their own epinephrine auto-injector, then from another passenger—because no airline-supplied epinephrine was available aboard the aircraft. Fortunately, this individual survived, but such cases should serve as dire warnings of the fatal risks posed by the absence of standardized epinephrine in EMKs, and a reminder of the critical importance of aircraft EMKs containing delivery methods that allow for self-administration of epinephrine.
To ensure the safety of all airline passengers, we must guarantee that U.S.-based airlines include FDA-approved epinephrine delivery methods designed for self-administration on every flight.
To better understand your current practices and alignment with proposed FAA standards, as well as the rationale behind your chosen epinephrine delivery methods and relevant data collection practices, please provide answers to the following questions by Friday, September 25, 2026:
Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter. We look forward to reviewing your response.
Duckworth, Durbin, Senate Democrats Call on Hegseth to Report Total Costs of Iran War | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
Position: Senate Democrats are calling on the Secretary of Defense to provide a full accounting of the costs and budget details of the ongoing war with Iran, criticizing the Department of Defense for withholding budget information from Congress and the public while costs to taxpayers and military casualties continue to mount.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and 43 of their colleagues, nearly the entire Democratic caucus, in sending a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in demanding a full accounting of the costs of the ongoing war with Iran. The letter also criticized the Department of Defense for withholding basic budget information from Congress and the American public even as U.S. casualties and taxpayer costs continue to increase.
“Meanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war,” wrote the Senators. “Now you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.”
The United States is now more than seven months into a conflict President Trump initially said would last six weeks. Eighteen American servicemembers have been killed and more than 820 wounded, and over 50,000 troops are currently deployed to the Middle East. In the letter, the Senators note that deployments, including for the USS Lincoln and the 82nd Airborne, have been repeatedly extended, and that their offices have heard directly from military families worried about loved ones serving in the conflict.
In their letter, the Senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon’s transparency record with past wartime practice, noting that Hegseth has briefed Congress only seven times in six months and held just eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the war began, compared to more than 70 press briefings in the first month of the Iraq War alone. The Senators also criticized the administration’s public supplemental funding request as a seven-page document offering only vague line items, in contrast to the detailed, hundred-page supplemental requests provided to Congress during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
The Senators are requesting that the Department of Defense provide:
“Despite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent,” continued the Senators. “Congress must have access to this information to carry out our oversight responsibilities. It is the bare minimum that any American would expect in balancing their own household budget.”
Along with Duckworth, Durbin and Slotkin, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The full letter is available on Senator’s Duckworth’s website.
Duckworth-Blackburn Bipartisan Bill to Improve Emergency Communication Technology That Could Help Save Lives Passes Committee | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
Position: Senators Duckworth and Blackburn support legislation to codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences and require it to develop emergency communication and tracking technologies for locating trapped individuals in confined spaces, which has passed committee and is moving to the full Senate.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) passed bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) that would improve emergency communication technology that could help save lives. The bipartisan ITS Codification Act would codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), which currently serves as the research and engineering laboratory at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and require ITS to develop emergency communication and tracking technologies to help locate trapped individuals in confined spaces where conventional radio communication is limited. The House companion bill, led by U.S. Representatives “Buddy” Carter (R-GA-01) and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-7), passed the House by voice vote in July 2025. The legislation will now be considered by the full Senate.
“When people are in crisis and find themselves trapped in confined spaces, how quickly our first responders are able to conduct search and rescue often depends on these workers’ access to modern, reliable technology to save precious time,” said Duckworth. “Now that our bipartisan legislation has passed committee, the Senate must pass it swiftly so we can help ensure our first responders have the technology they need to save lives.”
“America’s leadership in wireless technology depends on making the most efficient use of our spectrum resources,” said Blackburn. “The ITS Codification Act will strengthen the research and engineering capabilities that help us identify new opportunities for spectrum sharing, support commercial innovation, and protect critical federal missions. This bill also helps ensure our first responders have access to reliable, cutting-edge communications technology when every second counts. I’m pleased the Commerce Committee advanced this bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to seeing it move quickly through the Senate.”
This legislation comes at a time when Illinois leads the United States in the most tornado reports in 2026 by a wide margin. The bill would help expedite recovery efforts for those impacted by events such as tornadoes, who may get trapped in rubble left from fallen buildings. The technology provided by the ITS Codification Act would help locate tornado victims, along with other victims of natural disasters, or crises such as underground mining accidents.
After Duckworth Push, DoD Inspector General Releases First Quarterly Iran War Report | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
Position: Senator Duckworth opposes the war against Iran, characterizing it as costly, illegal, and damaging to U.S. military readiness and national security. She calls for transparency, accountability, and an end to what she describes as Trump's war of choice.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Following U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s (D-IL) push, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG), as the Lead OIG on the war, released its first quarterly watchdog report on Operation Epic Fury after Duckworth called for and then secured Inspector General (IG) oversight of Donald Trump’s costly, illegal war against Iran. The report details how the first four months of this war, ending in June, cost American taxpayers a whopping $33.7 billion dollars—including $22 billion spent on munitions alone and $184 million in damages from Iranian strikes on U.S. diplomatic facilities in the Middle East.
“For the first time in nearly eight months, the American people finally have an official glimpse into the cost of this disastrous war—and it is jaw-dropping. On top of the financial pain being inflicted on middle-class pocketbooks, this report sheds new light on how this illegal war is making all Americans less safe by draining our military resources and hollowing out the diplomatic footprint that we sorely need at full strength to end this war. And make no mistake: this report is still a gross underestimate of the grand total that taxpayers are already on the hook for.
“Our servicemembers are exhausted, our munitions are depleted, our diplomatic capabilities have been wrecked and 18 of our troops will never come home. The American people deserve transparency about how their taxpayer dollars are being spent and how their national security is being weakened by this quagmire that is leaving them worse off.
“No matter how hard the Administration tries to keep us in the dark, I will keep demanding answers, accountability and an end to Trump’s costly war of choice.”
The DoD OIG’s first quarterly report is the first government accounting to pull together, across Federal agencies, the costs, scope and scale of the opening silos of Trump’s disastrous war, which has resulted in the deaths of 18 brave servicemembers. The report illuminates exactly how Donald Trump’s reckless, unjustified war has pushed U.S. military and diplomatic infrastructure to the brink, creating urgent munitions shortfalls, siphoning money intended to cover payroll for our troops and personnel, redirecting resources from the Indo-Pacific and other critical national security priorities and leaving the Trump administration scrambling and dangerously unprepared for future contingencies and emergencies abroad. It confirms that Donald Trump blew at least $33.7 billion dollars in the first four months of his reckless war, a cost that does not include millions in repairs to military and diplomatic facilities that the Department of Defense has not yet quantified and likely undercounts necessary diplomatic repairs, by the State Department’s own admission.
Additionally, following a request from Duckworth and other Senate Democrats, today the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) independently estimated that approximately $38 billion has been spent on Trump’s war through the end of July, with each concurrent month set to rack up another $2-3 billion in spending. That estimate is likely a significant underestimate, as it misses various costs such as damaged facilities or fuel expenditure.
Duckworth has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s illegal, needless war in Iran since it began. She is one of the Senate Six—the original group of Senators who have been forcing votes on War Powers Resolutions that would cease hostilities in Iran, which Republicans have shamefully blocked nine times. Last month, the Senator introduced legislation to stop Trump’s desperate attempt to obscure how long his illegal war against Iran has lasted, dishonor the sacrifice of our troops injured and killed in combat and hide the true cost of his disastrous war from the American people.
Ahead of the Senate’s vote on her own War Powers resolution in April, Duckworth gave impassioned remarks drawing on her personal experience serving in our nation’s last war of choice in the Middle East, imploring Republicans to remember their oaths and vote to help rein in this unhinged President—which they did not.
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Democrats in Urging Supreme Court to Block Postal Rule Limiting Mail-In Voting | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
Position: Senators Duckworth and Durbin, along with a bipartisan coalition of 261 lawmakers, oppose President Trump's executive order and USPS rule restricting mail-in voting, arguing the restrictions are unconstitutional and violate separation of powers by usurping congressional authority over election administration.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Gary Peters (D-MI), along with U.S. Representatives Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), in leading a bicameral amicus brief challenging the legality of President Trump’s executive order and U.S. Postal Service rule seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The group, made up of a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 261 lawmakers and former lawmakers, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of State of California, et al. v. United States Postal Service, et al., a lawsuit brought by a coalition of state attorneys general against the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The court case challenges a final rule issued by USPS pursuant to President Trump’s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a “citizenship verification list” and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.
“Donald Trump’s desperate attempts to obstruct voting by mail for every American but himself are unconstitutional and jeopardize our democracy,” said Duckworth. “Trump has already voted by mail twice this year alone. We cannot allow him to illegally intimidate his fellow tens of millions of Americans who cast their ballots by mail. As we approach the 2026 midterms, the Supreme Court must reject these unlawful executive orders and protect Americans’ right to vote this fall.”
“The President is dead set on attacking Americans’ right to vote and undermining our democracy by making baseless claims about ‘rigged’ elections, demanding unreasonable voter registration requirements, restricting mail-in voting, and threatening to unconstitutionally nationalize our elections. But the President cannot nullify our Constitution. The Supreme Court must reject the President’s attempts to chip away at our voting rights,” Durbin said.
Nearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections—a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida’s Republican primary.
In the court filing, the amici curiae argue that President Trump’s Executive Order 4399 and USPS’s final rule violate the separation of powers and usurp congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the states and Congress exclusive authority over election administration.
“As current and former legislators, amici took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States — including its guarantee of the separation of powers,” wrote the lawmakers in the brief. “Amici have a particular interest in defending the institutional role of the Legislative Branch under Article I of the Constitution and in vindicating the long-settled principle that the Constitution commits ultimate regulatory authority over federal elections to Congress. The Constitution does not contemplate the Executive Branch acting unilaterally to assert power over federal elections. Yet that is what the Order and Final Rule do.”
The amici also pointed to a recent federal court ruling blocking USPS from implementing its newly finalized mail ballot rule for the midterm elections, saying the agency lacked the authority to implement the rule and that its actions are “substantively unconstitutional and contrary to law.”
“The district court correctly concluded that Appellees are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that USPS lacked authority to issue the Final Rule, that the Final Rule unconstitutionally imposes mail-ballot requirements on the States, and that the Final Rule unconstitutionally bars non-compliant State and local election officials from using the USPS to mail ballots at all,” wrote the lawmakers.
The lawmakers concluded by asserting states’ power to administer elections and Congress’s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an “override” authority. President Trump’s illegal incursion on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.
“The integrity of our constitutional system depends on each branch keeping to its assigned role,” concluded the lawmakers. “The Framers set up a two-part system that gave the States default authority to regulate federal elections subject to Congress’s authority to override the States. The Framers did not provide the President with any authority to interfere in that system, nor has Congress subsequently imbued the President or the Executive Branch with any such authority by statute.”
In addition to Duckworth, Durbin, Padilla, Schumer, and Peters, the amicus brief was joined by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus.
The full brief is available on the Senator’s website.
Duckworth, Durbin, Budzinski Call for Replacement Mission for 183rd Wing in Springfield Following Announcement of Planned Deactivation of the Wing’s Repair Facility | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
Position: The lawmakers urge the Air Force and National Guard Bureau to establish a replacement Air Operations Group at the 183rd Wing in Springfield, Illinois, before deactivating its Central Repair Facility, and to delay the deactivation until September 2027 to allow affected personnel time for retraining or retirement.
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and the National Guard Bureau Director General Steven Nordhaus urging the leaders to establish a new Air Operations Group at the 183rd Wing in Springfield, Illinois, following the July announcement that the 183rd Wing’s Central Repair Facility (CRF) would be deactivated in the spring of 2027.
“We write regarding the troubling decision to deactivate the Central Repair Facility (CRF) mission at the 183rd Wing in Springfield, Illinois, without a suitable replacement mission. For nearly two decades, the dedicated personnel on the CRF mission have ensured our nation’s air fleet remains safe, ready, and mission capable. We urge you to consider establishing a new Air Operations Group at the 183rd Wing that would leverage the Wing’s expertise and secure the unit’s future while strengthening Joint Force readiness and our national defense,” the lawmakers began their letter.
As the lawmakers noted in their letter, the 183rd Wing has been nationally recognized with the Air National Guard Maintenance Effectiveness Award for its outstanding work, and the U.S. military has relied on the 183rd Wing for fighter jet engine repair since 2012. Shuttering the 183rd Wing’s CRF mission without a suitable mission replacement would risk the sustainment of the U.S. military’s fighter fleet while also dismissing the highly skilled work of the 115 personnel dedicated to fighter maintenance.
“Since 2012, the 183rd Wing has capably provided fighter jet engine maintenance for U.S. Armed Forces aircraft, including the U-2, F-16, A-10, and F-15EX. The CRF remains the only mission of its kind within the Joint Force and is the single dedicated repair facility for the F-15EX aircraft fleet,” the lawmakers wrote. “While the Joint Force’s engine repair demands have evolved, we are concerned a hasty deactivation of the CRF mission could risk adequate sustainment of our fighter fleet—and leave more than 115 personnel without an appropriate mission.”
The lawmakers urged Secretary Meink and General Nordhaus to delay the deactivation of the 183rd Wing’s CRF until September 2027, allowing adequate time for the impacted airmen and women to be retrained for a new replacement mission or to retire if eligible.
“As such, we ask you to delay deactivation of the CRF until at least September 30, 2027. A deferred timeline would mitigate the impact on the lives of our Illinois Airmen and women and their families, allowing them to seek retraining or reassignment—or even retirement for those eligible—while awaiting a suitable replacement mission,” the lawmakers continued their letter.
The lawmakers then suggested that a second Air Operations Group (AOG) be established at the 183rd Wing to leverage the wing’s legacy of success in providing planning, command and control, and execution support for air operations for the Air Force and Joint Force worldwide.
“In addition, we request that you swiftly consider establishing a second Air Operations Group (AOG) at the 183rd Wing…Establishing a new AOG in Illinois would leverage the skills of our National Guard Airmen and women and the 183rd’s excellent facilities, including its classified operations space; a Joint Cyber Range; and the brand new, 24,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Base Civil Engineer Complex,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers concluded their letter by urging the military leaders to work alongside them to establish a new mission at the 183rd Wing that matches the caliber of the airmen and women’s expertise.
“We look forward to working with you on a path forward that will continue the 183rd Wing’s legacy of service to our nation,” the lawmakers concluded their letter.
Following the announcement that the CRF mission at the 183rd Wing would be deactivated, Duckworth, Durbin and Budzinski spoke with Illinois Adjutant General Major General Rodney Boyd about the National Guard’s plan to deactivate the wing’s mission. During their call, the lawmakers advocated for a suitable replacement mission.
Full text of today’s letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below:
Dear Secretary Meink and General Nordhaus:
We write regarding the troubling decision to deactivate the Central Repair Facility (CRF) mission at the 183rd Wing in Springfield, Illinois, without a suitable replacement mission. For nearly two decades, the dedicated personnel on the CRF mission have ensured our nation’s air fleet remains safe, ready, and mission capable. We urge you to consider establishing a new Air Operations Group at the 183rd Wing that would leverage the Wing’s expertise and secure the unit’s future while strengthening Joint Force readiness and our national defense.
Since 2012, the 183rd Wing has capably provided fighter jet engine maintenance for U.S. Armed Forces aircraft, including the U-2, F-16, A-10, and F-15EX. The CRF remains the only mission of its kind within the Joint Force and is the single dedicated repair facility for the F-15EX aircraft fleet. In 2020, the 183rd Maintenance Squadron was the recipient of the Air National Guard Maintenance Effectiveness Award, and the Wing is recognized for exploring unique innovations such as additive and advanced manufacturing to build and repair engine components. While the Joint Force’s engine repair demands have evolved, we are concerned a hasty deactivation of the CRF mission could risk adequate sustainment of our fighter fleet—and leave more than 115 personnel without an appropriate mission. As such, we ask you to delay deactivation of the CRF until at least September 30, 2027. A deferred timeline would mitigate the impact on the lives of our Illinois Airmen and women and their families, allowing them to seek retraining or reassignment—or even retirement for those eligible—while awaiting a suitable replacement mission.
In addition, we request that you swiftly consider establishing a second Air Operations Group (AOG) at the 183rd Wing. A second AOG would build off of the 183rd Wing’s current success in providing planning, command and control, and execution support for air operations for the Air Force and the Joint Force worldwide. As the Air Force strives to maintain strategic dominance in an increasingly contested security environment, a highly capable, deployable AOG would serve as the backbone to tactical direction, synchronization, and mission execution. We understand the Air Force supports establishing more AOGs for missions in the Pacific and the global strike mission, and we urge you to urgently fund the standup of at least one AOG, to start on October 1, 2027. Establishing a new AOG in Illinois would leverage the skills of our National Guard Airmen and women and the 183rd’s excellent facilities, including its classified operations space; a Joint Cyber Range; and the brand new, 24,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Base Civil Engineer Complex. While we appreciate the National Guard Bureau plans to complete funding in 2028 for an Air Mobility Operations Squadron and Contingency Response Group in Illinois, these two missions were previously planned efforts in other parts of the State and will not be sufficient to safeguard the specialized workforce of the 183rd.
We look forward to working with you on a path forward that will continue the 183rd Wing’s legacy of service to our nation. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Duckworth Holds “We Can’t Afford This” Roundtable on How Rising Costs Are Crushing Illinois Families | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
Position: Senator Duckworth opposes Trump administration policies including Medicaid cuts and tariffs, which she argues are driving up costs for Illinois families on groceries, energy, and healthcare. She advocates for protecting essential community services and the safety net.
[ROCK ISLAND, IL] – As families across Illinois continue to endure skyrocketing costs as a direct result of President Donald Trump’s reckless policies, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a roundtable discussion with local Quad Cities leaders to discuss how they can address what too many Americans are feeling every day: “We Can’t Afford This.” As the average Illinois household has paid more than $4,200 in higher costs for everyday essentials under the Trump Administration, Duckworth heard from community health care providers, housing insecurity and homelessness prevention advocates, food insecurity experts as well as child care and early childhood education professionals about the real-world consequences that Trump’s Medicaid cuts, tariffs and ongoing illegal war are having on their communities. Photos from the roundtable are available on the Senator’s website.
“Grocery bills, energy bills and health care bills are piling up. From Rock Island to Carbondale to Chicago, families all across Illinois are telling me the same thing: ‘We can’t afford this,’” Duckworth said. “Illinoisans are feeling the squeeze as Donald Trump drives up costs and health care providers are struggling to keep their doors open after Medicaid cuts. So long as the President refuses to help the American people, Illinois leaders will continue working together to protect the essential lifelines our communities rely on.”
“Project NOW is honored to host Senator Duckworth’s “We Can’t Afford This!” Roundtable. In an era of rising economic and social strain the Roundtable will allow conversation about not only about the challenges but the solutions to secure families and move people upward through public policy supports and human-centered programs,” said Dr. Dwight Ford, President and CEO of Project NOW, Inc.
“Through the OneTable QC initiative, we’ve heard from countless local nonprofits about how this environment of rising costs and cutting benefits and services hurts local residents and nonprofits. Nonprofits also buy food, gas, and health care so their costs continue to rise while the government cuts funding and threatens to eliminate awarded funds indiscriminately. Nonprofits can’t plan; staff feel the stress, and ultimately all Quad Citians suffer. We appreciate Senator Duckworth visiting with local nonprofits to hear about these challenges directly from the people on the front lines of this crisis who live this reality every day,” said Linda Wastyn, President of Wastyn and Associates.
“Community Health Care, Inc. is so thankful to have Senator Duckworth take the time to hear about the challenges facing the patients we serve. Between rising costs of living and the potential of lost coverage for health care, the families we serve are struggling every day to make ends meet. We’re grateful Senator Duckworth is willing to listen to those concerns, but more importantly, to talk about solutions that will help preserve the safety net and give people in our community the opportunity to live healthy and prosperous lives,” said Tom Bowman, CEO of Community Health Care, Inc.
As Donald Trump’s policies make life more expensive and put essential services at risk, Duckworth has continued fighting to lower costs for Illinois families and protect the critical programs they rely on every day. She helped pass the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, a landmark law that will expand affordable housing and lower housing costs. The Senator is also a cosponsor of Child Care for Working Families Act to make child care more affordable and accessible for middle-class families. After the Trump Administration enacted the largest Medicaid cuts in history and made it harder for eligible Americans to keep their coverage, Duckworth has led efforts to protect Medicaid and the health care it provides to Illinois families, seniors and people with disabilities. The Senator also continues to defend Head Start against the Trump Administration’s relentless attacks, working to protect these critical lifelines for families across Illinois.
Duckworth, Durbin Demand FAA to Pay Air Traffic Controllers the Congressionally-Approved Raise that Administrator Bedford Continues to Withhold | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
Position: Senators Duckworth and Durbin demand that FAA Administrator Bedford immediately release a congressionally-approved 2.8% pay raise for air traffic controllers that has been withheld for four months, arguing that withholding compensation undermines workforce retention, recruitment, and aviation safety.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today demanded that FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford immediately hand over the Congressionally-authorized pay raise to the air traffic controller (ATC) workforce that he has held hostage for four months and counting. Despite a 3.8% raise for ATCs being approved by Congress and then signed into law by President Donald Trump in late April, Administrator Bedford continues to withhold 2.8% of that raise as a leverage point to try and get “as much utilization out of our workforce as we can”—even though the ATC workforce is already under tremendous strain.
“Controllers work long, high-stress hours and make split-second decisions that keep millions of passengers safe every day. The last thing our National Airspace System needs is a cynical FAA Administrator so hellbent on stretching them thinner that he is willing to withhold their modest 2.8 percent pay raise,” wrote the Senators in their letter to FAA Administrator Bedford.
In their letter, Duckworth and Durbin warned of the dangers that overworking our controllers even further poses to aviation safety, recruitment and retention efforts.
“Squeezing more ‘utilization’ out of air traffic controllers who have been understaffed, underpaid and overworked for years will weaken retention and undermine aviation safety,” continued the Senators. “Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy made it crystal clear that compensation strengthens staffing…How does withholding a pay increase Congress has already funded ‘supercharge’ that workforce or improve retention?”
The Senators also highlighted how hundreds of controllers across the state of Illinois are working overtime and still waiting to receive this raise. They stressed that ATC modernization can only be achieved if we invest in the people who serve as the bedrock of our National Airspace System.
“Holding air traffic controllers’ remaining 2.8 percent pay increase hostage to force a workforce that has operated under mandatory overtime for years to work longer hours is petty, disrespectful and counterproductive. Whether the Trump administration’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System succeeds or fails will depend on the morale of the people expected to run it,” the Senators wrote.
Full text of the letter is available below and on Senator Duckworth’s website.
Congress approved a 3.8 percent pay raise for air traffic controllers in the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026 (Public Law 119-86), which President Donald Trump signed into law on April 30, 2026. In the 127 days since, you have failed to implement the air traffic control (ATC) workforce pay raise Congress authorized and appropriated, and, to date, air traffic controllers, supervisors and managers have only received the governmentwide one percent pay raise. We strongly urge you to recognize and determine that the statutory requirements have been met and immediately implement the remaining 2.8 percent raise.
When you testified at a May 19, 2026, hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation, you stated, without qualification, that “People are the foundation of the National Airspace System,” and acknowledged the urgent need for FAA to “hire the best people, give them the best training and the best tools.” We agree with your words but strongly oppose your inaction.
The extremely overworked, understaffed and deeply stressed ATC workforce is the foundation of the National Airspace System, and these dedicated, highly skilled civil servants deserve, and should have already received, the full 3.8 percent pay raise that Congress approved months ago.
The statutory conditions Congress established related to the 3.8 percent raise—“improvements in workforce scheduling, staffing utilization, or other operational efficiencies are achieved that contribute to addressing workforce shortfalls and enhancing aviation safety”—were not a high bar. The notion that your agency has failed to reach an agreement with air traffic controllers that they find satisfactory means that what you are requesting must not benefit controllers.
This is not surprising, given just last week you told the Washington Examiner that working with the controllers’ union to get “as much utilization out of our workforce as we can” would help “unlock the 2.8%,” and that “if we can figure out how we can engage with . . . the union leadership on the basic watch schedule questions. . . there’s no reason we can’t unlock it this year.”
Holding air traffic controllers’ remaining 2.8 percent pay increase hostage to force a workforce that has operated under mandatory overtime for years to work longer hours is petty, disrespectful and counterproductive. Whether the Trump administration’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System succeeds or fails will depend on the morale of the people expected to run it.
Air traffic controllers are operating a strained system, using antiquated technology, while adapting to air traffic control modernization in real time. Controllers work long, high-stress hours and make split-second decisions that keep millions of passengers safe every day. The last thing our National Airspace System needs is a cynical FAA Administrator so hellbent on stretching them thinner that he is willing to withhold their modest 2.8 percent pay raise.
Squeezing more “utilization” out of air traffic controllers who have been understaffed, underpaid and overworked for years will weaken retention and undermine aviation safety. Your own plan says as much: “Chronic use of overtime leads to fatigue, controller burnout and ultimately loss of retention.”
Illinois represents a clear example of the systematic challenges facing air traffic controllers. As of September 20, 2025, the most recent facility data in your plan, Chicago O’Hare tower had 61 certified professional controllers against a target of 88; Chicago TRACON had 76 against a target of 100; Chicago Center had 277 against 290; and Midway tower had 19 against 22. The controllers working in those positions are absorbing the mandatory overtime your plan warns about and have been left waiting months to receive the raise Congress authorized and funded in April.
Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy made it crystal clear that compensation strengthens staffing. Announcing the Department of Transportation’s package of controller incentives, he promised it would “supercharge the air traffic controller workforce from both retention and hiring side of the equation.” How does withholding a pay increase Congress has already funded “supercharge” that workforce or improve retention?
We urge you to expeditiously approve the pay increase that was rightfully earned by our Nation’s hardworking air traffic controllers. Air traffic controllers are the foundation of the National Airspace System. These public safety employees operate on the front line to protect American lives and deserve the full pay raise that Congress authorized and appropriated in April 2026. The $140,000,000 Congress appropriated for it is roughly 1 percent of the $12.5 billion Congress has already provided for the Brand New Air Traffic Control System. You have moved quickly to obligate money for equipment. Move as quickly for the people who will operate it.
Duckworth Visits Illinois Head Start, Calls Out Trump’s New Plan to Jeopardize This Lifeline for Families | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
Position: Senator Duckworth opposes the Trump Administration's proposed deregulation of Head Start, arguing that eliminating health, developmental, and quality standards would reduce service hours, increase class sizes, and jeopardize care for vulnerable children and families.
[CHICAGO, IL] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined parents, teachers and Illinois Head Start leaders to underscore how President Donald Trump’s latest attack on Head Start would jeopardize services for countless middle-class families across Illinois, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet as a direct result of the Trump Administration’s reckless policies. The Senator’s visit comes after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a plan last month to scrap roughly 1,400 regulations that would fundamentally change how Head Start is able to serve our children, potentially reducing care hours, increasing staff-to-child ratios and eliminating certain health and developmental screening requirements. At a time when middle-class families are enduring higher costs across the board, this latest proposal has significantly raised concerns about the quality and consistency of Head Start services for children and families that depend on them. Photos from today’s event are available on the Senator’s website.
“Donald Trump’s latest attack on Head Start would put yet another lifeline at risk for families who depend on it most,” said Senator Duckworth. “If enacted, this deregulation plan would fundamentally change how Head Start is run and jeopardize its ability to care for our children. It would reduce the hours that Head Start can be available for parents who depend on it, eliminate health screenings and even dramatically increase class sizes that could overwhelm our teachers and underserve our children.”
“If the President cares about families at all, he needs to keep his hands off Head Start. Together, we’ll keep fighting back and ensure this lifeline remains as strong as it can be.”
“The Trump Administration is calling the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposal—which removes most requirements related to teaching and learning, quality standards, health and mental health services, dental care, developmental screenings, and family support services—‘flexibility.’ However, the complete opposite is true. For Head Start children and families, this could mean losing critical protections and services built over decades. In the Administration’s own words, they estimate that these changes will lead to fewer services and lower quality. Eliminating these standards is not cutting red tape; it is cutting the safeguards that help our nation’s most vulnerable children succeed. We are grateful to Senator Duckworth for standing with Head Start children, families, and the dedicated workforce that serves them and for recognizing that protecting Head Start means protecting the future of our communities,” said Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, Executive Director of Illinois Head Start Association.
Head Start serves approximately 28,000 children and pregnant women across all 102 counties in Illinois, supported by roughly 8,500 staff. In Chicago, about one in four child care slots are connected to centers that receive Head Start funding.
Duckworth has been outspoken in pushing back against Trump Administration policies that threaten Head Start and the families who rely on it across Illinois. Last year, she joined Governor JB Pritzker, parents, teachers and Head Start staff at Two Rivers Head Start in Elgin to highlight the impact of the Administration’s funding decisions on Illinois families and providers. In April 2025, Duckworth and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined their colleagues in calling on the Administration to release withheld Head Start funding and reverse staff firings. Additionally, Duckworth helped reintroduce the Child Care for Working Families Act to make high-quality child care more affordable and accessible for families nationwide as Trump and Republicans choose to spend trillions on new tax cuts for billionaires instead of investing in middle-class families. She also hosted Illinois Head Start Association Executive Director Lauri Morrison-Frichtl as her guest at President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress in 2025.
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
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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.ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS 20201 contribution$14,142
2.WAY TO LEAD PAC2 contributions$10,000
3.ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS 20181 contribution$8,825
4.AM GENERAL LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AM GENERAL PAC)1 contribution$5,000
5.UNITED AIRLINES, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (UAPAC)1 contribution$5,000
6.PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE IFinance1 contributionAccounting and professional-services PAC — supports candidates aligned with business-friendly tax policy, financial regulation, and corporate governance standards.AI$5,000
7.NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEBusiness1 contributionTrade association PAC for new-car dealers — backs candidates supporting dealer franchise protections, vehicle sales regulations, and automotive retail interests.AI$5,000
8.FINANCIAL SERVICES INSTITUTE PAC1 contribution$5,000
9.CROWELL & MORING LLP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (C&M PAC)1 contribution$5,000
10.CATERPILLAR INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CATPAC)1 contribution$5,000
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.SIMMONS HANLY CONROY$20,400
2.SMITH GARSON$8,000
3.HOLLAND LAW FIRM$7,250
4.DELOITTE$7,000
5.COONEY & CONWAY LLP$7,000
6.GROSVENOR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT$7,000
7.CTC$7,000
8.EVERGREEN WEALTH$7,000
9.7WIREVENTURES$7,000
10.HOLLAND GROVES & SCHNELLER$7,000
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.
