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Rep. Craig Returns More Than $3.2 Million to Constituents in Minnesota’s Second District in 2025

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

EAGAN, MN – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced that her office has returned more than $3.2 million to constituents across Minnesota’s Second District this year.

Since coming to Congress in 2019, Rep. Craig and her casework team have worked to help constituents resolve issues with federal agencies and access the refunds and benefits they deserve. Through these efforts, Rep. Craig has returned $8.77 million to residents of Minnesota’s Second District and resolved over 2,700 individual issues with federal agencies. In 2025 alone, Rep. Craig’s constituent services team successfully closed 878 cases

“Working through issues with federal agencies can be confusing and frustrating, and as a result too many Minnesotans choose to forgo the refunds, benefits and payments they are rightfully owed,” said Rep. Craig. “To combat this, my office has spent countless hours cutting through red tape and advocating on behalf of constituents. I’m thrilled to announce that this year we’ve successfully put over $3.2 million back into the pockets of hardworking Minnesotans.”

If residents of Minnesota’s Second Congressional District are having trouble with a federal agency, they should visit Rep. Craig’s website at https://craig.house.gov/casework.  

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Rep. Craig Calls Out Administration for Hindering Pathway to Citizenship for Legal Immigrants

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

In letter to DHS Secretary and USCIS Director, Rep. Craig condemns Administration for targeting immigrants from 19 countries named in President’s June travel ban

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig joined 118 of her House colleagues in calling out the Trump Administration for indefinitely pausing all green card applications, naturalization interviews, oath ceremonies and other immigration processing for legal immigrants from the 19 countries designated in President Trump’s June travel ban. 

In a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, Rep. Craig and her colleagues blast the Administration for obstructing a pathway to citizenship for those who have followed the law and completed the necessary steps to achieve legal status. They urge the Administration to reverse its decision and demand transparency regarding the impacts and scope of this indefinite pause. 

“Despite the Trump Administration’s claims of going after the ‘worst of the worst,’ it is attacking the very people who have followed every process and undergone extensive and repeated vetting to secure legal status,” the Members wrote.“This sweeping action is unjustified, discriminatory, and inconsistent with our nation’s founding principles. We demand that you lift this pause immediately.”

Rep. Craig and her colleagues also highlight that this pause is targeting those who have followed the law and completed many of the necessary steps to becoming a U.S. citizen. In the most egregious cases, individuals who were already approved for naturalization were pulled out of line by USCIS officials moments before their oath ceremonies. 

“These naturalization ceremonies are a time of celebration, as soon-to-be U.S. citizens

welcome their friends and family to witness their achievement of becoming a U.S. citizen,” the Members continued. “To deny this monumental achievement to those who have waited years, if not decades, to pledge the Oath of Allegiance, delaying their naturalization through no fault of their own, is a slap in the face to all those who have devoted their time and energy to become U.S. citizens. It is also a waste of USCIS resources, such as employees who adjudicated applications, which includes vetting and screening, throughout the process.”

“Many of the people now being blocked have lived in the United States for years, contributing to their communities and undergoing extensive and repeated vetting by DHS,” the Members concluded. “To suggest categorically, without any individual review of the case, that these same long-time residents suddenly pose a serious threat, defies both logic and the government’s own record.”

You can read the full text of the letter here.

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Rep. Craig Statement on Her Vote Against House Republicans’ Health Care Bill that Fails to Extend ACA Tax Credits, Excludes Coverage for Reproductive Care

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig released the following statement on her vote against the Republican-led Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.

“My Republican colleagues had ample opportunity to address the health care crisis in this country when they repeatedly rejected calls to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire this month. Now they’re trying to save face by putting forward an unserious bill that fails to extend the ACA tax credits and lower health care premiums for tens of thousands of Minnesotans.

“Unsurprisingly, Republicans’ legislation also takes aim at a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions by banning ACA plans that cover abortion – targeting safe-haven states like Minnesota that require their plans to cover reproductive care.

“At the end of the day, this sad excuse of a bill is a half-hearted attempt to address the health care affordability crisis President Trump and Republicans in Congress created.

“I look forward to my Republican colleagues having to go on the record next year on extending the ACA tax credits. Every American deserves to know where their Representative stands on making their health care more affordable. I can only hope they’ll do the right thing by ALL Americans.”

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Golden’s bipartisan permitting reform bill passes House

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today celebrated the House’s passage of his bipartisan Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. The bill, which he first introduced with Republican House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) in July, would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to accelerate federal approval of energy development and other construction projects.

The SPEED Act passed 221-196. It is endorsed by more than 300 local, state, and national organizations, including the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast. The City of Bangor previously submitted a letter of support to the House Natural Resources Committee to describe the bill’s benefits to airport operations at Bangor International Airport.

“The simplest way to make energy, housing, and other essentials more affordable is to make it possible to actually produce enough of it at a reasonable cost. America’s broken permitting system is standing in the way,” Golden said. “The SPEED Act has united workers, businesses, and political forces who usually oppose each other because scarcity hurts everyone, and these reforms represent the lowest hanging fruit in a permitting reform debate that’s been happening for years. I’m grateful to Chairman Westerman for his good-faith partnership throughout this process, and today’s vote sends a clear message to the Senate: The window is finally open to fix our permitting process, so let’s meet the moment.”

The legislation includes a Golden amendment that would block the executive branch from revoking energy permits after approval. Both Presidents Trump and Biden have embraced this tactic to block projects they disapprove of — even those in the final stages of completion. His amendment followed feedback from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, which helped boost the bill’s bipartisan support.

Golden has previously spoken at length about the need to fix America’s broken permitting system, including during the bill’s initial hearing in September.

Full text of the legislation can be found here, and an analysis of the bill — as well as a recent history of permitting reform — from the Bipartisan Policy Center can be found here. 

BACKGROUND:

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing the environmental impacts of all major federal actions and created the Council on Environmental Quality. The procedural requirements in NEPA apply to all major federal actions, including but not limited to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy projects, broadband and water infrastructure.

While well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines. Additionally, NEPA has become a tool used by special interest groups to block critical infrastructure across the country, as it is currently the most litigated environmental statute.

This litigation is most often initiated not by communities or individuals, but by national NGOs. According to the Breakthrough Institute, NGOs filed more than 70 percent of all lawsuits filed under NEPA in recent years. 

According to the report, litigants lose their challenges 80 percent of the time. But what they lost in court, they made up for in delays; Litigation under NEPA added an average of four years to a project’s timeline. These kinds of delays can kill a project even when the litigation against it fails.

The SPEED Act will modernize NEPA to help streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose. The bill will shorten permitting timelines and reduce the frequency of frivolous litigation. This legislation will simplify the analysis required in NEPA documents, thereby easing the burden on agencies. The bill will also clarify when NEPA is triggered by clarifying the definition of “Major Federal Action.” Lastly, the bill will establish judicial review limitations for NEPA claims, including a 150-day deadline for filing claims, a new standard of review and the elimination of procedural moves that stop projects from moving forward.

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LaMalfa Announces United States Service Academy Nominees

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced the nominations of six North State students as candidates to United States Service Academies. The U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marines Academy each require a Congressional nomination in order to attend. The admissions process is highly competitive, and students compete nationwide for service academy appointments.

“Congratulations to our six outstanding service academy nominees for their hard work and commitment to serving our nation,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “These young people epitomize the best of what our nation has to offer, and I am confident they will excel as future leaders in our armed forces. It’s an honor to nominate them, and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish. A special thanks to the review committee for their careful consideration of these prospective candidates.”

Congressman LaMalfa’s nominees were recommended by a committee of local North State leaders and veterans from various branches of the military. The committee recommended a slate of nominees after interviewing and carefully considering the academic and leadership backgrounds of each student. Having been nominated, students must now compete with other nominees for an appointment to the academies. Academy officials will begin announcing appointments in January.

Congressman LaMalfa’s nominees for the service academies are:

Adrianna Crawford, Plumas Lake

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Samantha Johnson, Redding

U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Nolan McLaughlin, Chico

U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Paul Rogan, Cottonwood

U.S. Naval Academy

Carter Schmid, Paradise

U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Mia Wallace, Redding

U.S. Naval Academy

Any student with a strong desire to serve our nation as an officer in the United States Armed Forces is invited to contact Congressman LaMalfa in the spring of their junior year. Please visit his website www.lamalfa.house.gov for his nomination application and instructions. You may also call his Chico District office and speak with his U.S. Service Academy Advisor at (530)343-1000.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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LaMalfa Applauds House Passage of Pet and Livestock Protection Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) applauded House passage of H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, legislation that delists the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act.

“Gray wolves are an apex predator being inflicted upon the people and the wildlife of Northeast California and the West,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “There are wolves that are encroaching on elementary schools in Siskiyou County. This is not a little red riding hood story. This is not a made-up deal. This is very real, and they’re coming closer and closer to town. Even as wolf populations continue to expand, outdated federal protections under the Endangered Species Act have stripped away the tools needed to manage them. The ESA was meant to help species recover, not keep them permanently listed long after recovery goals are met. The gray wolf is a clear example of how the law has drifted from its original purpose, and it’s time to delist them. Rural Californians are tired of being victimized by these federal and state regulations.”

Congressman LaMalfa has raised repeated concerns about increasing wolf attacks on livestock and wolves encroaching into areas where people live and work. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act directs the Department of Interior to reinstate the 2020 ruling to delist the gray wolf and prohibits the rule from being subject to judicial review.

To view Congressman LaMalfa’s remarks on delisting the gray wolf, click here.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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Reps. Garamendi and Maloy Introduce the Bipartisan Geothermal Tax Parity Act of 2025

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02) introduced the bipartisan Geothermal Tax Parity Act of 2025, to promote geothermal projects, one of America’s cheapest and most reliable energy sources, by extending long-standing oil and gas tax provisions to geothermal projects. The bill supports a rapidly growing American energy industry delivering reliable, around-the-clock power. The legislation is co-led by Blake Moore (R-UT-01), Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), and Russ Fulcher (R-ID-01). 

“Geothermal energy is one of the most promising, clean energy resources we have. It provides reliable, round-the-clock power, strengthens our energy security, and creates good-paying jobs,” said Rep. John Garamendi. “The bipartisan Geothermal Tax Parity Act is simple: if oil and gas receive a tax benefit, geothermal should too. By extending long-standing energy tax incentives to geothermal, we can accelerate next-generation clean energy deployment, leverage our existing workforce and engineering expertise, and position the United States as a global leader in geothermal power.” 

“Geothermal energy is a reliable resource with enormous potential, especially in the West,” said Rep. Celeste Maloy. “Utah is already proving what next generation geothermal can deliver. This bill removes outdated barriers in the tax code so private investment can keep pace with innovation, strengthen our energy security, and create high quality jobs in rural communities.” 

The Geothermal Tax Parity Act would allow geothermal projects to qualify for the same passive loss treatment long available to oil and gas investments, enabling investors to deduct project losses against other income. The bill would also extend existing tax treatment for geological and geophysical exploration costs to geothermal development, reducing upfront risk and encouraging private sector investment. 

“If our tax code continues to give benefits to big oil and gas, it should at least recognize the value of geothermal energy too,” said Rep. Steven Horsford. “Geothermal offers firm, reliable, low-carbon power that strengthens our energy security and insulates consumers from volatile global markets. Despite this, geothermal does not benefit from long-standing tax incentives that drive investment. I’m proud to co-lead the Geothermal Tax Parity Act to help level the playing field. By extending proven incentives to this emerging technology, we can deliver dependable power for advanced manufacturing, AI, and grid resilience. Nevada is already leading the way with twenty-eight operating and authorized geothermal plants, and this bill ensures the United States leads globally by investing in American resources, American workers, and American innovation.” 

The Geothermal Tax Parity Act is supported by a broad coalition including Geothermal Rising, Clean Air Task Force, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, the Bipartisan Policy Center, Fervo Energy, Greenfire Energy, Quaise Energy, and Eavor. 

“Quaise Energy strongly endorses the Geothermal Tax Parity Act. This legislation will help unlock America’s vast geothermal potential at exactly the moment we need it most,” said Carlos Araque, CEO and President of Quaise Energy. “By creating the right investment climate for next-generation geothermal technologies, Representatives Maloy and Garamendi are positioning the United States to command technological leadership in accessing an energy resource that dwarfs all other sources combined, strengthening our national security and economic competitiveness.” 

“Geothermal Rising supports the geothermal tax parity bill and appreciates Rep. Maloy and Rep. Garamendi’s leadership in ensuring geothermal technologies are treated equitably under federal energy incentives,” said Bryant Jones, Executive Director at Geothermal Rising. “Establishing tax parity for geothermal applications will help accelerate deployment, attract private investment, and strengthen America’s energy security—while supporting workforce growth and expanding deployment across the full spectrum of geothermal technologies.” 

“We are grateful for Rep. Maloy and Rep. Garamendi’s leadership on the Geothermal Tax Parity Act. The bill will help attract capital to a rapidly growing industry, further positioning enhanced geothermal to meet our nation’s rising electricity demand with clean, baseload power,” said  Fervo Energy.  

“The Geothermal Tax Parity Act offers a practical and targeted policy solution to advance U.S. geothermal development by improving early-stage project economics and expanding access to capital,” said Jeanine Vany, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Eavor. “I commend the vision to align geothermal with proven financial frameworks long utilized in oil and gas. This approach will help unlock the deployment of sustainable, resilient, and always-available heat and power, supporting energy security and a clean energy future.” 

“Rep. Maloy’s Geothermal Tax Parity Act will provide an essential market-based tailwind to help ignite an American geothermal boom. By modernizing the tax code to reflect the geothermal’s unique value and potential, this bill levels the playing field for investors—attracting private capital and helping secure a future of clean, reliable and American baseload power,” said Zanskar. 

“CRES applauds the introduction of the Geothermal Tax Parity Act, which will accelerate the deployment of geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is an important, home-grown part of the nation’s energy mix. By accelerating investments into this industry, America’s energy system can become cleaner, more reliable and more affordable,” said Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. 

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Rep Garamendi, Sen Warren Press Energy Secretary on Mismanagement and Taxpayer Waste in Plutonium Pit Production Program

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a new letter, Representative John Garamendi (CA-08) and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), both members of their respective Armed Services Committees and of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, are urging Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright to seriously review the scope of and the need for the plutonium pit production program, and pause the program’s Savannah River site until the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has established guardrails to prevent additional waste of taxpayer funds. 

In August, the Department of Energy (DOE) launched a special study into NSSA’s leadership and management of the plutonium pit production mission. The lawmakers believe that, if properly conducted, the study will find that years of mismanagement have put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk with an unrealistic pit production schedule and goals. 

For years I have called for Congress to take action to fix the failing plutonium modernization effort. Congress has continued to pour billions of dollars into efforts to restart production with arbitrary targets,” said Congressman Garamendi. “This letter cuts to the core of the matter and asks necessary questions of NNSA, including about the questionable management and faulty assumptions underlying the program. I eagerly await their response, along with the results of the Department of Energy’s 120-day special investigation.” 

The Trump administration is blindly spending tens of billions of dollars to produce plutonium pits for nuclear weapons without a real budget or plan,” said Senator Warren. “This program is already years behind schedule and over budget, Congressman Garamendi and I are urging the Secretary of Energy to conduct a vigorous review to rein in years of waste and mismanagement.” 

The lawmakers raise concerns about how, years into this program, it is still unclear what the pit production program’s schedule and full cost will be. The Government Accountability Office recommended NNSA create a master schedule to comply with its best practices, but the agency has yet to produce one. Additionally, the lawmakers call out the continued pursuit of the Savannah River pit production site as a big driver of the pit production program’s ballooning cost, even as the site’s benefits remain questionable. They argue that without a comprehensive plan and budget for this massive undertaking, the agency is setting itself up for failure. 

 The lawmakers pressed for answers by January 9, 2025, about the DOE’s special study on the program, the budget and timeline of the program, and the necessity of new plutonium pits for the United States’ nuclear deterrence. 

 You can read the full letter HERE. 

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Rep. Garamendi & California Dems Condemn Trump’s Plan to Pump Water Out of the Delta

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Representative John Garamendi (CA-08) led Representatives Ami Bera (CA-06), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Josh Harder (CA-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Mike Thompson (CA-04) in condemning Acting Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Scott Cameron’s plan to siphon additional water out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

“I have fought my entire career to defend the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta,” said Rep. Garamendi. “Instead of implementing science-backed methods that safeguard our water supply, Reclamation’s plan prioritizes partisan politics over California’s communities and farmers. Pumping even more water out of the Delta in the middle of worsening droughts isn’t just reckless—it threatens the livelihoods of the people who live and work here, undermines the region’s fragile ecosystems, and jeopardizes the long-term health of our state’s water infrastructure. Californians deserve better than political stunts masquerading as water policy.”

In the letter, the Representatives detailed how Reclamation’s proposal would endanger California’s water supply, disrupt coordinated operations between state and federal agencies, and weaken environmental protections across the region. 

“Management of California’s water supply must not choose between winners and losers. All Californians and the vibrant communities that call the Delta home deserve a water supply plan that priorities solutions over partisan games,” said the Representatives. “Unfortunately, rather than striking a fair balance between Californians, farmers, and wildlife, Action 5 could cause irreparable harm to Delta communities and ecosystems.” 

“The Delta Counties Coalition appreciates the delegation’s efforts to ensure that changes to federal water project operations in the Delta are thoroughly reviewed and coordinated. Our Coalition continues to support efforts to provide reliable water supplies to Californians while also protecting Delta communities and the Delta ecosystem.” 

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New Report from Rep. Garamendi and Sen. Warren Reveals Trump Admin. Took $2 Billion from Military for Immigration Enforcement

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Cover Letter to the Pentagon (PDF) | Text of Report (PDF)

WASHINGTON, DC — Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released a new report detailing the Trump administration’s diversion of funds and resources from the Department of Defense (DoD) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement, and its impact on readiness and morale. 

“When President Trump recklessly diverts our military to support immigration enforcement, our armed forces pay the price. Units miss critical training that prepares them for combat, pilots and crews lose valuable flight hours, and dollars are spent on wasteful walls instead of family housing,” said Congressman Garamendi. “As this report shows, these disruptions come at a significant cost, in both dollars and readiness. In addition to costing the DoD up to three times more than it would cost DHS for the same operations, our military has to pay the bill. Diverting over $2 billion in funds siphons money away from training, modernization, and maintenance: core investments that should support military families and prepare our forces to fight and win.”

“I have been steadfast in protecting the readiness of the military personnel in my district—whether by opposing efforts to convert Travis Air Force Base into an immigration detention facility or resisting proposals to send its medical staff to Guantanamo Bay’s detention center,” Garamendi continued. “As the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, I’m proud to have worked with Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Cory Booker, Representative Chrissy Houlahan, Representative Sara Jacobs, Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Brian Schatz, Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Senator Ron Wyden on this report, that exposes Trump’s dangerous mismanagement and holds this administration accountable.” 

“It’s an insult to our service members that Pete Hegseth and Kristi Noem are using the defense budget as a slush fund for political stunts. Stripping military resources to promote a wasteful political agenda doesn’t make our military stronger or Americans safer,” said Senator Warren. “Congress needs to step in and hold the Trump Administration accountable for mishandling billions of taxpayer dollars.” 

Under a second Trump administration, the U.S. military has become heavily involved in immigration enforcement. Senator Warren’s new report, the first detailed review of the Pentagon’s spending on immigration, found that DoD has committed at least $2 billion to support immigration enforcement through mobilizing and deploying troops to American cities and the Southern border, deporting and transporting immigrants on military aircrafts, detaining individuals on U.S. military installations, and more.   

Despite an unprecedented $170 billion budget allocated to DHS, it’s unclear how much DoD has received in reimbursement for any of its spending on immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, the military is funding these efforts in support of DHS with money allocated for other DoD projects including updates to barracks, maintenance hangers, and military construction projects in the Pacific. Concerningly, the Pentagon has requested an additional $5 billion for further immigration support in its budget request for 2026.  

Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) co-authored the report.

The members’ report found that, in 2025, the Pentagon has committed: 

  • At least $258 million to support Trump’s orders to deploy troops to Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis, along with plans to reassign 600 Judge Advocates (JAGs) as immigration judges;  

“Diverting the military from its existing missions and thrusting it into immigration enforcement does not make Americans safer. This multi-billion-dollar political stunt is an overt waste of taxpayer resources and undermines national security, military readiness, and resources for our servicemembers,” said the members. 

“The report raised concerns that, in addition to the cost of the DoD immigration efforts, it has resulted in “servicemembers…being pulled from their homes, families, and civilian jobs for indefinite periods of time to support legally questionable political stunts,” wrote the members. The deployments also unnecessarily put our servicemembers in harm’s way: in November, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, was killed while her West Virginia National Guard unit was deployed to Washington, D.C, and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was critically injured. 

The deployment of troops for immigration enforcement has also weakened the military’s ability to respond to emergencies. For example, the 101st Airborne Division — the U.S. Army’s only air assault division — deployed to the border instead of standing ready for national security missions. Additionally, leading into peak fire season, the California National Guard firefighting unit was “understaffed because roughly half its members [were] deployed to Los Angeles.” These deployments may also require units to miss key training exercises necessary to ensure combat readiness, as the Government Accountability Office found occurred during the first Trump administration.

The diversion of DoD funds is having a devastating effect on the military’s ability to improve services for troops and their families. Among the projects impacted by the prioritization of border operations is a $1 billion renovation of military barracks. Secretary Hegseth also diverted funding from elementary schools at Fort Knox and a U.S. military installation in Germany, an ambulatory care center and dental clinic to service Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, a jet-training facility in Mississippi, and Marine barracks in Japan. 

During the first Trump administration, the DoD stopped deploying troops to the border after determining the deployments were hurting military readiness and morale. The border mission appeared to contribute to alcohol and drug abuse among service members and may have even contributed to a number of tragic suicides among Texas National Guardsmen. The members raised concerns about similar issues arising again, particularly given the lack of clarity around how long deployments will last. 

“The report also slammed the administration’s failure to adequately inform Congress and the public about the diversion of funds. “The Trump administration’s secrecy leaves many questions unanswered. The administration has failed to provide clarity on basic questions about DoD’s role in supporting DHS,” said the members.  

The coalition directed follow-up questions to Secretary Hegseth about the number of troops currently supporting immigration enforcement, how long military units will be supporting DHS, and whether DHS will reimburse the military.  

On Thursday, December 11, 2025, the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on deployment of the National Guard across the United States.