Press Releases
Wyden Calls for Republicans To Put Real Surveillance Reform On the Table; Pulte Shows that No Administration Should be Given Warrantless Domestic Spying Powers
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called for Republican leaders to negotiate on real reforms to warrantless government surveillance, instead of insisting on repeating their failed effort to extend FISA Section 702 without a single meaningful reform. The Senate voted 47-52 early Friday morning against taking up a FISA extension bill. “Americans aren’t going to stand for law-abiding people being spied on. There’s bipartisan agreement in Congress that the status quo isn’t good … Continue Reading
June 04, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Laud Stewardship Agreement for Malheur National Forest
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today praised the announcement of a 20-year stewardship agreement between the Malheur National Forest and Iron Triangle LLC in John Day that covers forest restoration, hazardous fuels reduction, timber harvesting, watershed improvement, and habitat restoration for that federal forest in Eastern Oregon. “As a long-time champion of stewardship agreements that provide fresh and balanced solutions for rural Oregon communities, I am … Continue Reading
June 04, 2026
Wyden: The Only Reason to Nominate Todd Blanche for Attorney General is to Abuse the Law, Illegally Protect Trump And Persecute Trump’s Critics
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement in response to Donald Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Todd Blanche as Attorney General of the United States. Blanche served as Trump’s personal attorney before joining the Department of Justice, ordered investigations of Trump’s perceived enemies, greenlit the $1.8 billion slush fund for Trump’s allies, handed Trump and his family immunity from future investigations for tax crimes, and played a key … Continue Reading
June 02, 2026
Wyden Statement on Appointment of Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the longest-serving member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement on Donald Trump’s announcement that he will appoint Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence. “Trump is appointing his top political henchman to one of the most important positions for protecting the safety of Americans and preventing terrorist attacks like September 11th,” Wyden said. “Bill Pulte appears to be unscathed by … Continue Reading
May 29, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Lawmakers Urge Nonpartisan Congressional Scorekeeper to Determine True Cost of War in Iran
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, partnered with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to lead a coalition of lawmakers—including Oregon’s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden—in urging the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to determine the true cost of war in Iran and set the record straight regarding inaccurate and incomplete estimates provided by the Trump … Continue Reading
May 28, 2026
Foreign Adversaries Are Using Commercial Location Data to Target U.S. Servicemembers In the Middle East, Wyden, Harrigan and 12 other bipartisan Members of Congress, Reveal; Members Call on Department to Adopt Commonsense Safeguards to Protect U.S. Troops
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. and Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., released information today confirming for the first time that hostile foreign adversaries are using commercial location data to target American servicemembers in an active war zone, they wrote in a letter to the Pentagon, along with 12 bipartisan members of Congress. The letter was also signed by Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and … Continue Reading
May 22, 2026
Wyden Votes ‘No’ on Flawed 2027 Intelligence Authorization Act
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., voted against advancing the 2027 Intelligence Authorization Act out of the Senate Intelligence Committee, he announced today. “The bill is a dramatic retreat for congressional oversight, at precisely the moment when scrutiny of Intelligence Community activities is needed most,” Wyden said. “This bill would deny the U.S. Senate any opportunity to scrutinize and vet key Intelligence Community leaders. It also omits critical, bipartisan … Continue Reading
May 22, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Raise Concerns about Food and Nutrition Service Reorganization
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in raising strong concerns about the plan to reorganize the Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We write with strong concern regarding the reorganization of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” the Oregon senators wrote. “After dramatic cuts to nutrition assistance programs and the significant staff losses at FNS in the past year, … Continue Reading
May 21, 2026
Wyden, Lummis, Espaillat, Massie, Kelly, and Burlison Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Rein in Government Abuse of Subpoenas, Protect Americans’ Rights
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Reps. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., Thomas Massie, R-Ken., Robin Kelly, D-Ill., and Eric Burlison, R-Mo. released a bill today to reform the government’s use of subpoenas, which are used to collect huge numbers of call records, and other personal information, without a warrant or other court oversight. The Subpoena Abuse Prevention Act would require the government to go before a judge in order to get phone call … Continue Reading
May 21, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Release Funding to Lower Energy Costs for Low-Income Americans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to release $360 million in funding from the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and $66 million for the State Energy Program (SEP), an effort to help residents save on their utility bills and make more homes energy efficient. The WAP and SEP programs work to reduce household energy costs while improving health and safety for residents. … Continue Reading
May 21, 2026
Wyden, Heinrich, Jacobs: Justice Department Failed to Protect White House, CIA HQ and Other Sensitive U.S. Government Locations From AI-Enabled Foreign Spy Threats
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Senator Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., called for the Justice Department and Director of National Intelligence to address a major threat to Americans’ national security and crack down on the sale of phone location data from the most important U.S. government facilities to hostile foreign nations. A 2024 executive order required the Department of Justice (DOJ) to regulate the sale of sensitive data, including cell … Continue Reading
May 20, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand White House Fire Election-Denial Czar
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined their Senate colleagues in calling for election-denier Kurt Olsen’s removal as Director of Election Security and Integrity at the White House. The lawmakers emphasized that Olsen has exceeded the legal limit of 130 days as a “special government employee” appointed by Trump to “investigate” the 2020 election, and stressed the danger of Olsen’s ongoing efforts to manufacture baseless claims of voter fraud to support … Continue Reading
May 19, 2026
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $9.3 Million to Support Working Forestlands in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is awarding $3.75 million to Lostine Forest in Wallowa County and $5.56 million to Madrone Ridge Forest in Jackson County. The Senators secured this federal funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior-Environment Appropriations Act through the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Forest Legacy Program. These Oregon projects will help conserve nearly 12,000 acres of working … Continue Reading
May 19, 2026
Oregon Airports to Receive Nearly $19 Million in Federal Investment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as well as U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05), announced that eight Oregon airports will receive a combined federal investment of nearly $19 million to improve their infrastructure, including over $13 million going to Portland International Airport (PDX) for runway and taxiway pavement improvements. “Whether flying for recreation or business, Oregonians’ access to safe, … Continue Reading
May 16, 2026
Wyden Statement on Trump Administration Ignoring Request from Senate Intelligence Committee Leadership to Release Secret Surveillance Court Opinion
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the longest-serving member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called out the Trump Administration for ignoring a request by Senate Intelligence Committee leaders to declassify a surveillance court opinion by May 15. Wyden secured a commitment from Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Vice-Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., to push for release of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court opinion about surveillance … Continue Reading
May 15, 2026
Senate Designates May 16 as “Kids to Parks Day”
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and colleagues today applauded the Senate’s passage of their bipartisan resolution to empower young people and their families to get outdoors and promote healthy outdoor recreation by designating May 16, 2026 National Kids to Parks Day. Started in 2011 with the National Park Trust, the fifteenth annual Kids to Parks Day kicks off a summer-long series of events at local, state and national parks. The Senate … Continue Reading
May 15, 2026
Wyden Presses Trump Administration Over Failure to Respond to Emerging Threat of Synthetic Opioids
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today pressed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over its failure to adequately prepare for emerging drug threats like synthetic opioids known as nitazenes, as well as how its proposed reorganization of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will undermine the agency's work to combat substance abuse. Today’s letter follows a response from HHS to Wyden’s call late last year for the Trump … Continue Reading
May 15, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Raise Concerns about Trump Administration’s USDA Reorganization
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in questioning how Trump’s reorganization of the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture will affect farmers and ranchers in Oregon and nationwide. “We write with strong concern regarding the reorganization and restructuring of the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),” the senators wrote to … Continue Reading
May 15, 2026
Wyden Presses Trump Administration Over Failure to Respond to Emerging Threat of Synthetic Opioids
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today pressed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over its failure to adequately prepare for emerging drug threats like synthetic opioids known as nitazenes, as well as how its proposed reorganization of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will undermine the agency's work to combat substance abuse. Today’s letter follows a response from HHS to Wyden’s call late last year for the Trump … Continue Reading
May 14, 2026
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Josephine, Curry, Coos and Douglas Counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold open-to-all town halls in Josephine and Curry counties on Tuesday, May 26 followed by two more in Coos and Douglas counties on Wednesday, May 27. Wyden will be joined by U.S. Representative Val Hoyle for their Curry, Coos and Douglas county town halls. Heading into these four town halls, Wyden has held 1,164 open-to-all town halls statewide in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 … Continue Reading