Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Make No Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid
Washington, D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have sent a letter with their Senate colleagues urging Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Donald Trump’s administration not to make cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to pay for billionaires’ tax cuts. “Every cut risks Americans paying more, waiting longer, and wading through more insurance red tape for care. Every cut risks hospitals and community health centers struggling harder to keep … Continue Reading
February 17, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Demand Answers From Trump on BPA Cuts, Impact on Electric Grid Reliability
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are demanding Donald Trump answer questions about his administration’s deep job cuts at the Bonneville Power Administration and how those reckless and financially ludicrous decisions add up to undermine the dependability of the electric grid for Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest. “The imminent departure of nearly 20% of BPA’s workforce -- including linemen, engineers, and power dispatchers -- poses a direct and … Continue Reading
February 14, 2025
Wyden Releases Draft Bill to Secure Americans’ Communications Against Foreign Surveillance Demands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released a discussion draft of the Global Trust in American Online Services Act to secure Americans’ communications against abusive foreign demands to weaken the security of communications services and software used by Americans. The bill reforms the CLOUD Act, which permits foreign governments to make surveillance demands directly of U.S. companies rather than going through the U.S. legal system. “Foreign governments shouldn’t get a … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Raise the Alarm Over NIH Funding Cuts that Derail Lifesaving Research, Cost Lives and Jobs in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined an effort led by Washington State’s U.S. Senator Patty Murray in expressing serious alarm over the Trump Administration’s threats to cut the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) federal funding to research universities?and institutions across America and in Oregon, including groundbreaking medical and health research being done at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), University of Oregon (UO), Oregon State … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Join Effort Demanding Trump Reverse Illegal Firing of Independent FEC Chair
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined an effort led by California’s U.S. Senator Alex Padilla to demand President Trump rescind his unprecedented and illegal firing of Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chair Ellen Weintraub. The Senators also advised Trump to pursue the lawful process of consulting with the Senate on nominating a replacement for both Weintraub and future vacancies. The FEC is an independent, bipartisan agency tasked with enforcing U.S. … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Wyden and Biggs Urge New Intel Chief Gabbard to Protect Americans’ Communications From Foreign Surveillance
UPDATE 2/25 - Director Gabbard responded to Sen. Wyden and Rep. Biggs, agreeing to investigate the reported UK order to weaken iCloud encryption, writing, "This would be a clear and egregious violation of Americans’ privacy and civil liberties, and open up a serious vulnerability for cyber exploitation by adversarial actors." Read the full letter here. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Representative Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., today urged Director of National Intelligence … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Wyden Joins Colleagues on Legislation to Protect Schools, Hospitals and Other Sensitive Locations against ICE Raids
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is joining Senate colleagues in introducing legislation that would prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement from making arrests at sensitive locations like hospitals, schools, churches and courthouses in Oregon and nationwide. “The Trump administration’s efforts to upend these policies not only goes against long standing precedent, but also threatens public safety,” Wyden said, noting that the Trump Administration last month … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Wyden Presses Feds for Answers About Prosecutions for Attacks on U.S. Servicemembers and Former Servicemembers
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today pressed the U.S. Justice Department to answer questions about its prosecution of cases under a 2009 federal law that established new penalties for attacks on U.S. servicemembers and former servicemembers who are within five years of discharge. Wyden’s letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi follows constituent concerns in Oregon that the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act does not track or appropriately enforce this law … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Wyden Appoints New Field Representative for Eastern Oregon
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that Andrew Cutler has begun work as his new field representative for Eastern Oregon, covering Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler counties. “I’m gratified to have someone on my team as knowledgeable and passionate as Andrew is about issues in Eastern Oregon,” Wyden said. “A field representative’s role is about being a region’s eyes and ears, hearing directly from locals about … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Wyden, Bonamici Reintroduce Legislation to Promote Gender Equity in Sports
Washington D.C.-U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici today reintroduced legislation that would promote gender equity in college and K-12 sports in Oregon and nationwide. “With so much excitement and momentum around women’s sports in America, including a new WNBA team coming to Portland, I call foul on retreating to a time before Title IX when girls didn’t receive the athletic support they deserve to nourish their potential,” Wyden said. “I’m putting a full-court … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Wyden Senate Floor Remarks on Director of National Intelligence Nominee Tulsi Gabbard
Watch a video of Wyden deliver his remarks here Today, I will be speaking about the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence and my reasons for opposing her confirmation. First, I believe the Senate must consider with this nomination the examples of blatant lawlessness of this administration. At every turn, Donald Trump is attacking the rule of law, disregarding the constitutional role of the Congress, and trying to purge the civil servants who defend this country … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Exempt Seasonal Firefighters from Federal Hiring Freeze
Washington D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined their Senate colleagues to urge the Trump Administration to exempt seasonal firefighters from the federal hiring freeze that’s reportedly preventing the hiring and onboarding of seasonal firefighters, a workforce that already struggles with recruitment and retention. “We write today following reports that hiring and onboarding for federal seasonal firefighters has stopped due to the Trump Administration’s federal hiring … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Join 32 Senators on Bipartisan Legislation to Make High-Quality Job Training More Accessible
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined their Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation that would make high-quality job training more accessible. “The last thing hardworking students should have to worry about is not being able to afford a pathway to a successful career,” Wyden said. “No student should ever be denied the chance to work hard and get ahead. The JOBS Act would make the playing field fairer by giving low-income students the chance … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Wyden Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Beaches in Oregon and Nationwide
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced bipartisan legislation that would preserve coastal beaches in Oregon and nationwide by providing funding for state, local, and tribal governments to test, monitor, and identify recreational waters that are contaminated. “The Oregon Coast offers unmatched opportunities for visitors to make fond memories and for residents of one of America’s most iconic coastlines to live and work in and next to the Pacific Ocean,” Wyden said. “But the … Continue Reading
February 10, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Raise the Alarm Over Oregon Community Health Centers’ Delays in Accessing Federal Funding
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined an effort led by Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to press the Trump Administration about reports that community health centers are experiencing significant delays in accessing funding. There are 34 Federally Qualified Health Centers in Oregon, including two Look-Alikes, operating more than 270 sites—a majority of which serve rural areas with limited access to medical care across the state. Merkley and … Continue Reading
February 10, 2025
Wyden Co-Sponsors Bill to Keep Ski Fees Local
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation that would let National Forests retain a portion of annual fees paid by ski areas operating on U.S. Forest Service lands in Oregon and nationwide. Ski areas operating on Forest Service lands pay fees to the Forest Service averaging more than $40 million annually in exchange for their ability to have access to some of America’s most stunning public lands. The Ski Hill Resources for Economic … Continue Reading
February 07, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Launch Probe into DOGE’s Interference with Department of Education, Access to Federal Student Loan Data
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded an investigation into recent reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers have gained access to federal student loan data, which includes personal information for millions of borrowers. In a letter to Acting U.S. Education Department Secretary Denise Carter from Wyden, Merkley and 14 senate colleagues, they wrote, “This deeply troubling report raises questions about potential exposures … Continue Reading
February 07, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Condemn the Use of U.S. Military Assets or Personnel to Take Over Gaza
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Peter Welch (D-VT) today unveiled a resolution affirming that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and to express the sense of the Senate that the United States shall not deploy U.S. military assets or personnel to Gaza. The resolution rebuts Donald Trump’s … Continue Reading
February 06, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Antitrust Legislation to Take on Algorithmic Price Fixing, Bring Down Costs
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would prevent companies from using algorithms to collude to set higher prices. This legislation builds off legislation Wyden introduced last year to crack down on companies that help landlords increase rents in already high-priced markets. “Collusion is collusion, whether you do it over the phone or using an algorithm. This legislation, along with my End Rent Fixing Act, will send a strong … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Wyden Demands Answers About DOGE’s Illegal Seizure of Americans’ Private Data
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today demanded White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles answer questions about the acute risks posed to national security by letting unvetted ‘DOGE’ staff rifle through Americans’ private data and classified government materials. Wyden, along with fellow Senate Intelligence Committee members Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), demanded … Continue Reading
