Senate Democrats unite against OMB grant rule; Republicans launch anti-fraud task force

Releases from at least four Democratic senators — Merkley, Murray, Kelly, and Schiff — each announced the same caucus-wide letter to OMB Director Russell Vought on Thursday, making it the day's most coordinated Democratic action. The letter argues the proposed rule would dramatically expand agencies' authority to terminate or suspend grants at any time, require political appointees to override expert peer review, and inject partisan considerations into scientific and public health grantmaking.

"Rather than focusing on fulfilling the statutory purposes of a grant program, applicants and recipients will be forced to play an endless guessing game, trying to determine which of their activities may or may not run afoul of OMB's ambiguous regulations or the president's whims," the senators wrote.

The letter also contends the rule would weaken transparency and accountability requirements. "Article I of the Constitution vests the power of the purse in Congress, which Congress has historically exercised by appropriating taxpayer dollars through federal grants to fund critical programs, including to protect public safety, advance scientific research, and support health and nutrition initiatives. OMB's proposal unlawfully seeks to substitute Congress's role in directing federal spending with the President's preferred priorities," the senators wrote, concluding with a demand to rescind the proposal.

Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., joined Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., in announcing a new Senate Anti-Fraud Task Force this week. The group — which also includes Sens. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Ashley Moody, R-Fla., Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis. — said it will identify vulnerabilities in federal programs and strengthen government accountability.

"We are days away from celebrating America's 250th birthday. Preserving this great nation for another 250 years will require us to recommit to protecting Americans, our tax dollars, and our values. This includes combatting fraudsters that are stealing from Americans and driving up the cost of living," said Ricketts.

"The fraud epidemic burdening our country is one of the most pressing issues facing Americans today. It's organized theft on a national scale, and the Americans paying the price are the ones swinging the hammer and driving the trucks, working their tails off to make ends meet," said Schmitt.

FAA airport grants dominated the pre-recess funding wire Thursday. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Sen. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., announced $107 million for 16 California airports through the Airport Improvement Program, with the largest award — $28.1 million — going to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport. "Millions of travelers across the country and globe rely on California airports for safe and efficient travel, commerce, and tourism," said Padilla. "These investments are critical to support and modernize critical airport infrastructure, enhance safety for passengers, and support our state's economy."

Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., announced $32,463,128 for eight Virginia airports through the FAA's Airport Infrastructure Grant program for Fiscal Year 2026. The largest award — $22,121,621 — goes to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to construct a new concourse at Washington Dulles International Airport. "Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Virginia's airports continue to receive the investments they need to improve safety, accommodate growing demand, and better serve the travelers that pass through them," the senators said.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., announced two separate airport funding packages: $32 million for 11 airport infrastructure projects across North Dakota through the FY2026 Airport Improvement Program, and a $24 million BUILD grant for the I-94 State of Good Repair Project near Bismarck. "These investments in our airports are critical to improving safety, increasing efficiency and meeting the growing demand of communities across our state," said Hoeven.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., released two separate letters Thursday targeting Trump administration actions on education and public health. In one, Kelly joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in demanding the administration reverse four interagency agreements announced June 16 that would transfer special education programs under IDEA and civil rights enforcement out of the Department of Education. "The administration's latest attempts to dismantle the Department of Education through the four Interagency Agreements (IAA) announced June 16, 2026, are outrageous and put the educational outcomes of students and their rights in the classroom at risk," the senators wrote to Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

"Congress created a clear federal oversight role for ED because of our nation's ugly history of denying children with disabilities a free appropriate public education," the senators continued.

Separately, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., led a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding reinstatement of more than 50 Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grants canceled in the middle of their five-year project periods. "We write to express our outrage over your recent decision to terminate the vast majority of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grants, which will deprive teens across the U.S. of vital resources and threaten to unwind decades of progress made in reducing teen pregnancy," the senators wrote. The letter notes that Congress appropriated $101 million in FY2026 for the program and states that "[a]llies of the president have increasingly suggested that declining teen birth rates are a 'problem.'"

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., joined Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Gary Peters, D-Mich., and 21 other Senate Democrats in demanding the Trump administration explain delays — in some cases exceeding 20 years — in toxic PFAS chemical cleanups at military installations nationwide.

The letter, directed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, flags a DoD timeline update that pushed PFAS remediation at Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson out to 2047 — a 15-year delay from the previous 2032 estimate. Near Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, an investigation previously due to conclude last year is now projected to finish in 2032. "We remain greatly concerned by the staggering delays at some installations, which include over 170 installations with delays ranging from 1 year to over 20 years," the senators wrote. "Communities around these installations must not be left behind, and remediation work cannot wait."

The senators also raised a timing question about the updated timetable. "Furthering our concern is the fact that this most recent set of delays is backdated to September 30, 2025, raising the question of whether the Department has further expanded the breadth and extent of its delays in the previous nine months," they wrote.

Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., led more than 15 colleagues in pressing the Office of Personnel Management to withdraw a proposed rule requiring government-wide nondisclosure agreements for all federal employees. The senators warned the rule's broad definition of "Confidential Government Information" could chill lawful whistleblower disclosures and obstruct congressional oversight.

"The proposal defines 'Confidential Government Information' expansively to include virtually any non-public information relating to agency operations, personnel matters, procurement activities, or deliberative processes. This definition is considerably broader than categories of information traditionally subject to specific statutory protections," the lawmakers wrote.

The senators cited 2025 survey data from the Partnership for Public Service showing less than a quarter of federal employees felt confident they could report a suspected violation without retaliation — a dramatic drop from 2024 levels. "At a time when many federal employees already fear retaliation for reporting wrongdoing, the proposed NDA risks further chilling lawful disclosures and undermining the transparency and accountability that Congress depends upon," they concluded.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, sent a letter Wednesday to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and IRS CEO Frank Bisignano demanding answers on the proposed $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and an accompanying tax amnesty arrangement for the Trump family.

Whitehouse noted that despite Blanche telling a House subcommittee that DOJ would not move forward with the fund, DOJ lawyers recently declined to submit a sworn declaration to that effect in federal court. "Although Acting AG Blanche subsequently told a House subcommittee that DOJ would not move forward with the Fund, DOJ lawyers recently refused to submit a sworn declaration providing that assurance to a federal court. Acting AG Blanche also said during the House hearing that the Trump family tax amnesty and legal immunity addendum will remain in effect even if DOJ is not moving forward with the Fund," wrote Whitehouse.

The senator also flagged a Florida federal judge's inquiry into whether DOJ and Trump's personal lawyers committed fraud on the court. "DOJ may have deliberately disregarded defenses readily available to the IRS in order to orchestrate the purported 'Settlement Agreement,' and potentially — as alleged by thirty-five former federal judges in their motion to reopen the [Trump v. IRS] case — 'the parties used the proceedings before [the] Court as a legal pretext,' constituting a fraud on the court," Whitehouse wrote.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., announced Thursday he will introduce legislation to end what he characterized as the "birth tourism" industry, citing a Supreme Court ruling earlier in the week on the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship in Trump v. Barbara.

"The cheapening of American citizenship must end," said Scott. "It is a privilege and an honor to be a citizen of this nation, so the insanity of the birth tourism industry must end."

Scott described a specific target for the legislation: "For too long, wealthy adversaries and those who have no interest in seeing the United States flourish have perverted our system. A whole industry exists in China that has assisted more than 1 million Chinese nationals in obtaining American citizenship and passports. The fact that this is allowed to continue is insane," he said. Scott framed the effort as bipartisan: "This is not a partisan issue, and I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle rally to this urgent matter, especially as we honor the sacrifice, significance, and opportunity on our 250th birthday. American citizenship is to be cherished, not cheapened."

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., announced $11,537,519 in FEMA funding for Louisiana communities still recovering from Hurricanes Ida, Laura, and Francine. The largest award — $7,912,285 — goes to Plaquemines Parish for pumping station repairs stemming from Hurricane Ida. "Louisianians never quit and have faced devastating natural disasters like Hurricanes Ida, Laura and Francine with real courage and determination. This $11.5 million in funding will help our communities repair damaged facilities, cover recovery costs and keep rebuilding until the job is done," said Kennedy.

Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., separately released a statement following FEMA's announcement of more than $197 million in federal aid to rebuild western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. The body text of Budd's release was truncated in available materials, limiting additional detail.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to act swiftly in an ongoing antidumping investigation of Mexican strawberry imports, alleging that more than 200 million kilograms of fresh strawberries flooded U.S. markets last winter at prices below cost of production.

"The facts of this case are clear. During the most recent winter season, more than 200 million kilograms of fresh strawberries from Mexico, valued at nearly $1 billion, flooded the U.S. market, much of it priced at a fraction of the cost of production. These dumped imports arrive precisely during the November-through-March window when Florida's growers harvest their crop, undercutting our farmers at the only time of year they can sell," Scott wrote to Lutnick.

The senator argued the pattern fits a broader scheme: "For decades, Mexico has used heavy subsidies and unfairly priced exports in a deliberate scheme to displace American growers of seasonal and perishable produce from our own domestic market. Florida's strawberry growers are the latest target of this scheme, and they deserve the full protection of U.S. trade law."

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., joined the Oregon congressional delegation Thursday in pushing back on the Bonneville Power Administration's decision to end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement program — a hatchery funding arrangement that has been in place since 1993. The move creates a projected $2.4 million shortfall across Oregon and Washington state fish and wildlife agencies and Clatsop County.

"The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries," the lawmakers wrote to BPA Administrator Kavulla.

The delegation noted the abruptness of the cut: "When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year's stock of hatchery fish has already begun." Oregon's Department of Fish and Wildlife reports more than 7 million hatchery salmon currently in production are at immediate risk.

Sens. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., renewed their objection Thursday to the Defense Health Agency's plan to close all inpatient services at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon and convert it to an ambulatory care center. The facility serves between 30,000 and 40,000 active-duty servicemembers, retirees, their families, and DoD civilians in the Augusta region.

"We have become increasingly concerned by the information shared thus far regarding DHA's decision to move forward with these closures absent any clear and adequate plan for servicemembers, their families, veterans, and staff," Ossoff and Warnock wrote to Assistant Secretary Keith Bass.

"As presented, this plan will only create further chaos and could hinder access to care for servicemembers, their families, and veterans at Fort Gordon and the Augusta region. We therefore urge you to immediately halt all plans for reductions of service at DDEAMC and rescind Congressional notification, while DHA continues to clarify and provide additional information to Congress and the impacted community about this decision," they wrote.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., marked the opening of the first federal Prison Fellowship Academy at Federal Correctional Institution El Reno — the first nonprofit program to receive a designation as an evidence-based recidivism reduction program under the First Step Act by the Bureau of Prisons.

"This ribbon-cutting ceremony represents a breakthrough for religious liberty behind bars and a victory for all who affirm the principles of human dignity, accountability and fairness, both inside prison and upon reentry," said Lankford.

Heather Rice-Minus, Prison Fellowship president and CEO, said: "This partnership with the BOP not only represents major progress in bringing transformational programming to more people in federal prisons, but it also highlights the belief that no person is beyond redemption." Lankford co-authored the bipartisan MERCY Act with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., which was incorporated into the First Step Act and limits solitary confinement for juveniles in federal custody.

Three Republican senators issued Independence Day statements Thursday tied to the nation's semiquincentennial. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., issued a video statement calling for national unity. "This Fourth of July, I hope we will set aside our differences and reflect on the values that unite us as Americans. There is so much to celebrate in this remarkable nation, and we are always strongest when we come together in gratitude, pride, and patriotism," Hyde-Smith said.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., launched a video series from the Capitol retelling moments from the founding era and recorded a tribute on religious freedom. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, published an op-ed in the Lima News and Highland County Press reflecting on the theme of intergenerational sacrifice, drawing on his own adoption story and tracing American history from Plymouth through the Industrial Revolution. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., marked the occasion with a visit to the Hoover Dam in Boulder City, meeting with small business owners and local officials to discuss tourism and economic concerns.

Signals

• volumeToday's 30 releases run 66.5% below the Thursday average of 89.5, consistent with the Independence Day state work period recess.
• recessThe Senate is in its Independence Day state work period recess; no floor votes are scheduled.
• coordinatedAt least five Democratic senators — Merkley, Murray, Kelly (twice via separate releases), Schiff, and Padilla — each issued standalone releases on the same OMB grants letter, signaling a coordinated caucus-wide rollout.
• silent breaksSen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has been quiet for 59 days; Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., issued a statement today on FEMA funding for western North Carolina — the two North Carolina Republican seats are producing an asymmetric communication pattern.

Quiet desks

Senators with no release in two weeks or more.

• Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC59d
• Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY29d
• Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY23d