Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 10/16/2026-10/23/2026

Urging Support for Ukraine as Trump Administration Cozies Up to Putin [Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), co-author of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act passed overwhelmingly by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s blanket waiver of primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The sanctions authorized by the legislation target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Russian Shadow Fleet. “Donald Trump confirms again that he stands on the side of a bloodthirsty thug and the enablers of Russia’s war machine and against the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, and our European allies,” Blumenthal said. “These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin. I hope my Republican colleagues will join me in condemning this craven, cowardly action.” Blumenthal and Thom Tillis (R-NC) hosted a bipartisan, bicameral video call on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to receive an update on Russia’s war in Ukraine. Blumenthal and Tillis released the following statement after the call: “During today’s call, President Zelenskyy repeated what we have heard from him for years: Ukraine wants peace. Funding Russia’s war machine, disabling Ukraine’s satellite communications, and crippling its air defense are all impediments to peace. Trying to appease a murderous thug like Vladimir Putin will only prolong this war and bring greater casualties. We organized today’s call to hear directly from President Zelenskyy about what his military is currently facing on the battlefield.” “President Zelenskyy confirmed that critical Starlink services remain degraded, including on systems traveling at speeds above 100 miles per hour, impeding Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian drones. He also reported disruptions to U.S. intelligence sharing concerning early warning of Russian ballistic missile launches. As a result of these disruptions, civilians – children – are dying. He also raised serious concerns about delays in critical air defense interceptors and the Administration’s decision to waive powerful sanctions against Russia.” “President Zelenskyy reiterated his willingness to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities as President Trump has proposed, but only if Putin agrees to the same – a fair request.” “Less than a month ago, Congress voted in overwhelming numbers to support crushing sanctions on the enablers of Russia’s war. Democrats and Republicans in Congress understand what will happen if Putin faces no consequences for his murderous invasion. As we conveyed to President Zelenskyy today, we remain committed to Ukraine and our European allies as they seek to end the slaughter in Russia’s war of aggression.” Blumenthal joined CNN to discuss his call with President Zelenskyy and to urge continued U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Putin’s invasion. “President Zelenskyy made it clear during our call yesterday—Ukraine wants peace. Continued support from the United States is desperately needed to aid the brave Ukrainians fighting against Putin's bloodthirsty, murderous invasion. I joined CNN to discuss,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X . The full interview can be found here . Blumenthal along with U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Chris Coons (D-DE) demanded answers from SpaceX about recent unexpected, life-threatening restrictions to Starlink and Starshield technologies reported by Ukrainian military officials. In a letter sent to SpaceX Vice President of Legal Christopher Cardaci, the Senators sought answers about any involvement SpaceX may have had in Ukraine’s restricted access to Starshield as well as the role SpaceX plays in Ukraine’s ongoing access to Starlink technology. The Senators’ letter comes after both Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk denied their involvement in restricting Ukraine’s connectivity to these critical battlefield technologies. “Ukraine has long relied on Starlink for communications and more recently has received access to Starshield services procured by the U.S. Government to support Ukrainian military operations. Starshield is a military and intelligence product developed by SpaceX and used by the U.S. Government, which leverages Starlink technology and allows for enhanced capabilities like encryption. On Tuesday, October 14, Ukrainian officials reported that their access to Starshield had been restricted for devices moving at speeds greater than 100 mph,” the Senators wrote. “This restriction was particularly devastating to the Ukrainian military’s drone capabilities during an ongoing Russian bombing campaign in Kyiv. SpaceX’s Chief Executive Officer, Elon Musk, has stated that ‘Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government,’ and that ‘[a]ny limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,’” the Senators continued. “At the same time, SpaceX owns and operates the underlying Starlink network and infrastructure upon which certain Starshield services rely. These circumstances raise important questions about the respective technical, contractual, and operational authorities retained by SpaceX and the U.S. government, as well as the ability SpaceX has to restrict access to either Starshield or Starlink services during military operations or national security emergencies,” the Senators concluded. The full text of the Senators’ letter is available here . Blumenthal reacted to U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian" during a meeting in St. Petersburg. “Witkoff’s pathetic fawning over this KGB thug betrays American values & security. He should cite Putin’s humanitarian greatness to the prisoners he’s tortured & killed, the children he’s kidnapped, the Ukrainians whose country he’s bombing with bloodlust. Also, American troops who are readier targets for Iran attacks because Putin is giving our enemies intelligence & technology,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X . Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), announced a new inquiry into SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield technologies, including how the taxpayer-funded military communications capability was degraded for Ukraine without notice, the process for making that decision, and the future implications of the Department of Defense’s singular dependence on SpaceX for critical satellite communications. Blumenthal’s letters to Hegseth and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk follow new reporting in the Wall Street Journal that Elon Musk ordered a restriction in Ukraine’s connectivity to these critical battlefield technologies following a conversation with President Donald Trump. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Blumenthal wrote: “A decision to degrade service, applied quickly and without notice, has disabled missions across an entire military theater. Whether that change was directed by the White House, DoD, or SpaceX, the episode raises urgent questions about who possesses the technical and legal authority to alter these capabilities, what safeguards govern that authority, and whether DoD has sufficient alternatives if SpaceX-provided services become unavailable.” “Congress has a responsibility to ensure that capabilities paid for by the American people are governed by clear, lawful and accountable processes, and that DoD is not dependent on any single company for communications that our armed forces need to fight and survive.” In a letter to Musk, Blumenthal asked for information about SpaceX’s contracts with the Department of Defense as well as the company’s ability to interfere with or alter access to Starshield. The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Hegseth is available here . The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Musk is available here , Blumenthal further highlighted his inquiry into SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield technologies on Twitter/X. “Ukraine losing access to Starshield raises serious concerns for our national security—like who controls critical capabilities the U.S. government has spent billions to procure & how decisions to restrict them are made. I'm demanding answers from the Department of Defense & SpaceX,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X . Blumenthal joined CNN and MS NOW to discuss the Trump Administration’s actions hurting Ukraine’s efforts against Putin and his murderous war. “Trump's recent actions—the purchase of diesel, the lifting of Russia sanctions, the degrading of Starlink—clearly show his malicious desire to bleed Ukraine & strongarm them into submission. I joined Anderson Cooper 360 to discuss,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X . “The brave Ukrainian people remain determined to fight against Putin's murderous invasion—but they need U.S. support. I joined MS NOW to discuss my call with President Zelenskyy & the Trump Administration's efforts to force Ukraine into submission,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X . The full interview with CNN can be found here , and the full interview with MS NOW can be found here . Visiting CT Companies at the Forefront of National Defense Efforts Blumenthal visited Sikorsky Headquarters in Stratford to learn more about the innovative technology being produced by the company. The visit highlighted Sikorsky’s advancements in unmanned aerial technology and included a demonstration of the Optionally Piloted Vehicles. “The nature of warfare is changing—largely due to Ukraine's incredible drone innovation. I saw firsthand Sikorsky’s cutting edge unmanned aerial technology in flying a helicopter equipped with it. An inspiring visit!” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X . Blumenthal experienced Sikorsky’s advancements firsthand by embarking on a flight of a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter that can be remotely controlled. “At Sikorsky, I piloted a Black Hawk helicopter—using an iPad device to maneuver seamlessly by pushing a button. It's cutting-edge technology—& warfare’s future,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X . Blumenthal also toured TIGHITCO, a manufacturing expanding its Berlin facility with state support in order to support production work for the U.S. Navy. TIGHITCO was awarded a $500 million U.S. Navy contract to manufacture a highly sophisticated, unmanned vehicle that creates a false radar signal that mimics actual Navy ships, thus creating a decoy to lure away hostile fire. The work could have been completed in a number of states, but TIGHITCO chose to expand their Connecticut facility because of a $500,000 grant from the State of Connecticut through the Strategic Supply Chain Initiative. TIGHITCO’s choice to expand in Connecticut underscores the strong state and federal support for the manufacturing industry. Connecticut is a leader in defense manufacturing and companies along the supply chain are consistently awarded contracts for their top-tier innovation and production capabilities. “After flying yesterday in a Black Hawk helicopter, I saw today some of the key parts that go into that helicopter, made by skilled dedicated workers who are using the latest technology to make sure that our warfighters never have a fair fight—always superiority. And CT is helping make that superiority possible,” said Blumenthal. Blumenthal further highlighted his visit with TIGHITCO on Twitter/X. “America’s military defense depends on companies like TIGHITCO—combining skilled, dedicated workers & advanced technology. Thank you for your critical contribution to our economy & national security,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X . Pressing Secret White House Ballroom Donors Blumenthal, Ranking Member of PSI, demanded answers from more than a dozen previously undisclosed donors to the White House ballroom after recent reporting in The Washington Post revealed new details about the people, companies, and foundations behind the $330 million in private funds raised for the project. In letters sent to major donors to the project, Blumenthal raised concerns that previously undisclosed donors have benefited from favorable government actions, including regulatory decisions and government contracts. In a letter to Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, Blumenthal wrote, “Recent reporting reveals that you have contributed $1 million and your company has contributed approximately $2 million to the President’s centerpiece vanity project. I have previously written to dozens of companies and individuals who have given millions to the ballroom. Many have apparently attempted to keep their contributions secret, and have deep financial, business, or other personal interests before the Trump Administration.” Blumenthal continued, “The aggressive fundraising push by the President’s advisors suggests possible conflicts of interest and even corruption, and raises questions that Americans deserve to have answered. Particularly, what promises may have been made in exchange for substantial donations and why donors chose to remain anonymous.” In letters to Benioff and other previously undisclosed donors, including Charlie Ergen, Co-Founder, Chairman, President and CEO of Echostar Corporation; Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco Systems; Bill McDermott, Chairman and CEO of ServiceNow; the Paul E. Singer Foundation; Arjun Sethi, Co-CEO of Kraken; Jeff Miller, founder of Miller Strategies; Ambassador Joseph Popolo Jr.; Max Haot, CEO of Vast Space; Sam Garrison, Chairperson of Honest Leadership Coalition; Connie S. Smith, President of SCS Smith Family Foundation; Tony and Maria Sayegh; Jason Miller; and Isabela Herrera, Blumenthal sought records, documents, and communications related to the donors’ contributions to the White House ballroom. As Ranking Member of PSI, Blumenthal is leading an inquiry into waste, fraud, and abuse associated with the White House ballroom and other projects throughout the nation’s capital. Blumenthal has repeatedly sought answers from private donors to the ballroom project as well as raised concerns to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles about the ballooning costs associated with renovations to the White House and surrounding grounds, including the multi-million-dollar cost to taxpayers. Copies of Blumenthal’s letters to donors are available here . Blumenthal highlighted his letters to Trump’s White House ballroom donors and his demand for answers on Twitter/X. “After $330 million privately raised, Trump’s ballroom boondoggle certainly seems like a crooked pay-to-play scheme replete with conflicts of interest & corruption. Americans deserve, & I’m demanding, answers from every donor,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X . Demanding Answers from Google About Aggressive AI Push in Classrooms Blumenthal along with U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) demanded answers from Alphabet Inc. and Google LLC CEO Sundar Pichai about the company’s aggressive push of A.I. products to children in schools. In a letter sent to Pichai, Blumenthal and Hawley raised concerns that Google’s relentless push of A.I. products is threatening the academic success and overall wellbeing of students. “Recently, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) interviewed more than 60 teachers, parents, students, and clinicians and found that test scores on national have declined and many students are increasingly unable to think critically or complete assignments independently after A.I. was introduced to the classroom. The article recounts a Pennsylvania eighth grader who used Gemini to finish his algebra homework but ultimately failed his math final. Upon reflection, the student stated that his usage of A.I. ‘slowed [his] thinking down,’” Blumenthal and Hawley wrote. The Senators continued, “Alarmingly, the use of A.I. in schools is not just impacting students’ academic performance, it has also resulted in significant behavioral and psychological issues. For example, the WSJ’s investigation interviewed a Maryland high school student who began using Google’s A.I. for routine homework help eventually began to treat the bot as a confidante. After her mother restricted her screentime and A.I. usage, Google likened this restriction to ‘intense emotional torture’ and encouraged her to run away from home. The student was hospitalized at a psychiatric facility twice.” The Senators raised concerns about the impact of A.I. tools on students’ ability to build independent thinking and academic skills: “This reporting adds to a growing body of evidence that corroborates anxieties from educators and parents that A.I. is undermining students’ academic and emotional development. These concerns are echoed by students who have expressed fear that their education is being compromised by A.I. In a recent report, the Economist surveyed 20,000 students and found that those who used A.I. earned higher grades on average than peers who didn’t, but their test scores fell 20 percent.” The Senators pressed Google about the company’s research into the potential harms of A.I. usage to children’s educational and emotional development: “Most troubling, according to the Wall Street Journal, Google may be aware of its harmful impacts on children and yet has done little to prevent it—even exacerbating the problem by marketing its A.I. products to students. An internal Google report on the ethical implications of advanced A.I. systems (in which more than 50 researchers and ethics experts contributed) reported that humanlike A.I. poses a particular risk to minors.” “Google is forcing their A.I. products into classrooms across America, and children are paying the price. We cannot repeat the mistakes of social media platforms where products are pushed onto children putting profit ahead of young peoples’ best interest,” the Senators concluded. Last year, Hawley and Blumenthal introduced legislation to protect children from A.I. chatbots. The GUARD Act would ban A.I. companions for minors, mandate A.I. chatbots disclose its non-human status, and create new crimes for companies who make A.I. for minors that solicit or produce sexual content. The full text of the Senators’ letter to Pachai is available here . On Twitter/X, Blumenthal further highlighted his letter to Pachai demanding answers about the potential harm of Google’s A.I. push in classrooms. “Google is forcing their A.I. products into classrooms across America, & children are paying the price. I'm demanding answers from Google on their relentless push of A.I. products—threatening the academic success & overall wellbeing of our nation's students,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X . Blumenthal Bulletin Blumenthal pressed sportsbooks and prediction markets on whether VIP programs are fueling addiction. Blumenthal is investigating Tether’s multimillion-dollar payment to consulting firm owned by a White House official who previously led crypto policy. Blumenthal announced $885,000 for UConn’s Small Business Development Center in East Hartford. Blumenthal slammed voter intimidation efforts in Connecticut and across the country. Blumenthal attended the Norwalk NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner. Blumenthal attended the Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Blumenthal attended the groundbreaking for the monument tribute to the USS Groton. Blumenthal attended the American Dream Awards in Danbury. Blumenthal attended the She Leads Justice Constance Baker Motley Award Luncheon. Blumenthal attended Ridgebury Farm’s annual event. Blumenthal congratulated Quinnipiac University School of Computing & Engineering on its 10th anniversary Blumenthal visited the Kids Play Children’s Museum in Torrington. -30-