Duckworth, Durbin Announce NDAA Amendments to Increase Oversight as President Trump Threatens to Deploy Military, ICE to Chicago

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] –  U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced seven amendments to theNational Defense Authorization Act(NDAA)of 2026to push back against the Trump Administration’s threats to deploy the military to cities across the country, including Chicago. These amendments would enhance congressional oversight over President Trump’s expansive use of the military for law enforcement operations in American cities, including without the consent or request of a state’s elected officials.
“I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in sponsoring these amendments that will help ensure our military can remain focused on its core missions and prevent Donald Trump—or any President—from politicizing and misusing our Armed Forces for their own gain,”said Duckworth.“Forcing the military, uninvited, into our cities to intimidate Americans in their own communities does not make our nation stronger, it simply distracts the military from executing its core mission of keeping our nation safe from real adversaries who wish us harm. Trump’s threats against Chicago are more unwarranted, unwanted and unjust moves straight out of the authoritarian’s playbook that will only jeopardize civil rights, undermine our military’s readiness and ultimately weaken our national security.”
“Deploying the military to Chicago without the request or consent of Illinois’ elected leaders is a clear violation of the law by the President. Chicago does not need to be ‘saved’ by President Trump, and this is nothing more than a shameless scare tactic,”said Durbin.“President Trump continues to abuse his power as Commander in Chief, but Senator Duckworth and I are pushing for stronger oversight over his actions.”
The amendments that Durbin and Duckworth announced include:
Both Duckworth and Durbin have repeatedly spoken out against President Trump’s threats to deploy troops and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Chicago. Earlier this week, Duckworth and Durbin led Illinois delegation members in demanding that President Trump abandon his plans to deploy the military to the city, and the Senatorswroteto the leaders of DOJ, DHS, DOD and the FBI to request information about the Trump Administration’s plans to send federal agents and troops to Chicago. After reports surfaced that DOD planned to use Naval Station Great Lakes to enable operations by ICE officers, the Senators requested ameetingwith the Secretary of the Navy. The Senators visited Naval Station Great Lakes earlier today.
As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Duckworth also successfully secured the following amendments in the NDAA that the Committee approved in July and are set to be considered by the full Senate:
A copy of Amendment #3209 is availablehere.
A copy of Amendment #3210 is availablehere.
A copy of Amendment #3773 is availablehere.
A copy of Amendment #3774 is availablehere.
A copy of Amendment #3775 is availablehere.
A copy of Amendment #3596 is availablehere.
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