Washington – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and the 12 other Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee in demanding answers about the Trump administration’s reported plans to weaponize the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) criminal-investigative division in an attack on the free speech rights of progressive individuals and groups the President sees as opponents. The senators noted that politically motivated interference in the administration of tax law is prohibited under federal law and can result in criminal penalties, including incarceration. They sought to learn who has directed and participated in this IRS weaponization, what changes the Administration intends to make to IRS policy, and what individuals and groups the Administration is targeting as part of this abusive, illegal weaponization scheme.

“Federal law prohibits political interference with the administration of tax laws and bars the President, Vice President, White House staff, and all Cabinet-level officials except for the Attorney General from requesting investigations into specific taxpayers,” the senators wrote. “Any effort to weaponize the IRS against President Trump’s perceived enemies is against the law, an abuse of power, and a threat to the integrity of our democratic institutions. [The IRS] cannot be the President’s political attack dog. You must immediately end all attempts to politicize the agency, including attempts to use the agency to attack Americans with different political views.”

The senators’ letter asked the following of Treasury Secretary and Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent as well as Gary Shapley, deputy chief of the IRS Criminal Investigation division:

1. Describe the exact changes that have been made to the structure and operations of IRS-CI since January 20, 2025, and other planned or anticipated changes, including the timeline for implementation of future changes.
1. Provide copies of all memoranda, briefing material, or other documents describing the changes or implementing the changes.
2. Describe any changes or directions to deviate from Part 9, Criminal Investigations, of the Internal Revenue Manual.
3. Identify all executive-level officials whose approval was or will be required to implement the changes.
4. Identify all officials who were involved in the decision making process, including Treasury and White House officials.
2. Secretary Bessent, is it correct that President Trump directed you to identify financial networks which he says are fomenting political violence?
1. Did he or any of his advisors name any individuals or groups which he believes to be involved in such networks? Please provide a list of any individuals or groups named in this context.
2. If so, provide the criteria, and legal basis for such criteria, which the IRS would use to determine whether a group is “fomenting political violence.”
3. Is it correct that one or more officials have “drawn up a list of potential targets that includes major Democratic donors?”  
1. Please describe the process by which the list was developed, including the identity of all personnel who contributed names to the list and all input provided from the White House and Treasury (excluding the IRS).
2. Provide a list of all “targets” on this list.
3. Provide the criteria being used to determine who should be targeted by this effort.
4. Provide a list of each person involved in development of this list, including, but not limited to, Treasury personnel and any IRS employees that are also acting as staff or advisors to the Treasury Department and vice-versa.
5. It has been reported that a report created by Capital Research Center has been used as a basis for accusing the Open Society Foundations of supporting groups that commit acts of terrorism or extremist violence. However, the president of Capital Research Center, Scott Walter, has acknowledged that his organization’s report made no such conclusion.   Has this report, or any other report produced by the Capital Research Center, been used to identify “targets” for IRS personnel to investigate?
4. Is it true that Mr. Shapley “has told people that he is going to replace Guy Ficco, the chief of the investigative unit, who has been at the agency for decades.”? 
1. If so, who will be involved in this decision? 
2. Have you made—or are you planning to make—any other personnel changes at IRS-CI? Please describe those changes.
5. Is it true that Mr. Shapley is proposing changes to the rules on how IRS criminal probes are conducted including reducing the role of chief counsel attorneys?  If so, describe the proposed changes in detail, including any changes or deviations from the procedures and processes in Part 38, Chief Counsel Directives Manual – Criminal Tax.
6. Have you consulted with career Treasury and/or IRS legal counsel on any changes to IRS-CI, and, if so, please provide the feedback you received including any legal opinions regarding these changes?
7. Please confirm that you will fully cooperate with all investigations of this issue by any member of this Committee, TIGTA, the Treasury Inspector General, and GAO, or other oversight bodies?
8. Secretary Bessent, given that your personal and professional history with George Soros is the source of much of your own personal fortune, will you commit to recusing yourself from any matters related to him or his organizations? 

Full text of the letter is available here.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner joined over 20 Senators in introducing the True Shutdown Fairness Act, legislation to pay all federal employees – both those excepted and furloughed – as well as our servicemembers and federal contractors during the current Republican-led shutdown. The legislation would also prevent the Administration’s attempts at mass firings (Reductions in Force or RIFs) while the government is shut down. 

The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Gary Peters (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).

“Every day federal workers are out there keeping us safe, keeping our food supply secure, enforcing our laws, and caring for our veterans. They are the backbone of the services Americans count on. But from the start, this administration has treated the federal workers not as partners in serving the American people, but as adversaries to be traumatized, punished and politicized. Now, Senate Republicans want to give President Trump even more authority to decide which of these workers get paid and which get punished. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to introduce this bill  to make sure every federal employee, and every contractor who works by their side in serving the American people, gets treated with the respect they deserve during this cruel Republican shutdown,” said Sen. Warner.

“No federal worker or servicemember should be punished for this shutdown that was brought on through no fault of their own. Republicans are hell-bent on letting Trump pick winners and losers here, but every federal worker, servicemember, and federal contractor deserves to get paid. Our legislation would ensure just that, and if Republicans are serious about supporting our federal employees, they will support it. We must keep pressing to reopen the government with a responsible agreement that holds the President accountable to the law, protects federal workers and our servicemembers, and prevents massive spikes in Americans’ health care costs,” said Sen. Van Hollen.

“As we urge our colleagues to come to the table and work on a bipartisan agreement that reopens the government, our servicemembers and federal workers are paying the price,” said Sen. Peters. “This bill would ensure military personnel and civil servants receive the compensation they depend on to support themselves and their families while we continue working toward a bipartisan funding deal.”

"Maryland is home to 494,000 patriotic federal workers and federal contractors — they have spent their lives to serving their fellow Americans — ensuring our food and water are safe, making sure our parents and grandparents  get their Social Security checks, researching cures to cancer.  It is our duty to ensure they are paid. We must pass legislation that ensures all federal workers receive the paychecks they earned. These workers cannot be faulted for Republicans shutting down our government. They are not political pawns, they are patriots,” said Sen. Alsobrooks.

“Since day one, the Trump Administration has enacted policy after policy to traumatize, politicize, and hollow out the federal workforce that delivers essential services to the American people. Now, Senate Republicans want to give President Trump more power to decide which of these workers get paid, and which get punished. Nothing about that is fair, and I’m proud to stand with my Democratic colleagues in proposing alternative legislation to ensure that America’s entire workforce of dedicated and patriotic federal employees is treated equally,” said Sen. Kaine.

“In New Mexico and across the country, our federal workers, servicemembers, and contractors dedicate their lives to serving the American people. These hardworking Americans should not bear the brunt of the pain Republicans are inflicting through this shutdown. That’s why I’m joining my colleagues to introduce legislation ensuring every federal employee, servicemember, and federal contractor is paid during the ongoing Republican shutdown. This legislation would also block the Trump administration’s attempts to carry out mass firings while the government remains shut down,” said Sen. Luján.

“It defies common sense and anyone’s definition of fairness to say that only certain federal employees should get paid during a shutdown, or that federal employees should be laid off during a shutdown. While the President may insist that he had ‘no choice’ but to lay off federal workers during the shutdown, let’s be clear: he’s been doing this since day one. We need to do everything we can to end this shutdown and get these folks paid and back to work,” said Sen. Welch. “Our legislation pushes back against the President’s lawless rampage and ensures all of our federal workers are paid for doing their jobs.”

“No federal worker should miss a pay-check because of the Republican shutdown. Our legislation would ensure that any employee, whether exempted or furloughed, would receive the compensation they rightly deserve. But instead of working with Senate Democrats to make government employees whole, Senate Republicans have decided to advance a piece of legislation that would give Donald Trump and Russell Vought control over which federal workers get paid. This isn’t the way to protect our federal employees, and it isn’t the way to re-open the government,” said Sen. Durbin.

“As we work to reopen the government and fight to lower skyrocketing health care costs, federal workers and their families should not have to struggle without pay because of this Republican shutdown. This legislation will restore fairness to federal worker pay, prevent Russ Vought from firing more workers, and ensure families don’t suffer because Trump and his Republican allies want thousands of Delawareans to go to work each morning without collecting a check at night,” said Sen. Coons.

The senators’ legislation is endorsed by American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Partnership for Public Service, and The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Background on the True Shutdown Fairness Act:

The True Shutdown Fairness Act would immediately restart pay for all excepted and furloughed federal workers, servicemembers, and federal contractors during the current shutdown. The legislation also includes a prohibition on Reductions In Force while the federal government is shut down. Federal employees are ensured retroactive pay after a shutdown ends due to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act – legislation that Sens. Warner, Kaine, Van Hollen, and Cardin worked to pass in 2019 and that was then signed into law by President Trump.

Full text of the legislation is available here.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry’s unanimous passage of their two bills to protect lands and watersheds in Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, and Bath counties. Both bills are the result of years Virginia stakeholder-driven collaboration. In June, the senators sent a letter to the committee’s leadership requesting consideration of the legislation.

“Virginia is home to beautiful wilderness spaces and natural resources that should be preserved for future generations to enjoy,” said Sen. Warner. “These two bills protect and expand the Commonwealth’s lands as well as support local economies that depend on tourism and outdoor recreation. I urge my Senate colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation for the benefit of all Virginians."

“As an avid hiker, I know how important it is to preserve Virginia’s natural resources, which are some of our greatest treasures and critical parts of local economies,” said Sen. Kaine. “I’m glad the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced our legislation to preserve wilderness in Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, and Bath counties. I urge my colleagues to support these bills on the Senate floor.”

The Shenandoah Mountain Act would establish a 92,562-acre Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (SMNSA) in Rockingham, Augusta, and Highland counties. National Scenic Areas protect the scenic, historic, recreational, and natural resources in specific areas and allow compatible uses such as outdoor recreation activities.

The Virginia Wilderness Additions Act would add 5,600 acres to the existing Rough Mountain and Rich Hole wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) underscored the urgent need to extend the enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) after a new analysis from the Commonwealth Fund showed that the expiration of these tax credits will have disastrous effects on Virginia:

“Americans don’t want higher health care costs, but if Republicans refuse to join Democrats in extending critical Affordable Care Act tax credits, that’s exactly what they’ll get. This latest analysis is further evidence that the expiration of these tax credits will force people off their health insurance, including many small business owners and employees, and hurt our economy. It’s time for Republicans to acknowledge what many of them have admitted in public and private—that we need to find a path forward to protect Americans’ health care and reopen the government.”

The enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of the year, and Republicans have refused to extend them to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing and keep millions of Americans from losing their health insurance. Democrats have asked Republicans for months to address the expiration of the ACA tax credits, and have proposed legislation to extend them and reopen the government. However, Republicans have blocked the bill’s passage.

The Commonwealth Fund’s analysis shows not extending the tax credits will lead to:

• 94,000 Virginians unenrolled in health insurance through the ACA marketplace.
• 50,000 Virginians uninsured.
• $295 million lost in federal funding.
• $434 million lost in state Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• 3,400 jobs lost.
• $31 million lost in state and local tax revenue.

With the government shut down, Warner and Kaine continue to push to reopen the government and protect Americans’ health care. Earlier this month, the senators sounded the alarm about the rise in monthly health care costs for Virginians under the ACA. The effort to prevent health care premiums from skyrocketing comes just months after President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans slashed Medicaid to offset the cost of billionaire tax cuts in the Republican budget law.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the announcement that Merck will invest $3 billion to expand its Elkton vaccine manufacturing facility. This investment will create between 300 and 500 permanent jobs, in addition to new jobs related to construction to support the expansion.

“Merck’s decision to significantly expand its Elkton operations is a testament to Virginia’s world-class workforce and business climate, and builds on recent federal and state investments to position the Commonwealth as a national leader in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production,” said Sen. Warner. “By bringing API manufacturing and the vast majority of its global small molecule production here, Merck is making a long-term investment in our economy while strengthening America’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. This expansion will create hundreds of good-paying jobs in the Shenandoah Valley and reaffirm Virginia’s leadership in the life sciences sector. I’m also glad Merck will continue to produce in Elkton its cancer-preventing vaccine and other childhood vaccines at a time when political attacks and misinformation are undermining trust in medicine and public health – even as vaccines remain one of the most revolutionary, life-saving innovations in history.”

“Merck’s $3 billion investment in Elkton is welcome news for Virginia’s economy, and is a testament to our incredible workforce and reputation as an exceptional hub for the manufacturing of live-saving medicines and vaccines,” said Sen. Kaine. “It’s been a pleasure to work with Merck over the last 20 or so years to continue expanding this facility, and to have had the chance to visit with the Virginians whose hard work there plays an integral role in the health and well-being of Americans and people around the world. The Gardasil vaccine has led to the drastic reduction of HPV cancers worldwide—and I’m proud to have included the vaccine as part of Virginia’s mandate when I was Governor, making Virginia the first state to do so. Particularly as the Trump Administration sows doubt about the effectiveness of vaccines, it couldn’t be more important that we recognize and celebrate the impressive progress that Virginians and Merck have shared with the world.”

Construction to support the expansion will begin this year and is expected to be completed by 2029.

Warner and Kaine have been longtime advocates of Merck’s expansion in Virginia and investments in biotechnology research and manufacturing across the Commonwealth. In 2021, they secured more than $52 million for the Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing cluster in Petersburg under the American Rescue Plan. In 2023, the Petersburg cluster was designated as a Tech Hub under the Chips and Science Act, which Warner championed in Congress. 

As Governor, Warner secured a $40 million investment from Merck to prepare and grow its Elkton facility in order to produce a vaccine candidate in the company’s pipeline. In 2006, while Governor of Virginia, Kaine helped secure a further $57 million from Merck to expand the role its Elkton facility plays in producing Gardasil, Merck’s cervical cancer vaccine.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and U.S. Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05) led their colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought urging OMB to follow the law—which President Donald Trump signed in 2019—that requires furloughed federal employees to receive back pay during a government shutdown. The members underscore that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which was passed and signed into law during the last shutdown under President Trump, is clear that all federal employees, whether they are excepted or furloughed, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends.

“During the 2018-2019 shutdown, we worked with President Trump to enact the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019, the intent of which is clear – federal employees are entitled to retroactive pay in the event of a government shutdown. We applauded President Trump for signing this bipartisan bill into law,” the members wrote.

“The law is clear: all impacted government employees, regardless of excepted or furloughed status, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends, which is consistent with the guidance currently provided by federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM),” the members wrote. “OPM’s shutdown guidance from September 2025 still states that furloughed federal workers will be provided back pay once the government reopens.”

The members continued, “The decision by OMB to remove critical guidance on federal employee back pay is causing unnecessary stress for the federal workforce comprised of nearly 2.2 million employees.”

“We request you immediately clarify and update the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations Document and other relevant materials to affirm that furloughed employees will receive back pay, as is required by law,” the members concluded.

In addition to Warner, Kaine, Murkowski, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Beyer, and Hoyer, the letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It is also cosigned by U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Janelle Bynum (D-OR-05), André Carson (D-IN-07), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Shomari Figures (D-AL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Jesús García (D-IL-04), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), Pablo Hernández (D-PR-01), Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Val Hoyle (D-OR-4), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Bill Keating (D-MA-09), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), John Larson (D-CT-01), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Susie Lee (D-NV-03), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Lucy McBath (D-GA-06), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), James McGovern (D-MA-02), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Robert Menendez (D-NJ-08), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Frank Mrvan (D-IN-01), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD-02), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05),  Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Luz Rivas (D-CA-29), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13), Mark Takano (D-CA-39), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07), James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Director Vought:

The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) recent update to the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations document implies that furloughed federal workers are not entitled to back pay. Additionally, a draft OMB memo stated the administration would deny back pay to furloughed federal workers for the current government shutdown. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, we worked with President Trump to enact the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019, the intent of which is clear – federal employees are entitled to retroactive pay in the event of a government shutdown. We applauded President Trump for signing this bipartisan bill into law. 

On January 16, 2019, the Senate unanimously passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act to guarantee back pay for all impacted federal workers once a government shutdown ends. This law was enacted during the longest government shutdown which lasted 35 days at the end of 2018, and into the beginning of 2019. Prior to the law’s passage, Congress had to pass specific legislation after each shutdown to ensure furloughed workers received back pay. 

Explicitly, the law guarantees back pay for all federal employees in the event of a government shutdown. “Each employee of the United States Government or of a District of Columbia public employer furloughed as a result of a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for the period of the lapse in appropriations, and each excepted employee who is required to perform work during a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for such work, at the employee’s standard rate of pay, at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates, and subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse.” The law requires that retroactive pay be required in the event of any government shutdown after December 22, 2018.

The law is clear: all impacted government employees, regardless of excepted or furloughed status, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends, which is consistent with the guidance currently provided by federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). OPM’s shutdown guidance from September 2025 still states that furloughed federal workers will be provided back pay once the government reopens. The decision by OMB to remove critical guidance on federal employee back pay is causing unnecessary stress for the federal workforce comprised of nearly 2.2 million employees.

Thus, we request you immediately clarify and update the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations Document and other relevant materials to affirm that furloughed employees will receive back pay, as is required by law.

Sincerely,

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today applauded the Senate passage of the nation’s annual defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill, which includes key Warner-led priorities, must now be conferenced with the House’s version of the bill, before ultimately being signed into law by the President.

“As the world becomes more dangerous and the technology available to our allies and adversaries alike becomes increasingly more complex, I’m pleased to see the Senate pass this bipartisan legislation,” said Sen. Warner. “This legislation will strengthen our military, provide greater support to servicemembers, bolster our technological capabilities, and address challenges across the globe.”

For the Commonwealth, this bill:

• Authorizes more than $958 million for 13 military construction projects across the Commonwealth, which Senator Warner advocated for with the Armed Services Committee. This includes:
• $380 million for a Public-Private housing project at Naval Station Norfolk
• $188 million for dry dock modernization at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
• $24 million for the completion of two Child Development Centers (JEB Little Creek-Ft Story and NS Norfolk), and $15.5 million in funding for the VA National Guard to complete the next stage of their Aircraft Maintenance Hangar project.
• Provides $30.9 billion for Navy shipbuilding – more than $10 billion over the President’s budget request.
• Greenlights the procurement of up to five Columbia-class submarines, as well as funding for the Virginia-class submarine and aircraft carrier programs.
• Prevents funding from being misused to reduce the workforce at any public shipyard, including Norfolk Naval Shipyard.  
• Authorizes NASA to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague for expenses related to relocated PFAS contaminated water wells to a safe location. From the late 1970s to 1988, PFAS were used at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. In 2017, NASA detected PFAS in wells used to provide drinking water to the Town of Chincoteague and has since needed to provide the town with drinking water – first from an uncontaminated NASA well and then through a groundwater treatment system that filtered out the PFAS. This provision was championed by Sen. Warner and based off legislation he introduced earlier this year.
• Includes a major housing package championed by Sen. Warner that would boost the nation’s housing supply, improve housing affordability, help reduce homelessness, expand access to homeownership, and increase oversight and efficiency of federal regulators and housing programs.
• Includes a CDFI package championed by Sen. Warner that would: 
• Expand the reach of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program by reducing the minimum loan size needed to be eligible to utilize the program. This will allow more community development projects and make the program accessible to smaller CDFIs.
• Increase transparency within the CDFI Fund by requiring the Treasury Secretary to testify annually before Congress.
• Supports additional capacity for CDFIs in both rural and urban communities.
• Expands a USDA pilot program that works with Native CDFIs to help Native families achieve homeownership.

For a stronger military, this bill:

• Authorizes a 3.8 percent pay raise for servicemembers. 
• Creates a new Personal Property Management Office, and establishes stricter requirements and oversight mechanisms for any future contract related to the servicemember PCS move process. This builds on Sen. Warner’s successful efforts to secure modifications to the military’s broken moving system. Sen. Warner previously raised concerns about ongoing delays and confusion, and sounded the alarm about missed pickups, delivery issues and communication difficulties with the military contractor responsible for moves.
• Includes a package of reforms to barracks housing, led by Sen. Warner, which will allow for increased oversight of housing for these servicemembers. These provisions mandate a review of housing quality methodologies, reform those metrics to ensure they accurately reflect the quality of housing, and take steps to standardize methodologies across military services; develop a centralized tracking system for barracks construction needs; and improve a number of reporting requirements aimed at increasing transparency and improving the quality of housing for our servicemembers.
• Makes a number of additional improvements to military housing policy, including increased visibility around dispute resolution payments by landlords, a prohibition on mandatory non-disclosure agreements (NDA) as a condition of securing housing, as well as greater transparency requirements around the calculation of housing allowance rates.
• Creates additional safety requirements in the wake of the American Airlines Flight 5342 collision with a military helicopter over the Potomac River. Specifically, this legislation sets a requirement that all DoD aircraft operating near commercial airports be equipped with position broadcast technology. This legislation also directs the development of standard operating procedures that maximize the use of such technology, as well as a review of DoD policies and procedures for data gathering, risk assessment and risk mitigation of U.S. military flights, especially as it relates to differentiating between flights in the U.S. domestic airspace.
• Directs DoD to reverse recent name changes to Virginia military installations, specifically directing that these be reverted to the names recommended by the DoD’s Naming Commission. This bill also prohibits the Secretary of Defense from making any further changes to these names.

To strengthen our nation’s technological capabilities, this bill:

• Includes Warner provisions to support DoD’s fielding of advanced nuclear technology. The bill includes provisions that would create an Advanced Nuclear Working Group responsible for accelerating the procurement and use of advanced nuclear capabilities, improving coordination across the Department and federal government, and developing advanced nuclear pilot projects to support national security missions and emergent needs. The bill also provides greater authority for DoD to attract and scale private investment in these technologies. Sen. Warner worked with bipartisan colleagues to secure inclusion of these provisions in the Senate bill.
• Requires Cyber Command to develop an AI roadmap for industry and academic collaboration to build AI-enabled cyber tools and technologies.
• Requires a strategy to reestablish a credible deterrence against cyberattacks targeting American critical infrastructure using the full spectrum of military operations.
• Requires the establishment of a Biotechnology Management Office, as well as the development of a DoD-wide strategy to enhance the use of biotech products.
• Requires the development of guidelines on the ethical and responsible development and deployment of biotech within DoD.
• Requires DoD to develop a roadmap for the small, unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) industrial base to support existing sUAS programs.
• Requires regular congressional briefings from the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) intercepts by the North American Aerospace Defense Command or United States Northern Command.

To bolster our ability to address strategic global challenges, this bill:

• Prohibits a unilateral reduction in U.S. military force posture in Europe or U.S. relinquishment of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe position until the Secretary of Defense assesses the impact on U.S. and NATO interests and certifies to Congress that such action is in the national interest.
• Prohibits a unilateral reduction in U.S. military posture in the Korean Peninsula or a change in wartime operational control over the Combined Forces Command until the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that such action is in the national interest.
• Authorizes $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative and expands the authority to cover combat casualty care and medical equipment.
• Directs DoD to engage with Taiwan to develop a joint program to co-develop and co-produce drone capabilities. It also directs DoD to assess Taiwan’s critical digital infrastructure and identify actions to strengthen it.
• Extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2028 and increases authorized funding to $500 million.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to continue to provide intelligence support, including information, intelligence, and imagery collection to the Government of Ukraine.
• Directs DoD to work with Ukraine to develop a depot-level maintenance plan to ensure that western-transferred military equipment can be sustained.
• Establishes a pilot program to deepen cybersecurity cooperation with the Government of Panama and the Panama Canal Authority and further protect the Panama Canal from adversarial actors.
• Requires an evaluation of the intelligence capabilities of the People’s Republic of China and Russia in Cuba.
• Requires a report to assess the advisability, feasibility, and cost of using DoD personnel in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide translation and interpretation services in connection with border security operations.
• Directs DoD to evaluate and, if necessary, improve communication between the U.S. and Mexican militaries during border-related support.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement:

“I welcome the announcement that Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to bring about a ceasefire, secure the release of hostages, and lay the groundwork for a more durable peace following the conflict. For two years after the brutal terror attacks by Hamas, this war has brought devastating loss of life, fueled instability across the Middle East, and deepened divisions in the international community, with Palestinian civilians bearing tremendous hardship and suffering throughout.

“The release of hostages and the ceasefire are critical first steps, but they must be followed by sustained diplomacy to make sure this agreement holds and leads to lasting peace. That will require ensuring Israel’s security needs are met, meaningful and urgent relief for the civilians in Gaza, and a sustained commitment from all parties to continued diplomacy to advance lasting security and dignity for all in the region.

“This is a fragile but important moment. Everyone involved must work to ensure that this agreement is fully implemented and serves as a foundation for a sustainable peace and greater regional stability.”

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* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *

Photos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to ‘The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner’

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined colleagues to introduce the Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act. This legislation requires federal financial industry regulators to issue guidance encouraging financial institutions to work with federal employees and small businesses impacted by a government shutdown – including offering flexible financial arrangements to prevent them from facing additional financial hardship brought on by penalties for late payments, overdraft fees, and credit damage. In addition to Sen. Warner, this bill is sponsored by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

“Hundreds of thousands of federal workers and contractors in Virginia and across the country have been furloughed or are working without pay because of a government shutdown that is out of their control,” said Sen. Warner. “This bill will protect federal workers and advise financial regulators and institutions to work with those impacted by the shutdown.”

“No federal workers or contractors deserve to face economic ruin because of a shameful Republican shutdown that they have nothing to do with. That’s why we’re pushing to ensure that they have ways to safeguard their financial futures while we work to reopen the government. And we will keep fighting for a responsible government funding agreement – one that holds this lawless president accountable and prevents a massive spike in health care costs for families across America,” said Sen. Van Hollen.

“This shutdown is a tsunami of Donald Trump’s own making, and Congress must act to shield impacted federal workers, contractors, and small businesses from it,” said Sen. Booker. “Hardworking Americans shouldn’t suffer or see their credit scores impacted because of a shutdown that leaves them without paychecks through no fault of their own. This legislation would ensure that financial regulators act quickly to provide basic guidance in the event of a shutdown and would help families and small businesses stay afloat.”

“While President Trump continues his callous witch hunt against federal workers, I am proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen to protect our civil servants, contractors, and small businesses here in Maryland. Federal financial industry regulators must immediately issue guidance so financial institutions can work with all those impacted by this Republican Shutdown to get them the support they need. Our civil servants deserve better,” said Sen. Alsobrooks.

“Federal workers, government contractors, and small businesses are often forced to make tough decisions about their finances during a shutdown,” said Sen. Kaine. “A number of Virginian credit unions and community banks have stepped up to provide flexibility and support affected individuals and businesses. This legislation would require federal financial regulators to issue guidance to encourage this flexibility.”

“Government shutdowns exacerbate the burden on federal workers, contractors, and small businesses, making it harder for individuals who rely on federal funding to make ends meet,” said Sen. Gillibrand. “Helping these individuals navigate the uncertainty of a shutdown that is no fault of their own is the least we can do. By requiring federal financial regulators to issue guidance promptly, this commonsense legislation will do just that, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to support it.”

“Federal workers and contractors are regular, hard-working Americans who have bills to pay and financial obligations to meet,”said Rep. Kweisi Mfume. “They should not be forced into financial hardship because Republicans in the Congress refuse to take the action necessary to re-open the government while preventing American healthcare premiums from skyrocketing.”

To read the full text of the bill, click here.

Sen. Warner also joined a group of 24 of his Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to the heads of federal financial regulatory agencies calling on them to immediately issue such guidance as federal workers, contractors, and small businesses face the prospect of struggling to make ends meet due to a crisis that was not of their doing. The letter, which was led by Sens. Van Hollen and Alsobrooks and Rep. Kweisi Mfume, called on the federal financial regulators to immediately take the steps required under the legislation, noting that similar actions were taken during past shutdowns and financial institutions need clear regulatory assurance to act swiftly. The letter was sent to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Acting Chair Travis Hill, Federal Reserve System Vice Chair Michelle Bowman, Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould, National Credit Union Administration Chair Kyle Hauptman, Acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Russell Vought, and Conference of State Bank Supervisors Chair Tony Salazar.

The letter is co-signed by U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA); and U.S. Reps. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Don Beyer (D-VA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), April McClain Delaney (D-MD), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA).

To read the full text of the letter, click here.

WASHINGTON – As the Trump Administration blatantly tries to weaponize federal funding and misuse official government communications channels for partisan propaganda purposes, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner and 23 Senate colleagues sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought demanding the Trump Administration immediately remove unprecedented partisan political messages from official government websites and other official communication accounts that violates federal law.

While President Trump has the same free speech rights as every other citizen and may use the ‘bully pulpit’ of the presidency to express his political views, the rules and regulations of federal agencies and federal law itself clearly restricts the political activities of civil servants using official government resources. Federal agencies have an obligation to operate and serve the American people without regard to politics. Indeed, during the first Trump Administration, the government shut down twice for a length of 3 and 35 days respectively, and agency websites followed past precedent in notifying Americans about the shutdown.

As early as September 30, 2025, in the lead up to the ongoing government shutdown, federal agencies began a seemingly coordinated effort to blast partisan political messages from official government websites, accounts, and email correspondence. For example, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) official website is currently dominated by a misleading red banner that reads: “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government,” while some furloughed employees in the U.S. Department of Education report that their non-partisan out-of-office messages have been modified without their consent to try and make it seem like they blame Senate Democrats for voting against Republican funding proposals.

In their letter to OMB, the senators call for the immediate removal of the illegal, partisan messages to comply with the law. The senators are also seeking to hold accountable those within the Trump Administration who have directed the behavior.

“These activities are in blatant violation of Section 715 of P.L. 118-47, which prohibits federal funds from being used for propaganda purposes ‘designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress,’” the senators wrote. “These activities also appear to violate the Anti-Lobbying Act and the Hatch Act. We urge you to immediately remove these illegal, partisan messages to comply with the law and hold accountable those who have directed this behavior.”

The letter notes a pattern of abuse and politicization of executive branch agencies that includes official sites for HUD, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Additionally, civil servants at the SBA, Department of Labor, Department of Education, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) were also reportedly instructed by Trump Administration officials to improperly set automatic reply email messages containing partisan political propaganda.

Blasting the administration’s blatant attempts to mislead the American public and misuse American tax dollars, the senators also pointed out: “As you well know, these messages are misleading, given that Democrats have voted four times over the last week to fully fund the government only to be rebuffed by our Republican colleagues.”

“Spirited public debate has its place, but agency resources, including websites or emails, should not be used to send overtly political, and in this case, misleading messages, to the American people, the senators continued. 

In addition to Sen. Warner, the letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

Violating the Hatch Act can be cause for removal from federal service, and other penalties may include grade reduction, ban from government employment for up to five years, suspension, reprimand, or a civil penalty up to $1,000. Violating the Anti-Lobbying Act can result in civil penalties of $10,000 to $100,000 per occurrence.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Director Vought,

As Congress continues to work on funding the federal government for Fiscal Year 2026, the White House and political appointees assigned to agencies within the executive branch have been engaged in a widespread campaign of partisan political activities. These activities are in blatant violation of Section 715 of P.L. 118-47, which prohibits federal funds from being used for propaganda purposes “designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress.”[1] These activities also appear to violate the Anti-Lobbying Act[2] and the Hatch Act.[3] We urge you to immediately remove these illegal, partisan messages to comply with the law and hold accountable those who have directed this behavior.

As early as September 30, 2025, federal agencies began publicly posting various notices and other media from official accounts, on official websites, and in official email correspondence that violate Sec. 715’s prohibition on propaganda.

For example, beginning on September 30, 2025, the official website for the Department of Housing and Urban Development displayed a blatantly partisan political banner on their website claiming that the “Radical Left are going to ... inflict massive pain on the American people...[4]” On October 1, 2025, similar partisan political messages appeared on the websites for the Small Business Administration, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Agriculture, among others.

In addition to website updates, federal employees - including of the Small Business Administration, Department of Labor, Department of Education, and Department of Veterans Affairs - were reportedly directed to set automatic reply email messages containing partisan political propaganda which asserts that “Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations.[5]” As you well know, these messages are misleading, given that Democrats have voted four times over the last week to fully fund the government only to be rebuffed by our Republican colleagues. But more important, they are clear violations of Section 715, which prohibits the use of federal funds by an agency to publicly support or oppose legislation pending before Congress.

Spirited public debate has its place, but agency resources, including websites or emails, should not be used to send overtly political, and in this case, misleading messages, to the American people.

Congress has enacted longstanding laws to ensure that partisan political activities and propaganda do not impede the government’s ability to serve all Americans. However, given the blatant, systematic, and repeated violations of Sec. 715 of P.L. 118-47, and likely the Anti-Lobbying and Hatch Acts, over the last week, you must immediately remove these partisan messages from all executive branch agency communications and websites. 

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WASHINGTON – Following the federal government shutdown, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) in introducing legislation to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who face furloughs and missed paychecks when the federal government is shutdown. Unlike federal employees, the thousands of federal contract workers—including janitorial, food, and security services workers—have no assurances that they will receive back pay to make up for their loss of hours and pay during a shutdown. 

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act would ensure federal contract workers, including low-wage service workers providing security, food and janitorial services, are fairly compensated for the wages and benefits lost due to a lapse in appropriations, also known as a government shutdown. It is estimated that more than 327,000 federal contractors make under $15/per hour.  

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act would: 

• Provide contract workers, including low-wage service workers, with back pay (and restored paid leave benefits, if used), after a government shutdown, 
• Cover costs associated with back pay for workers in an amount equal to their weekly compensation up to $1,442, (250% of the federal poverty level for a family of four), and 
• Require the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to submit a report on federal contractors accessing back pay. 

The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), AFL-CIO, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), Communication Workers of America (CWA), Iron Workers International, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO), UNITE HERE and American Federation of Teachers (AFT). 

“A government shutdown hurts every community. Federally contracted workers may never see backpay when Washington politicians turn their backs on them, including security officers protecting our monuments and janitors keeping courthouses clean,” said SEIU International President April Verrett. “Our leaders need to respect the essential workers who keep this country running in good times and bad. Congress should pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 now so every government worker doesn’t have their lives turned upside down during another government shutdown.”

“The IAM Union represents tens of thousands of federal contract workers who will be furloughed or forced to work without pay in the event of a government shutdown. These men and women work side-by-side with federal workers performing jobs that are absolutely vital to the government and to the people of the United States,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “We applaud Senators Smith, Kaine, Warner, Van Hollen, and Alsobrooks for leading the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act to ensure federal contract workers are compensated for wages lost during a shutdown. The IAM Union is proud to join the fight to ensure these contract workers are made whole should a government shutdown become a reality.” 

In addition to Sens. Warner and Smith, this legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). 

A companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07)

A copy of the bill text can be found here. 

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