Press Releases
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement:
“I am grateful that all sailors aboard the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford are reported safe, and that their hard work and training allowed them to control this fire. But the Ford and its crew have been pushed to the brink after nearly a year at sea, and they have been paying the price for President Donald Trump’s reckless military decisions. The reported scale of this fire, which has now left hundreds without beds amid this near-historic deployment, is incredibly concerning.
“Our sailors are doing their jobs. The president needs to start doing his: putting their safety, readiness, and dignity ahead of his impulsive decisions.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement:
“Joe Kent’s record is deeply troubling, and in my view he never should have been confirmed to lead the National Counterterrorism Center. I strongly disagree with many of the positions he has espoused over the years, particularly those that risk politicizing our intelligence community.
“But on this point, he is right: there was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice in the Middle East.
“Ignoring the facts to pursue a predetermined war puts American lives at risk and undermines our national security. The United States cannot be led into conflict on the basis of politics, impulse, or a president’s desire for confrontation. We have seen where this road leads before.”
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Warner Statement on Kennedy Center Board Meeting
Mar 16 2026
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), ex officio member of the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, released the following statement on today’s board meeting:
“The John F. Kennedy Center is a national monument, and one of the country’s premier arts and cultural institutions. Established by Congress as a National Cultural Center in 1958 and re-named in 1964, the Center has always had an important relationship with Congress, as Congress funds operations and maintenance and capital repair and restoration for the building.
“Unfortunately, recent actions by the president and certain board members have treated the Center like a personal vanity project, including firing career management staff, removing trustees, and sidelining ex officio members who are meant to provide congressional oversight by failing to share information and plans, and, in one specific case, muting a member who chose to speak up at a board meeting.
“This is not how a national cultural institution should be run. I urge the new leadership to restore transparency, fully engage bipartisan trustees, and provide Congress with the true reasons for a planned two-year closure and renovation, rather than turning the Kennedy Center into a platform for personal glorification.”
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Warner Statement on the Trump Administration's Decision to Temporarily Lift Sanctions on Russian Oil
Mar 13 2026
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s decision to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian oil:
“Trump’s war of choice with Iran has come with immeasurable cost to American lives – with 13 servicemembers killed and hundreds more injured – and passed enormous costs on to working families. Critically, the Trump administration failed to anticipate or plan for many of the inevitable consequences of this attack – including the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has cut off 20% of the world's oil and gas supply. Over the past two weeks, gas prices have skyrocketed more than 60 cents a gallon, spiking prices at the pump and increasing costs for flights, groceries, and more.
“Trump’s decision to pause sanctions on Russian oil will barely make a dent in skyrocketing gas prices, but will enrich Putin as he wages his bloody war against Ukraine. Particularly given Russia’s close relationship with Iran, this short-sighted giveaway to Putin strengthens our adversaries, undercuts Ukraine’s fight for freedom, and leaves American families footing the bill with higher prices.”
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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Chris Coons (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement on an apparent strike on an Iranian girls’ school.
“We are horrified by the latest reports concerning the February 28th strike on an Iranian elementary school near the town of Minab, which resulted in the killing of at least 175 people, most of whom were school children. Independent analysis credibly suggests the strike may have been conducted by U.S. forces, which if true, would make it one of the worst cases of civilian casualties in decades of American military action in the Middle East. The killing of school children is appalling and unacceptable under any circumstance. This incident is particularly concerning in light of Secretary Hegseth’s openly cavalier approach to the use of force, including his statement that U.S. strikes in Iran wouldn’t be bound by ‘stupid rules of engagement,’ in his words.
“American servicemembers are governed by strict regulations that are intended to promote the utmost professionalism, so this incident and any like it must be fully and impartially reviewed. Secretary Hegseth needs to ensure the Department of Defense’s ongoing investigation into this strike is thorough, including whether any policy decisions may have contributed to the catastrophe, and provide clear answers to the American public and Congress about how and why this tragedy unfolded.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the following statement after President Trump fired Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem:
“Kristi Noem should never have been put in that position in the first place. She was unprepared for the responsibility of the job, and the consequences of that have been clear for some time. Her firing is long overdue.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the Court of International Trade (CIT) ordered full IEEPA tariff refunds for all importers:
“Today, the Court of International Trade ruled that companies subjected to President Trump’s illegal tariffs are legally entitled to refunds. The Trump administration must move quickly to reimburse the thousands of small businesses in Virginia and across the country that bore the brunt of President Trump’s harmful and illegal tariffs.”
In February, Warner and Kaine introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026, legislation that would require U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to quickly refund Trump’s illegal tariffs and prioritize the interests of small businesses when doing so.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement regarding reports of demands by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed at a leading AI company:
“I’m deeply disturbed by reports that the Department of Defense is working to bully a leading U.S. company, which has already provided enormous utility to the intelligence community and warfighter. Most Americans oppose unsupervised autonomous weapon systems and AI-facilitated surveillance.
“Unfortunately, this is further indication that the Department of Defense seeks to completely ignore AI governance – something the Administration’s own Office of Management and Budget and Office of Science and Technology Policy have described as fundamental enablers of effective AI usage – and further underscores the need for Congress to enact strong, binding AI governance mechanisms for national security contexts.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement:
“Four years ago, Vladimir Putin launched his brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, expecting a swift victory. Instead, he has been met with the extraordinary courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, who continue to defend their country, and the cause of democracy, against overwhelming odds. And, as allies and partners united in support of the Ukrainian people, Putin has been met with what he fears most: a NATO that is stronger than ever.
“We must be clear about what’s happening on the battlefield. According to a recent unclassified analysis, Russia is suffering staggering losses in this conflict – on the order of roughly 1.2 million troops killed, wounded, or missing, including hundreds of thousands killed, since February 2022. To put that in perspective, these are among the highest casualty rates that any major power has faced since World War II. The Russian military is being dealt a devastating blow, and it is happening without sending a single American service member into combat.
“That reality should shape how we think about this conflict. Supporting Ukraine is not just the right thing to do morally. It is also squarely in America’s national security interest. The Ukrainians are fighting on the front lines of freedom, and in the process, they are delivering a significant strategic setback to Russia’s military for years to come.
“But the Trump administration is failing to meet the moment. From the widespread use of drones, to the pervasive use of electronic warfare, to the integration of commercial systems on the battlefield, the war in Ukraine has demonstrated that modern combat has dramatically changed. There are lessons unfolding every day that should be informing how we equip and train our own forces to prepare for the threats of tomorrow. By not moving more aggressively to provide additional weapons systems and expand training efforts, we are not only shortchanging Ukraine – we are shortchanging our own security. By scaling back U.S. support to Ukraine, President Trump is ceding these lessons to Russia and China and making Americans less safe.
“On this solemn anniversary, we honor the extraordinary sacrifices of the Ukrainian people. And we must recommit ourselves to ensuring they have the tools they need to prevail, because their fight is not just about Ukraine’s sovereignty. It is about defending the democratic values and principles that protect our very own freedoms.”
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Warner Slams Global Entry Suspension
Feb 24 2026
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) slammed the Trump administration today for suspending Global Entry during the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lapse in appropriations, issuing the following statement:
“Global Entry allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited entry into the United States. According to the Trump administration’s own data, in 2025 over 18 million travelers used Global Entry, saving over 300,000 officer hours at 79 ports of entry. Notably, both Global Entry and its domestic equivalent TSA PreCheck were operational in 2025, including during the shutdown of October 1-November 12. Global Entry increases efficiency for travelers and customs agents alike, and the administration’s claims don’t pass the smell test. The administration should be focused on working with us on real solutions, not on inflicting pain for American travelers as a political stunt.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement after the House failed to advance the bipartisan ROTOR Act:
“I am deeply disappointed that the House today voted not to advance the ROTOR Act – legislation that passed the Senate unanimously and includes serious aviation safety reforms in response to the tragic midair collision that cost 67 lives. This commonsense, bipartisan bill reflects critical recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board and has earned the strong support of crash victims’ families and pilot unions alike. It reflects a shared commitment to learning from tragedy and taking meaningful steps to prevent future accidents.
“At a time when aviation safety must remain a top priority, it is especially frustrating that this measure fell short. I urge my House colleagues on both sides of the aisle to engage with the Senate and stakeholders to swiftly find a path forward for these critical air safety reforms. The safety of the flying public depends on it.”
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* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement regarding the General Assembly and Governor Abigail Spanberger’s approval of a new Virginia congressional map that now heads to Virginians for a referendum vote:
“Donald Trump’s decision to prioritize redrawing voting maps across the country instead of focusing on lowering costs for families has created extraordinary circumstances for states like Virginia. There is now a temporary proposal aimed at preserving a fair playing field and protecting Virginia voters. While some states are moving ahead through partisan deals behind closed doors, Virginia is following its constitutional process and allowing voters to render the final judgment. We strongly support this effort and Virginia’s commitment to public transparency throughout the process.”
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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after the Department of Justice fired James W. Hundley, whom the District Judges of the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) unanimously chose as the interim U.S. Attorney for EDVA:
“The Trump Administration has shown complete disrespect for the longstanding process—which Presidents and Senators of both parties have respected and followed in Virginia for years—for the nomination and confirmation of U.S. Attorneys. Now, Trump’s DOJ is also disregarding the law, which clearly gives district judges the power to select U.S. Attorneys when these positions are vacant. The EDVA judges made an excellent decision in picking James Hundley. Virginians deserve a court system that is fully staffed with qualified personnel—and the Trump Administration’s antics are making our communities less safe.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court voting 6-3 to strike down President Trump’s sweeping tariffs imposed on products Americans buy from other countries:
“Today’s ruling is a win for American families who have been paying the price for Donald Trump’s reckless tariff agenda. Let’s be clear: tariffs are a tax on American consumers and small businesses already struggling to keep up with rising costs. As families struggle to afford groceries, rent, and everyday essentials, President Trump doubled down on a blanket tariff policy that drove up prices across the board and injected unnecessary chaos into our economy. His whiplash approach has also undermined trust with our allies and opened the door for China to present itself as a more reliable trading partner than the United States.
“We need a smarter, targeted approach to trade that actually strengthens American competitiveness and helps workers without punishing the very people it’s supposed to help – and one that respects Congress’s role in setting trade policy. Today’s decision is an important step toward restoring some economic sanity for hardworking Americans.”
Sen. Warner has been a consistent voice in Congress pushing back on President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which he has criticized as a tax on American families and small businesses. Warner has joined Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and other colleagues in advancing bipartisan legislation to repeal the administration’s tariffs on Canada imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The measure passed the Senate with bipartisan support and a version of the bill was subsequently approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, reflecting growing congressional opposition to tariff policies that have raised costs for consumers, strained relationships with key allies, and disrupted cross-border trade.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement after the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) retracted and revised 19 intelligence products based on a recommendation from political appointees on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB):
“The strength of the Intelligence Community has always depended on its ability to deliver objective, apolitical analysis, grounded in rigorous tradecraft and insulated from political pressure. That standard must be upheld, and analytic integrity should always be taken seriously, but those judgments must be made by intelligence professionals and not subject to politics.
“The President’s Intelligence Advisory Board plays an important advisory role, but it is not a substitute for the independent analytic judgment of the CIA and the broader Intelligence Community. When a politically appointed body appears to be dictating what analysis is acceptable, it risks eroding confidence in the objectivity of our intelligence.
“Moreover, today’s action does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern in this administration: sidelining career experts, undermining inconvenient intelligence assessments, and allowing political considerations to override professional judgment. When political appointees appear to dictate what analysis is valid, it threatens the credibility, reliability, and independence of the Intelligence Community itself.
“Congress has a duty to ensure that our intelligence remains independent, rigorous, and free from political interference. Protecting that independence should not be a partisan issue – it is a national security imperative. Our country depends on the Intelligence Community’s ability to provide honest, fearless analysis, even when it is uncomfortable or inconvenient for those in power.”
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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement on the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) final report into the January 2025 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft:
“We thank the NTSB for its thorough investigation of last year’s horrific crash near DCA that took the lives of 67 people, and for its recommendations on how to make the airspace around DCA safer. We owe it to the families who lost loved ones on January 29, 2025, and all Americans to implement the NTSB’s recommendations to prevent another tragedy. We’re pleased that the House is expected to vote on the Senate-passed ROTOR Act, which addresses some of the systemic failures that led to this crash. But that alone won’t be enough. The NTSB report underscores the risk unsustainable traffic levels at DCA pose—as we have warned for many years. In the coming months, we will be working on legislation to reduce slots at DCA and meet the NTSB’s other safety recommendations.”
WASHINGTON—Tomorrow, President Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, days after the Israeli Security Cabinet advanced a policy to dramatically expand Israeli control and settlements in the West Bank.
Ahead of the White House meeting, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Democratic Leader, Chris Coons (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, issued the following statement:
“We are deeply troubled by the Israeli government’s decision to blatantly consolidate administrative control over and set the conditions to expand settlements into the West Bank. The Israeli government's actions contravene decades of bipartisan United States policy, including that expressed by President Trump, which asserts the United States supports a two-state solution and that it is not in the U.S. national security interest to support annexation of the West Bank.
“We have long expressed our concern that these reckless moves make the possibility of a two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security, further out of reach. We urge Prime Minister Netanyahu to reverse course. When President Trump meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu this week, we also urge the President to clearly reinforce the opposition of the U.S. government to Israeli government actions that set the conditions for irreversible annexation.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement after an FBI search warrant affidavit regarding the 2020 election results in Fulton County, GA, was unsealed:
“The newly unsealed affidavit shows this search originated from the frivolous claims of Kurt Olsen, an attorney who traffics in debunked falsehoods about the 2020 election. It also makes clear there was no foreign intelligence nexus.
“So why was the Director of National Intelligence there?
“When the nation’s top intelligence official inserts herself into a matter with no connection to a foreign threat, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that the objective was political – namely, getting back into Donald Trump’s good graces – and that her presence was meant to lay the groundwork for baseless claims of foreign interference. Americans should be deeply concerned about what someone with sweeping authority over the country’s intelligence apparatus might do to achieve that.”
Earlier today, Warner and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) called on Director Gabbard to immediately schedule an Intelligence Community (IC) briefing for senators on election security ahead of the 2026 midterms. The request comes in light of Gabbard’s unprecedented involvement in the Fulton County raid and the seizure of voting machines and election data in Puerto Rico, actions tied to unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election. Warner and Padilla emphasized that Gabbard’s conduct – acting without a clear foreign threat, providing inconsistent explanations, and undermining state election officials – makes urgent transparency and a full briefing essential to keep the IC focused on genuine threats, not partisan politics.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) slammed the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) final rule that will allow the Trump Administration to reclassify and fire federal employees without cause or appeals rights. Schedule Policy/Career, previously known as Schedule F, is a policy that President Donald Trump pursued during his first term to strip federal workers of their protections and carry out politically motivated firings.
“For decades, our nonpartisan civil service has set us apart from other countries and enabled us to have stability and continuity no matter who is in the White House. The Trump Administration’s move to reclassify federal employees to make it easier to fire them for political reasons will hurt these workers and their families, threaten our national security, and make it harder for Americans to access the services they need. If we want to continue to lead the world, then we must have a federal workforce based on merit, not politics. We will continue to do everything we can to protect these dedicated public servants, many of whom live in Virginia.”
Warner and Kaine, members of the Federal Workforce Caucus that launched earlier this week, have strongly pushed back against the mass firings and politicization of the federal workforce. Last May, Warner and Kaine sent a letter opposing OPM’s rule change. The senators previously introduced the Saving the Civil Service Act, legislation to protect the merit-based federal workforce system and prevent any position in the competitive service from being reclassified to Schedule P/C.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, released the following statement:
“The independence of the Federal Reserve isn’t optional – it’s the foundation of our economy. It stabilizes borrowing prices so families can buy homes, afford everyday necessities, and run small businesses.
“It is difficult to trust that any Chair of the Federal Reserve selected by this president will be able to act with the independence required of the position, knowing that this administration will levy charges against any leader who makes interest rate decisions based on facts and the needs of our economy rather than Trump’s personal preferences."
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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. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement marking the one-year anniversary of the January 29, 2025 midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft:
“One year ago, 67 people – passengers, airline personnel, and members of the U.S. Armed Forces – died in a midair collision that never should have happened in the first place and must never happen again. Among the dead were more than a dozen of our Virginia constituents, including children and parents returning from a figure skating event in Kansas. Over the past year, we’ve been in touch with the families of those who lost their lives. Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and communities for whom today marks a grim and tragic anniversary, and will continue to do all that we can to work together to enhance safety for the flying public.”
Earlier this week, the senators released a statement in response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) findings about the causes of the accident.
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Warner: Why is Tulsi Gabbard in Fulton County?
Jan 29 2026
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement on the FBI raid in Fulton County, Georgia:
“There are only two explanations for why the Director of National Intelligence would show up at a federal raid tied to Donald Trump’s obsession with losing the 2020 election. Either Director Gabbard believes there was a legitimate foreign intelligence nexus – in which case she is in clear violation of her obligation under the law to keep the intelligence committees ‘fully and currently informed’ of relevant national security concerns – or she is once again demonstrating her utter lack of fitness for the office that she holds by injecting the nonpartisan intelligence community she is supposed to be leading into a domestic political stunt designed to legitimize conspiracy theories that undermine our democracy. Either is a serious breach of trust that further underscores why she is totally unqualified to hold a position that demands sound judgment, apolitical independence, and a singular focus on keeping Americans safe.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the below statement on a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing announcing the agency’s findings from its year-long investigation into the deadly midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that took the lives of 67 people:
“We thank NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, Board Member Inman, the other members of the Board, and the investigators and staff at the National Transportation Safety Board for their thorough and tireless work to uncover the truth about what happened on January 29, 2025. The conclusions announced at today’s hearing are sobering and underscore just how preventable this tragedy was. An overstretched system, overwhelmed air traffic controllers, an overreliance on pilots to maintain separation in one of the most complex airspaces in the country, and the Federal Aviation Administration’s failure to act on safety recommendations all contributed to a disaster that should never have occurred.
“The NTSB’s work will make our airspace safer — but only if Congress and the FAA act on these findings. We remain fully committed to making DCA, every airport in Virginia, and airports across the country as safe as possible. In December, the Senate passed the bipartisan ROTOR Act, which addresses several of the systemic issues implicated in this incident. We call on the House to swiftly pass the ROTOR Act, on the administration to faithfully implement it, and on Congress to continue taking proactive steps to make air travel safer.
“Congress will also soon have the opportunity to dig into the NTSB’s report, as well as two additional reports from the Army, regarding this crash. We will do everything in our power to ensure that these investigations lead to additional, comprehensive steps to enhance safety for the flying public. It is obvious that those steps must include removing slots from DCA. For years, we have warned that continually squeezing more flights into an already constrained airspace and an airport with the busiest runway in America carries serious safety risks. Today’s findings confirm those concerns in the most painful way possible. We owe it to the 67 lives lost, to their families, and to everyone who flies in and out of DCA to learn from this tragedy and to act decisively.”
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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. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement regarding Attorney General Pam Bondi’s announcement that Lindsey Halligan—whom a federal judge ruled was unlawfully appointed to her position—was leaving the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA):
“Virginia Senators of both parties have always worked closely with presidential Administrations, regardless of party, on Virginia nominations. That fair and deliberate process has always included at least one meeting with the nominees to discuss their qualifications—until now. It has been over 16 weeks since the Trump Administration nominated Lindsey Halligan, but neither she nor the White House ever reached out to meet with us or even introduce herself. It’s clear this Administration never expected her to be confirmed by the Senate given her lack of qualifications to serve as a U.S. Attorney, and instead wanted to end-run around the Senate and the Judiciary Committee.”
On January 21, 2025, the Trump Administration appointed Erik Siebert as the interim U.S. Attorney for the EDVA. In April of 2025, after an extensive interview process that included the input of a bipartisan panel of former Virginia U.S. Attorneys and other well-respected members of the Virginia legal community, Warner and Kaine sent a letter to the White House recommending Siebert for the U.S. Attorney position. In May of 2025, the White House announced that Siebert was formally nominated for the role. Siebert was serving in an interim capacity because he had not yet been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. On May 9, 2025, the District Judges of the Eastern District of Virginia unanimously voted for Seibert to continue as the interim U.S. Attorney.
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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) and Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04) issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump Administration allowing Dominion Energy to resume construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project:
“We applaud today’s federal court decision granting Dominion Energy’s request for a preliminary injunction and allowing construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project to resume. This project has already undergone years of rigorous review and is poised to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy while creating thousands of good-paying jobs in Hampton Roads. CVOW represents the kind of investment in domestic energy our region and nation need.
“Today’s ruling is a victory for Virginians, who otherwise would face increased energy costs as a result of the Trump Administration’s shortsighted opposition to clean energy. We will continue to work to protect this critical and growing industry and to ensure clean energy projects that have met every legal and regulatory requirement can move forward without undue political interference.”
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