WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, along with Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), wrote to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles about the risks to our national security of allowing unvetted DOGE staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials. The Committee members demanded that the administration provide details to Congress about how DOGE staff and representatives are being vetted, which systems, records and information are being shared, and what steps the administration is taking to safeguard them from misuse or disclosure.

“According to press reports, DOGE inspectors already have gained access to classified materials, including intelligence reports, at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sensitive government payment systems, including for Social Security and Medicare, at the Treasury Department, and federal personnel data from the Office of Personnel Management. Further, as of today the scope of DOGE’s access only seems to be expanding, as reports indicate DOGE has now entered the Department of Labor and other agencies,” the senators wrote. “No information has been provided to Congress or the public as to who has been formally hired under DOGE, under what authority or regulations DOGE is operating, or how DOGE is vetting and monitoring its staff and representatives before providing them seemingly unfettered access to classified materials and Americans’ personal information.”

The senators added, “As you know, information is classified to protect the national security interests of the United States. Government employees and contractors only receive access to such information after they have undergone a rigorous background investigation and demonstrated a ‘need to know.’ Circumventing these requirements creates enormous counterintelligence and security risks. For example, improper access to facilities and systems containing security clearance files of Intelligence Community personnel puts at risk the safety of the men and women who serve this country. In addition, unauthorized access to classified information risks exposure of our operations and potentially compromises not only our own sources and methods, but also those of our allies and partners. If our sources, allies, and partners stop sharing intelligence because they cannot trust us to protect it, we will all be less safe.”

The senators also raised alarms about the privacy implications of allowing an unknown number of DOGE staff to access unclassified systems containing information about individual American taxpayers and organizations. 

Wrote the senators, “Unclassified government systems also contain sensitive data, the unintended disclosure of which could result in significant harm to individuals or organizations, including financial loss, identity theft, and exposure of medical and other private personal information. The U.S. Treasury payment systems, in particular, are used to disburse trillions of dollars each year, and contain everyday Americans’ personal information, such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, and bank accounts. Allowing DOGE access to this information raises unprecedented risks to Americans’ private personal and financial information.”

Finally, the senators also noted that there are strict cybersecurity controls in place for federal networks which DOGE does not seem to be following, including by reportedly connecting personal devices to sensitive government systems.

“Such unregulated practices with our government’s most sensitive networks render Americans’ personal and financial information, and our classified national secrets, vulnerable to ransomware and cyber-attacks by criminals and foreign adversaries. The recent unprecedented Salt Typhoon and Change Healthcare attacks that affected tens of millions of Americans further underscore the importance of rigorously fortifying our government systems,” the letter says. 

The full text of the letter is available here and below. 

Dear Ms. Wiles,

We write to express our grave concern with the illegal actions currently being undertaken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which risk exposure of classified and other sensitive information that jeopardizes national security and violates Americans’ privacy. The January 20 Executive Order establishes DOGE under the Executive Office of the President with DOGE Teams established by Agency Heads within their respective agencies, and requires the Administrator of DOGE to report to the White House Chief of Staff. According to press reports, DOGE inspectors already have gained access to classified materials, including intelligence reports, at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sensitive government payment systems, including for Social Security and Medicare, at the Treasury Department, and federal personnel data from the Office of Personnel Management. Further, as of today the scope of DOGE’s access only seems to be expanding, as reports indicate DOGE has now entered the Department of Labor and other agencies.

No information has been provided to Congress or the public as to who has been formally hired under DOGE, under what authority or regulations DOGE is operating, or how DOGE is vetting and monitoring its staff and representatives before providing them seemingly unfettered access to classified materials and Americans’ personal information.

As you know, information is classified to protect the national security interests of the United States. Government employees and contractors only receive access to such information after they have undergone a rigorous background investigation and demonstrated a “need to know.”  Circumventing these requirements creates enormous counterintelligence and security risks. For example, improper access to facilities and systems containing security clearance files of Intelligence Community personnel puts at risk the safety of the men and women who serve this country. In addition, unauthorized access to classified information risks exposure of our operations and potentially compromises not only our own sources and methods, but also those of our allies and partners. If our sources, allies, and partners stop sharing intelligence because they cannot trust us to protect it, we will all be less safe.

Unclassified government systems also contain sensitive data, the unintended disclosure of which could result in significant harm to individuals or organizations, including financial loss, identity theft, and exposure of medical and other private personal information. The U.S. Treasury payment systems, in particular, are used to disburse trillions of dollars each year, and contain everyday Americans’ personal information, such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, and bank accounts. Allowing DOGE access to this information raises unprecedented risks to Americans’ private personal and financial information.

Moreover, there are strict cybersecurity controls for accessing federal networks, which DOGE does not seem to be following, including by reportedly connecting personal devices to sensitive government systems. Such unregulated practices with our government’s most sensitive networks render Americans’ personal and financial information, and our classified national secrets, vulnerable to ransomware and cyber-attacks by criminals and foreign adversaries. The recent unprecedented Salt Typhoon and Change Healthcare attacks that affected tens of millions of Americans further underscore the importance of rigorously fortifying our government systems.

The Executive Branch cannot operate without regard to rules, regulations, or Congressional oversight. The American people, and our intelligence officials, deserve to know that their information is being appropriately safeguarded. We therefore respectfully request written responses to the following questions by February 14, 2025:

1. Provide a list of personnel operating under DOGE, their position or role, and their duties. 
2. Pursuant to the Executive Order, DOGE teams are to be established by Agency Heads within their respective agencies. Provide a list of each agency that has established a DOGE team, and the agency personnel overseeing such team.
3. Under what authorities is DOGE conducting its operations?
4. Who is overseeing DOGE’s operations? 
5. Provide a list of each agency DOGE has requested information from.
6. Provide a list of all unclassified systems, records, or other information DOGE has requested and/or gained access to. 
7. Provide a list of all classified systems, records, or other information DOGE has requested and/or gained access to.
8. Do DOGE staff or representatives have access to any Intelligence Community systems, networks, or other information? If so, please specify the extent of such access.
9. Under what authority is DOGE requesting and/or gaining access to classified information?
10. What security clearances have been provided to DOGE staff or representatives, and who has authorized such clearances?
11. What processes have been followed prior to granting security clearances to DOGE staff or representatives?
12. What vetting for potential conflicts of interest has been conducted prior to granting clearances or access to government systems, records, or other information to DOGE staff or representatives?
13. Provide a list of each DOGE staff or representative who has requested and/or gained access to classified information, what clearance each such individual holds, and who authorized each security clearance. 
14. Who is supervising and/or monitoring DOGE employee access to classified information?
15. What processes have been followed prior to granting DOGE staff or representatives access to sensitive government systems and networks, and who has authorized such access?
16. Who is supervising and/or monitoring DOGE employee access to sensitive government systems and networks?
17. Has DOGE briefed you, the White House Chief of Staff, on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing classified and other sensitive information? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.
18. Has DOGE briefed you, the White House Chief of Staff, on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing government networks and systems? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.
19. Has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency been briefed on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing Treasury’s payment systems? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.  
20. Has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency been briefed on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing USAID’s classified and other sensitive information, including security clearance files? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.
21. What actions if any has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency taken to ensure DOGE employee access does not create counterintelligence risks?
22. What actions if any has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency taken to ensure DOGE employee access does not compromise classified or other sensitive intelligence and/or personal information of intelligence community officials?  

To underscore, DOGE seems to have unimpeded access to some of our nation’s most sensitive information, including classified materials and the private personal and financial information of everyday Americans. In light of such unprecedented risks to our national and economic security, we expect your immediate attention and prompt response.

### 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), alongside a group of 37 senators, wrote to President Trump strongly condemning the President’s recent order to remove Inspectors General (IGs) from at least 18 government agencies and called on the President to immediately reinstate the officials. According to the Inspector General Independence and Empowerment Act, which was signed into law in 2022, the President is required to provide a 30-day notice and substantive reasons for removal in writing to Congress before an Inspector General can be removed. President Trump failed to alert Congress or provide substantive reasoning.

In Virginia, IGs have played key roles in much-needed oversight, including over the quality of the United States Postal Services’ work, and in responding to the horrific animal abuse committed by Envigo Global Services against 4,000 beagles in Cumberland County.

“These officials, which include those appointed by Presidents of both parties, including many during your first Administration, collectively conduct oversight of trillions of dollars of federal spending and the conduct of millions of federal employees,” wrote the senators. “Removing these non-partisan watchdogs without providing a substantive and non-political reason is not lawful, and undermines their independence, jeopardizing their critical mission to identify and root out waste, fraud, and abuse within federal programs.”

The senators continued, “While the President has the authority to remove Inspectors General from office, Congress has established clear requirements to ensure such removals are transparent and are not politicized.  The law requires that the President provide a written 30-day notice to both Houses of Congress and include “the substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons for any such removal or transfer.” With respect to your firings Friday night, Congress has not received either the mandatory 30-day notice or a rationale for their removal. Because your actions violated the law, these Inspectors General should be reinstated immediately…”

IGs are responsible for providing independent oversight of federal programs and play a key role in improving government efficiency and effectiveness. IGs were removed from at least 18 departments and agencies, including Departments of Defense, State, Education, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, the Social Security Administration, and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

In addition to Warner and Kaine, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and John Fetterman (D-PA). 

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Mr. President,  

Your decision Friday evening to remove Inspectors General (IGs) from at least 18 offices across government—including those overseeing the Departments of Defense, State, Education, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, and the Social Security Administration, as well as the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction—does not comply with current law and could do lasting harm to IG independence.  These officials, which include those appointed by Presidents of both parties, including many during your first Administration, collectively conduct oversight of trillions of dollars of federal spending and the conduct of millions of federal employees.  Removing these non-partisan watchdogs without providing a substantive and non-political reason is not lawful, and undermines their independence, jeopardizing their critical mission to identify and root out waste, fraud, and abuse within federal programs. 

Inspectors General are responsible for providing independent oversight of federal programs by working to root out waste, fraud, and abuse and protect taxpayer dollars – oversight our federal agencies desperately need.  They play a key role in improving government efficiency and effectiveness and have helped identify and recover billions of taxpayer dollars.  IG independence is the foundation of this work, and IGs must be free of political influence so that they can carry out their important mission with integrity and credibility.  The federal government and the American people count on these officials to operate in a professional and non-partisan way to hold our government accountable—regardless of who is in power.  Without strong, qualified, and independent officials to lead these critical efforts, the Administration risks wasting taxpayer dollars, and allowing fraud and misconduct to go unchecked. For example, just this week the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued an unlawful memo directing agencies to pause nearly all federal grants and loans, which significantly disrupts the administration of over a trillion dollars of critical assistance to communities, businesses, and organizations across the country.  It is especially vital to have independent watchdogs at each of these agencies to conduct oversight of the impacts of this unconstitutional and unprecedented directive.     

While the President has the authority to remove Inspectors General from office, Congress has established clear requirements to ensure such removals are transparent and are not politicized.  The law requires that the President provide a written 30-day notice to both Houses of Congress and include “the substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons for any such removal or transfer.” With respect to your firings Friday night, Congress has not received either the mandatory 30-day notice or a rationale for their removal.  Because your actions violated the law, these Inspectors General should be reinstated immediately, until such time as you have provided in writing “the substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons” for each of the affected Inspectors General and the 30-day notice period has expired.   

Lastly, if you believe it is necessary to place any of the affected IGs on administrative leave before the 30-day notice period has ended, the law requires that you submit a separate notification to Congress explaining how the IG presents a threat as defined in the Administrative Leave Act. 

Sincerely,

###

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

“Earlier today, my office finally received a copy of the order that was sent on Friday by the acting head of the Department of Justice to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ordering that several of the most experienced and senior officials at the Bureau be terminated.

“We need to be clear about why this matters. I am going to start by sharing a little bit about some of the individuals who were fired, and how they served our country.

“At a time when we are facing threats to the homeland from ISIS and ISIS-inspired terrorists, the president fired the Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division. Bobby Wells began his career as an FBI special agent in 2003, and there are Americans who are alive today because he helped catch terrorists before they had a chance to carry out their plans to attack inside the United States.

“While more than 100,000 Americans die every year due to drug overdoses, the president fired the Assistant Director of the FBI's the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch, which, among other myriad responsibilities, puts criminal organizations and drug traffickers behind bars. Michael Nordwall began his career with the FBI as a special agent in 2002, and he has worked at field offices in Phoenix, Tampa, Denver, Pittsburgh, as well as at FBI headquarters, investigating some of the most dangerous criminals in the United States and making sure that they face justice.

“As we face espionage and counterintelligence threats from China, Russia, and other adversaries, the president fired the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Intelligence Branch. Ryan Young joined the FBI as a special agent in 2001, working counterintelligence cases out of Miami. In 2014, he moved to counterterrorism and established the Syria-Iraq Task Force to counter the threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, and has also worked in Dallas and Los Angeles, managing crises and counterterrorism investigations.

“While new technologies are transforming crimefighting and our national security, the president fired the Assistant Director of the Science and Technology Branch. Jacqueline Maguire joined the FBI as a special agent in 2000. Among her other notable achievements, she was the lead agent for the investigation of the five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77 after the 9/11 terror attacks.

“As the FBI builds a workforce to manage the threats of today and tomorrow and keep adversaries like China from penetrating our secrets, the president fired the Assistant Director of the Human Resources Branch. Timothy Dunham joined the FBI as a special agent in 2002, and has overseen matters relating to counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and transnational organized crime.

“The president fired the head of the Miami field office, which oversees crimefighting in nine busy counties in South Florida, including the president’s home in Palm Beach County, as well as extraterritorial violations of American citizens in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Jeffrey Veltri joined the FBI as a special agent in 2002, working on matters from health care fraud to terrorism. He also deployed to Iraq, where he supported the prosecution of Saddam Hussein.

“In the memo, the acting director of the FBI was also ordered to fire the head of the Washington Field Office, one of the most important field positions in the entire FBI, with jurisdiction over federal crimes in and around Washington, D.C. David Sundberg joined the FBI in 2002 as a special agent, and, among other stops in a distinguished career, served as a leader on the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team.

“These are people who have served our country, protected Americans, and put criminals behind bars. Now they have been pushed out simply for doing their jobs.

“As we deal with a myriad of threats – to our homeland, to our cyber networks, to our economic competitiveness – this blatant abuse of power is making us all less safe.”

###

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on reports that Trump administration is forcing out a large number of senior Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel:

“At a time when we are facing a multitude of threats to the homeland – from terrorism and espionage to drug trafficking and Salt Typhoon – it is deeply alarming that the Trump administration appears to be purging dozens of the most experienced agents who are our nation’s first line of defense.”

###

BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF SEN. WARNER’S SPEECH IS AVAILABLE HERE

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today spoke on the Senate floor about the recklessness of President Trump’s attempt to freeze all federal funding.

“President Trump got hired because he promised to bring down prices. None of this is going to bring down grocery prices. None of this is going to bring down consumer prices. None of this is going to make our government more efficient or effective… This is day 10 of the Trump administration. We have chaos on steroids… In the meantime, I implore the administration: get your act together. Don’t put out two separate statements totally contradicting each other. It just makes chaos and stress go up.”

Sen. Warner’s remarks follow an unlawful directive from President Trump on Monday night to freeze trillions in government grants, loans, and programs. The pause directly threatened countless federal benefits, funding for public schools and community health centers, local domestic violence shelters, firefighters and law enforcement, and much more.

On Tuesday evening, a federal judge halted the unlawful order. On Wednesday afternoon, OMB seemingly rescinded the order, before White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added fuel to the fire with a confusing tweet that implied the freeze was not canceled. The battle, while paused for now, is currently working its way through the federal court system. 

Sen. Warner’s full remarks as prepared are below:

Mr. President, I rise to the floor today amid a great deal of confusion.

Two days ago… the Trump administration issued an order to freeze all federal spending.

Earlier today… less than 48 hours later…that order was formally rescinded.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Shortly thereafter, the White House tweeted… that the federal funding freeze remains in place... and will be rigorously implemented.

So I ask… which one is it?

Unfortunately… I’m not the only one asking that question. And I’ve got a list of stressed-out Virginians to prove it.

In Virginia, federal funding supports countless programs that serve children… seniors… community infrastructure needs… and more.

Yesterday alone, my office was flooded with outreach from organizations and local governments.

I heard from firefighters in Southwest Virginia. They’re worried that they won’t be able to replace their tanker truck without the funding that was supposed to head their way.

I heard from an affordable housing organization in Northern Virginia. They’re worried that they will need to cease operations entirely.

I heard from law enforcement in the Valley… and the greater-Richmond area. These localities rely on federal funding to pay the salaries of several police officers.

That’s right… this federal funding freeze will take cops off the streets. 

I also heard from a number of domestic violence shelters across the Commonwealth. Without funding… they’ll have to leave battered women and children without housing support.

You’ve also got meals for low-income seniors… child care for vulnerable kids… support for teens who have been trafficked… that’s what’s on the chopping block.

As someone who ran a business… as someone who ran the Commonwealth… this is unbelievable.

This is not the way to run the most important enterprise in the world: the American government.

And the truth is: Rescinded or not… these chaotic antics have real consequences.

I know of organizations in Virginia that had to call emergency board meetings yesterday.

I’ve heard from folks who are worried that they’ll have to lay off all their employees. Without federal funding… many organizations simply won’t be able to make payroll.

One Virginian wrote in, saying “the mental and physical damage is already immense.”

It’s not right to toy with people’s lives… or with the resources that keep folks fed… police employed… fire departments stocked… and domestic violence shelters running.

As long as I’m Senator, I’m going to keep fighting back against these antics, which frankly, make the President’s first term look organized.

With that, Mr./Madam President, I yield the floor.   

###

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today blasted the Trump administration for halting all federal grants and loans disbursed by the federal government in a statement:

“President Trump’s reckless and illegal order to stop all federal grant and loan programs will have an immediate and profound negative impact on Americans all over the country. This is money that builds roads and bridges, helps small businesses make payroll, and makes our communities healthier, safer, and more economically competitive.  

“In every corner of Virginia alone, there are enormous, game-changing economic developments projects happening right now that depend on federal spending appropriated by Congress. Whether it’s Helene recovery in Southwest… semiconductor manufacturing in Northern Virginia… pharmaceutical jobs in Richmond… renewable energy in coastal Virginia… or the Microporous expansion in Southside – every one of these projects is in part the result of federal funding from laws we fought tooth and nail to pass in Congress, and could now be endangered thanks to President Trump’s mess.

“We call on the administration to immediately reverse course and allow the dollars Congress approved to continue reaching the places where it is so badly needed before millions of Americans are forced to pay the price for President Trump’s chaos.”

According to press reports, in a two-page memo, the Office and Management and Budget yesterday ordered all federal agencies to unlawfully withhold vast swaths of congressionally approved federal spending.

### 

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Katie Britt (R-AL) in introducing bipartisan legislation to keep kids off social media and help protect them from its harmful impacts. The Kids Off Social Media Act would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17. The legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Fetterman (D-PA), Angus King (I-ME), and John Curtis (R-UT).

“Parents across the country have seen the negative impact of unrestricted social media use on their children’s mental and physical health,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud join this bipartisan effort to help better protect kids and teens online with simple, commonsense guardrails.”

“There is no good reason for a nine-year-old to be on Instagram or Snapchat. The growing evidence is clear: social media is making kids more depressed, more anxious, and more suicidal. Yet tech companies refuse to anything about it because it would hurt their bottom line. This is an urgent health crisis, and Congress must act with the boldness and urgency it demands,” said Sen. Schatz. “Protecting kids online is not a partisan issue, and our bipartisan coalition – which includes several parents of kids and teenagers – represents the millions of parents across the country who’ve long been asking for help.”

“Every parent I know is concerned about the online threats to kids—from predators to videos promoting self-harm, risky behavior, or low self-esteem. Many families have suffered due to Big Tech’s failure to take responsibility for its products. The Kids Off Social Media Act addresses these issues by supporting families in crisis and empowering teachers to better manage their classrooms. I am proud to work with Senator Schatz on this bipartisan legislation to combat the harms social media poses to children, especially in schools. As Chairman of the Commerce Committee, I am confident we can swiftly move this legislation and similar measures through committee and urge Congress to heed the calls of parents everywhere by delivering this bill to President Trump's desk to help protect America’s youth,” said Sen. Cruz.

“Everyone knows how harmful social media can be to kids. As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how these platforms use intentionally addictive algorithms to spoon-feed young people horrifying content glorifying everything from suicide to eating disorders. Yet these companies have proven they will choose profits over the wellbeing of our kids unless we force them to do otherwise. This bipartisan legislation will finally hold social media companies accountable,” said Sen. Murphy.

“There’s no doubt our country is in the throes of a mental health crisis, and the rise of social media usage among children and teenagers is inextricably tied to this issue,” said Sen. Britt. “As a mom, this is something my own kids and their friends have to contend with every day. And as a Senator, I know our nation has to contend with it to safeguard the next generation. Putting in place commonsense guardrails that protect our kids from the dangers of social media is critical for their future and America’s future. I’m committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put parents in the driver’s seat and enact commonsense, age-appropriate solutions to tackle this generational challenge.”

No age demographic is more affected by the ongoing mental health crisis in the United States than kids, especially young girls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 57 percent of high school girls and 29 percent of high school boys felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, with 22 percent of all high school students—and nearly a third of high school girls—reporting they had seriously considered attempting suicide in the preceding year.

Studies have shown a strong relationship between social media use and poor mental health, especially among children. From 2019 to 2021, overall screen use among teens and tweens (ages 8 to 12) increased by 17 percent, with tweens using screens for five hours and 33 minutes per day and teens using screens for eight hours and 39 minutes. Based on the clear and growing evidence, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory in 2023, calling for new policies to set and enforce age minimums and highlighting the importance of limiting the use of features, like algorithms, that attempt to maximize time, attention, and engagement.

“Social media can take a serious toll on kids’ mental health and wellbeing, and it’s critical those problems don’t go unaddressed,” said Sen. Welch. “I’m proud to partner with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to protect children’s safety, mental health, and wellbeing online.”

“Parents across North Carolina are rightly concerned about the mental health crisis impacting the next generation. I’m proud to join this bipartisan bill to set commonsense limits and help protect children from harmful habits that rob them of their attention and undermine their development. I thank Senators Cruz and Schatz for leading this effort,” said Sen. Budd.

“Children in Maine and across the country deserve protection from the potential harm posed by social media – especially during their most vulnerable years,” said Sen. King. “The bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act would limit the harmful impacts of social media by establishing reasonable guardrails such as age minimums for new accounts and restrictions on targeting content to children under the age of 17. Our children deserve to grow up in a safe and supportive environment – and that doesn’t define the harsh tone proliferating on online platforms – so this bipartisan legislation will ensure this protection for generations to come.”

“As a father and grandfather, I’ve witnessed firsthand how deeply the pressures and challenges of the digital age impact our children’s mental health and well-being,” said Sen. Curtis. “The Kids Off Social Media Act isn’t about taking something away; it’s about giving our kids back their childhoods and protecting their development during these critical years. By limiting harmful algorithms and enforcing a reasonable age threshold, this legislation is a vital step in fostering an environment where young people can thrive with fewer distractions and healthier minds. Utah has always valued family and community above all, and I’m proud to support bipartisan efforts like this that put kids first.”

Specifically, the Kids Off Social Media Act would:

• Prohibit social media platforms from allowing children under the age of 13 to create or maintain social media accounts;
• Prohibit social media companies from pushing targeted content using algorithms to users under the age of 17;
• Provide the FTC and state attorneys general authority to enforce the provisions of the bill; and
• Follow existing CIPA framework, with changes, to require schools to work in good faith to limit social media on their federally-funded networks, which many schools already do.

Parents overwhelmingly support the mission of the Kids Off Social Media Act. A survey conducted by Count on Mothers shows that over 90 percent of mothers agree that there should be a minimum age of 13 for social media. Additionally, 87 percent of mothers agree that social media companies should not be allowed to use personalized recommendation systems to deliver content to children. Pew finds similar levels of concern from parents, reporting that 70 percent or more of parents worry that their teens are being exposed to explicit content or wasting too much time on social media, with two-thirds of parents saying that parenting is harder today compared to 20 years ago—and many of them cited social media as a contributing factor.

The Kids Off Social Media Act is supported by Public Citizen, National Organization for Women, National Association of Social Workers, National League for Nursing, National Association of School Nurses, KidsToo, Count on Mothers, American Federation of Teachers, American Counseling Association, National Federation of Families, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Parents Television and Media Council, Tyler Clementi Foundation, Parents Who Fight, Conservative Ladies of America, David’s Legacy Foundation, Digital Progress, HAS Coalition, Parents Defending Education Action, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

###

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) announced $26,250,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Lee County Sewer Improvements Project. The funding was awarded courtesy of the disaster relief package that the lawmakers pushed for and passed in December 2024 as part of legislation to fund the government.

“High-quality water infrastructure is crucial to the health and well-being of our communities,” said the lawmakers. “We’re thrilled to have helped secure this substantial funding for Lee County that will modernize and expand public wastewater collection for the region.”

The project, which has received critical support through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will provide wastewater service to hundreds of households and over 1,000 residents in Lee County, Virginia. The project will also serve as the basis for expansion of Lincoln Memorial University, which is an integral driver of the region’s economy.

This funding proved more urgently needed in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The storm caused significant damage to wastewater infrastructure across Southwest Virginia. This project will help to ensure that the community’s wastewater systems are better protected against future disaster events.

The lawmakers have been longtime supporters of this project. Sens. Warner and Kaine requested funding for the project as part of Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations process, and earlier this month, the lawmakers wrote to the Office of Management and Budget and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to request funding for this project made available by the December 2024 funding bill.

###

BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF THE FULL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE HERE

WASHINGTON – Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today questioned President Trump’s nominee for Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Russell Vought. Vought previously served as the Director of OMB, which has expansive jurisdiction over the performance of federal agencies and administers the federal budget, during President Trump’s first term. He has repeatedly attempted to weaken protections for federal workers and disrupt agencies by shifting their operations across the country.

Reflecting on Russ Vought’s previous experience and statements, Sen. Warner summarized:

“I looked at what you said from just the management standpoint, and it seems like what you want to do is… how many federal workers can you get to quit? How many federal work offices can you get to relocate? And I got to tell ya… your words, ‘We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected because they are increasingly viewed as villains. We want to put them in trauma.’ I got to tell you, you want to be OMB Director and help oversee this workforce… and you want to put the workforce in trauma? Sir, that would be management malpractice.

“Let's look at your record… You helped move the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) out… [as a result,] 170% increase in vacancies at the BLM. GAO, the folks that are supposed to be independent, said that move dramatically impaired its ability to serve the American people. Another failure, that some of us pointed out… you said… ‘Let's move part of the Department of Agriculture out, two bureaus…’ that led to 40% and 60% reductions in effectiveness.”

Vought is an architect of Project 2025, a far-right blueprint for President Trump’s second term that details an expansive vision to slash and relocate key portions of the federal workforce. On Project 2025’s proposal to break up the Intelligence Community:

“So in your Project 2025, you put forward the idea that somehow breaking up the CIA and moving it around the country would make our nation more safe. Do you not understand, sir, that President Trump, by having the intelligence community close to him, has the ability to have from folks from NSA, CIA, Pentagon, FBI in this region?

“Your idea of let's somehow… break up the intelligence community's effectiveness… I would ask you, sir, can you show any evidence that somehow how we would make our nation safer if you put your political litmus test and this idea of bringing ‘trauma’ to the federal workforce by taking the intelligence community, which has been supported on a bipartisan basis year in and year out, and somehow breaking it up and spreading it hither and yon just for a political purpose. How does that make our nation safer?”

In closing, Sen. Warner said:

“I hope my colleagues will raise your completely irresponsible actions on Schedule F… But I urge you, sir, if you become in this position, think long and hard about the men and women of the national security and the intelligence community before you go… trying to score points by simply trying to break up an operation that actually functions better because of their close collaboration. And your comments about the federal workforce I find disqualifying.”

The Budget Committee will vote on Vought’s nomination in the coming weeks.

###

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump’s executive order to attack the federal workforce, including by weakening protections for federal workers that will make it easier to carry out politically-motivated mass firings and imposing an across-the-board government hiring freeze:

“It’s in the best interest of our national security and the quality of the services Americans rely on—including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food inspections, and natural disaster relief programs—that our federal workforce is hired based on experience and expertise, and receives the support needed to effectively deliver. Donald Trump’s executive order is designed to starve and undermine the federal workforce and shows he is prioritizing his obsession with yes-men over the well-being of the American people and workers. We appreciate the steps the Biden Administration took to complicate Trump’s ability to put this order into motion and will continue to push for our legislation to halt it altogether.”

In April 2024, the Biden Administration issued a new rule—which mirrored the Saving the Civil Service Act championed by the senators—to protect federal workers from being reclassified outside of merit system principles, in keeping with congressional intent over many decades. In order to formally undo that rule and put in place Trump’s order, the Trump Administration will have to undergo a months-long review process, which will include a public comment period. Failing to properly undergo this thorough process will prompt legal action.

The senators reintroduced the Saving the Civil Service Act last week and will continue to push for its passage to codify the protections outlined in the Biden Administration’s rule into federal statute, which will make the protections more difficult to overturn.

The federal workforce is comprised of roughly 2 million federal employees hired on the basis of their acumen, and they work each day for the American people—serving in myriad capacities to improve this nation and America’s posture abroad.  These impartial civil servants research vaccines, help families in the wake of hurricanes and deadly fires, administer retirement and health benefits, inspect our food to ensure it is free of disease, and more.

###

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, urged the leaders of federal departments and agencies to promote data collection and transparency around their adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). In a series of letters to 23 department and agency heads, he emphasized the critical importance of collecting data on AI’s impacts promoting productivity and improving government outcomes, and he posed a series of questions about how agencies are making decisions that weigh the benefits and risks of the technology alongside the experiences of federal employees.

AI is having a profound impact on the workforce across both public and private sectors, often allowing workers to complete tasks more efficiently and cost-effectively. In Fiscal Year 2022, 20 of 23 federal agencies reported almost 1,200 current and planned AI use cases. However, agencies haven’t been forthcoming with data on how AI has changed outcomes for federal agencies, or how data is being used to inform future decision-making.

The letter highlights several of these potential and actual use cases, saying, “Per the AI case use inventory, the utilization of artificial intelligence across federal departments and agencies has allowed the federal workforce and contractors to work efficiently and creatively – improving government operations and delivering better results for the American people. These examples include the Social Security Administration using AI to expedite determinations for disability benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs utilizing AI to capture trends and facilitate processing of veteran feedback, and the Department of Justice applying AI to accurately identify and process threat tips.”

In the letter, Sen. Warner stressed the urgent need for departments and agencies to release data on their AI adoption, so they can implement best practices and work to deliver better results for the American people. It also asks how feedback from federal employees and contractors is being considered to make decisions that best support both workers and outcomes.

“While government-sourced, publicly-available information provides sector or task-specific summaries of how the aforementioned federal departments and agencies are adopting artificial intelligence, I am concerned about the limitations of this information with respect to the broader adoption at scale of AI in the federal government, including the need for measurable data and conclusive assessments on how individual AI use cases are enhancing the missions of federal departments and agencies,” Sen. Warner continued. Establishing data collection standards that track the progress of AI’s adoption in the federal government will help better understand the state of integration, assess its effectiveness, implications, and appropriate usages, and guide the direction of future adoption plans.”

Sens. Warner sent the letter to the following federal departments and agencies: The Departments of: Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, State, Interior, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the General Services Administration, NASA, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the National Science Foundation, the Small Business Administration, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.   

Sen. Warner, a former tech entrepreneur and Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has been a longtime leader on AI-related issues, particularly within the federal government. He led bipartisan legislation to help the federal government mitigate risks associated with AI while still being able to benefit from this emerging technology. In May 2024, he introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the tracking and processing of security and safety incidents and risks associated with AI, including through improving information sharing between the federal government and private companies. He also has repeatedly pushed on companies to keep their promises to promote security and safety throughout the rollout of novel AI technologies.

A copy of the letter is available here and below:

I write to you today regarding your agency’s utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and enabled technologies and request information on your department or agency’s use of those systems and technologies. I request sufficient information to understand the purposes to which your department or agency uses those systems, the analyses of the possible and actual uses of AI applications by your department or agency, and the metrics by which your department or agency evaluates the use of those systems, including by federal workers and contractors.

In a world where we are still working to understand the full capabilities and impact of advancements in artificial intelligence, it is critical that the federal government lead in data collection and evidence-based decision-making in the adoption of these technologies. In that same vein, the adoption of AI tools by the federal government should be based on measurable outcomes, such as productivity gains.

The use of artificial intelligence across various occupations and industries is transforming the labor market and impacting the global economy broadly. More specifically, the application of AI in the workforce has yielded promising results, including the potential for increased worker productivity. In many instances, artificial intelligence has allowed for tasks to be completed faster and more efficiently, allowing workers to focus on high-value responsibilities and expanding their range of work.

The private sector, particularly innovative artificial intelligence companies and the businesses that use their products, are leading the charge in measuring and providing real-time dynamic data on the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on their workforce and worker productivity. This data includes, but is not limited to, specific measurements on how AI has led to time-saved on specific tasks, production volume, improving error rates, and customer satisfaction. These metrics and subsequent analyses are useful in evaluating the impact and value of artificial intelligence.

As of the 118^th Congress, the federal government employs over 2 million individuals, with the Commonwealth of Virginia holding the third-largest constituency of federal civilian employees. For FY2024, the federal government executed over 104 million contracts, similarly employing, directly and indirectly, individuals to carry out the missions of federal departments and agencies. These public servants perform essential work for our country, and as detailed below, some of their work is complemented by and supplemented through the integration of artificial intelligence systems and technologies.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) demonstrated that in FY2022, twenty of 23 agencies reported about 1,200 current and planned artificial intelligence use cases. Per the AI case use inventory, the utilization of artificial intelligence across federal departments and agencies has allowed the federal workforce and contractors to work efficiently and creatively – improving government operations and delivering better results for the American people. These examples include the Social Security Administration using AI to expedite determinations for disability benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs utilizing AI to capture trends and facilitate processing of veteran feedback, and the Department of Justice applying AI to accurately identify and process threat tips. The use case inventory applies the definition of artificial intelligence as provided in Section 238(g) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

While government-sourced, publicly-available information provides sector or task-specific summaries of how the aforementioned federal departments and agencies are adopting artificial intelligence, I am concerned about the limitations of this information with respect to the broader adoption at scale of AI in the federal government, including the need for measurable data and conclusive assessments on how individual AI use cases are enhancing the missions of federal departments and agencies. Establishing data collection standards that track the progress of AI’s adoption in the federal government will help better understand the state of integration, assess its effectiveness, implications, and appropriate usages, and guide the direction of future adoption plans.

As such, I respectfully request that you respond to this letter with detailed answers to the following questions by January 17, 2025: 

• Does your department or agency utilize AI?
  • If yes, please provide a high-level summary of the utilization of AI, including uses by administrative or operational units of your department or agency.
  • If no, please detail how your department or agency reached the decision to not utilize AI.
• How does your department or agency identify uses cases, needs, or other instances in which it deems the use of AI to be appropriate? Please describe in detail the decision-making process that your department or agency has, does, or plans to undertake when determining if the use of AI is appropriate.
• Regarding future or planned uses of AI, how does your department or agency incorporate data collection and identify measurable outcomes when determining if the use of AI is appropriate? What metrics does your department or agency use when determining the appropriateness of AI?
• Regarding current uses of AI, how does your department or agency incorporate data collection and identify measurable outcomes when determining if the use of AI is productive or effective? What metrics does your department or agency utilize when determining the productivity or effectiveness of current AI applications? How do these metrics and data collection guide decision-making on future applications of AI?
• Does your department or agency measure worker productivity or productivity gains as a result of the application of AI?
  • If yes, please detail how your agency measures worker productivity. How does this guide your department or agency’s decision-making on future applications of AI?
  • If no, please detail why your agency does not measure this.
• Please describe in detail the process that your department or agency uses to solicit input or feedback from the federal workers or the contractors who will be directly utilizing the planned AI technology.
• When determining if the use of AI by your department or agency is appropriate, please describe in detail how your department or agency considers the need for additional training for the federal workers and contractors who will be directly applying the AI technology as part of their job duties and responsibilities.
• If your department or agency is utilizing AI, please describe in detail how those uses inform your department or agency’s considerations on adjusting mission approach or allocating tasks among the department or agency’s workforce, including, but not limited to, adjusting job responsibilities, daily tasks, or team compositions?

I appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this matter and look forward to your response.