In The News
In dueling DC hearings, Rep. Ramirez calls Noem a liar and Sen. Duckworth questions Trump troop deployments
U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez and Sen. Tammy Duckworth went face-to-face with top Trump administration officials in separate Washington hearings Thursday, with Ramirez calling for an investigation into Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s “potentially impeachable actions” and repeatedly calling her a liar. “Secretary Noem, you lie and you lie to the American people,” Ramirez, whose 3rd Congressional District covers Chicago and parts of Cook and DuPage counties, told the House Homeland Security … Continue Reading
January 30, 2026
Congressional Democrats Urge Trump to Cover IVF for Federal Workers
Two congressional Democrats are pressing the Trump administration to require that in vitro fertilization be covered for federal workers. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Rep. James Walkinshaw urged the Office of Personnel Management to “strengthen family-building benefits for the Federal workforce,” in a letter exclusively obtained by NOTUS. Currently, not all health insurance plans offered to federal workers provide IVF coverage. “One year into the second term of the Trump administration, … Continue Reading
January 29, 2026
Sen. Tammy Duckworth on why Democrats oppose funding DHS without restrictions for ICE
NPR's Steve Inskeep asks Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois about her party's intensifying opposition to funding the Department of Homeland Security without guardrails for ICE. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: All right. We mentioned a confrontation in Congress. Lawmakers face a deadline Friday to fund the government or see a partial shutdown. Senate Democrats are demanding changes before they give their votes to the Department of Homeland Security. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois is one of … Continue Reading
January 28, 2026
Duckworth’s busy day: Sparring with JD Vance, proposing $1.5 billion plan to fix rail bridges
If new transportation legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Rep. Mike Quigley passes, it could make trips a lot faster for riders on Metra and other commuter rail systems. The two Democratic lawmakers announced the Building Rail Infrastructure for a Durable and Growing Economy (BRIDGE) Act Wednesday. It would create a program allowing commuter railroads to compete for $1.5 billion annually to help pay for overdue maintenance, repairs and replacement of bridges. Metra … Continue Reading
January 28, 2026
Veteran Senator Destroys JD Vance After He Compares Her To Forrest Gump
Vice President JD Vance attempted to mock a Democratic senator and veteran after she pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio over whether the U.S. is at war with Venezuela. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday, Rubio insisted the U.S. isn’t at war with the South American nation, which prompted Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) to ask him if he would advise the president “to rescind his invocation of the wartime Alien Enemies Act?” “Of course not,” Rubio responded. … Continue Reading
January 28, 2026
Duckworth, Illinois Democrats blast Vice President JD Vance for likening senator to 'Forrest Gump'
Sen. Tammy Duckworth and top Illinois Democrats are denouncing Vice President JD Vance over “ableist” comments he made on Wednesday likening the Illinois senator to “Forrest Gump.” The social media war was spurred by a tense exchange between Duckworth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday morning, which marked Rubio’s first testimony before Congress since the Trump administration attacked Venezuela and seized President Nicolas … Continue Reading
January 26, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth against DHS funding package without ICE reform
Amid the ongoing furor over the shooting death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, a large group of Democratic senators are opposed to a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. Those senators, including Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, have said they will not vote for an appropriations bill that includes funds for DHS, which oversees ICE and Border Patrol, among other agencies, unless there is significant change enacted with the way the administration of President … Continue Reading
January 23, 2026
Federal government watchdogs deny Duckworth's request for joint probe of immigration agents' use of force
A pair of government watchdogs have denied U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth's request to conduct a joint investigation into federal agents' tactics during immigration enforcement operations in the Chicago area. In October, Duckworth sent a letter to the inspectors general for the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security calling for a joint investigative task force into federal agents' use of force amid Operation Midway Blitz, and to recommend any necessary corrective actions. On … Continue Reading
January 20, 2026
Sen. Duckworth travels to Portugal, Poland to strengthen Illinois National Guard ties
At a time of uncertainty for National Guard members throughout the country, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is traveling to Poland and Portugal to focus on partnership programs between the Illinois National Guard and both countries. A vocal critic of President Trump’s mobilization of the National Guard in Democratic cities, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis, Duckworth told the Chicago Sun-Times she’ll be able to highlight what she believes Guard members “should … Continue Reading
January 16, 2026
Democratic senator's bill would prevent political appointees from serving as an IG
Sen. Duckworth's bill would put restraints on Trump and future presidents. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is introducing legislation Friday that would put restraints on the current and former political appointees to be nominated as inspectors general. The Inspector General's Independence Act would bar President Donald Trump and future presidents from nominating political appointees who have served or are serving in their administration from serving as an inspector general. "Whether this is … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Sen. Duckworth Calls for Restoration of $125M Cut From Lead Service Line Replacement Budget by Slashing Funding for ICE
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth speaks at an event in Springfield on Aug. 13, 2025. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois) The United States Senate should restore the $125 million cut from the effort to replace lead service lines responsible for contaminating drinking water across the country by slashing funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth told WTTW News. A spending package approved by the U.S. House of Representatives that included funding for the U.S. … Continue Reading
December 24, 2025
Opinion: I’m a veteran. Here’s why I voted against the defense authorization bill.
One of the proudest moments of my life was the first time I laced up my boots, put on my uniform and raised my right hand to salute as a member of the Illinois Army National Guard. I was honored to wear the flag on my shoulder.?To be trusted to keep the country I love safe and defend the rights and freedoms that have defined this nation at its best for two centuries and counting. And it is because it was such an honor to serve, because I love our military so deeply, that I made the … Continue Reading
December 18, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth seek criminal probe of Chicago's immigration blitz — even after Trump leaves office
U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth on Thursday submitted a criminal referral to the Justice Department over alleged constitutional violations — including warrantless arrests and the use of excessive force — by federal immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz. They’re fully aware that President Donald Trump’s appointed attorney general, Pam Bondi, is unlikely to act on their request. But speaking on the Senate floor Thursday morning, Durbin noted, “The statute of limitations … Continue Reading
December 17, 2025
Senators freeze Coast Guard admiral’s promotion over swastika, noose policy
At least two U.S. senators have put holds on the nomination of Adm. Kevin Lunday to lead the U.S. Coast Guard, citing concerns with a new workplace harassment policy that downgrades the definition of swastikas and nooses from hate symbols to “potentially divisive.” The move upends Lunday’s confirmation, which the Senate was due to vote on this week, and raises new questions about the decision to implement the policy revisions after Lunday in November had forcefully denounced such symbols and … Continue Reading
December 11, 2025
Trump troop deployments to US cities have cost more than $340 million, senator says
WASHINGTON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The deployment of U.S. troops to cities around the United States has cost more than $340 million, a U.S. Senator said on Thursday, highlighting the expense of President Donald Trump's use of the military in the Democratic-led cities. Trump has deployed National Guard troops to Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, Oregon, and Memphis, Tennessee, though some of those deployments have been paused as they face legal challenges. Senator Tammy Duckworth of … Continue Reading
December 11, 2025
Duckworth confronts defense officials over Guard deployment in Chicago
Sen. Tammy Duckworth today confronted Department of Defense officials at a hearing over National Guard use in U.S. cities, telling them federal forces have been deployed “under false pretenses.” “Why is this administration so focused on turning our military against Americans here at home?” the Illinois Democrat said at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “And make no mistake, this is deeply unpopular. Most Americans don’t want this.” Duckworth, a member of the committee, worked … Continue Reading
December 11, 2025
Lawmakers press EPA for more research on metro-east pollution, health impacts
Federal lawmakers are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct more research on pollution in the metro-east, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seven months ago. The CDC completed an air pollution investigation in Sauget on May 1, focusing on emissions from the hazardous waste incinerator Veolia North America-Trade Waste Incineration. In its final report, the public health agency stated that while it could provide some answers about community … Continue Reading
December 07, 2025
Duckworth calls second strike on alleged drug boat ‘essentially murder’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, criticized the military strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, and called a second hit on the wreckage of a boat on Sept. 2 "essentially murder." What they're saying: Duckworth made the comments in an interview on CNN on Sunday. "It was essentially murder with that double-tap strike… It’s all illegal," Duckworth said. Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost her legs when her helicopter was hit by a … Continue Reading
December 04, 2025
Democratic Senator Urges Trump to Defend IVF Coverage in the Defense Bill
Sen. Tammy Duckworth is urging President Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed “father of IVF,” to stop Speaker Mike Johnson from stripping in vitro fertilization coverage for service members. “WARNING: Speaker Johnson wants you to become the DEADBEAT DAD OF IVF,” Duckworth wrote Trump in handwritten annotations on a letter Thursday afternoon. Johnson is reportedly working behind the scenes to remove a clause in the National Defense Authorization Act that would guarantee health coverage of … Continue Reading
December 03, 2025
Sen. Duckworth demands Transportation Dept. give $10,000 bonus to all air traffic controllers, FAA technicians
Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, the ranking member on the Senate's aviation subcommittee, is demanding the Transportation Department expand its $10,000 bonus to all air traffic controllers and FAA technicians who worked without pay during the government shutdown. The department said it would give the bonuses only to those who did not miss a day of work during the 44-day shutdown. "Excluding 96 percent of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Air Traffic Controller and … Continue Reading