In The News
Some Head Start programs still having trouble accessing federal money after Trump funding freeze
CHICAGO (CBS) -- As President Trump continues making cuts to federal programs and funding, Democratic leaders in Illinois are warning about how this is affecting families involved with the Head Start early childhood education program. Gov. JB Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth were at Two Rivers Head Start in Elgin on Saturday, and said ever since Trump ordered a federal funding freeze last week, they've had difficulty accessing federal money, even though courts have blocked the … Continue Reading
February 06, 2025
Duckworth won’t vote for remaining Trump Cabinet nominees
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) will vote “no” on all of President Trump’s remaining Cabinet nominees in protest against the president’s sweeping and disruptive actions in the first few weeks of his administration, she indicated Thursday. While she and all other Senate Democrats voted to confirm Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the opening hours of Trump’s term, the bipartisan cooperation has soured quickly. Duckworth in the last week flipped her “yes” vote to a “no” on Trump’s … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
‘Unhinged’: Sen. Duckworth blasts Trump tariffs, Gaza proposal
February 05, 2025
Duckworth to oppose Trump’s remaining Cabinet nominees over USAID moves
January 30, 2025
Duckworth slams Trump for implying DEI initiatives caused D.C. plane crash; "How dare he?"
CHICAGO (CBS) -- As the investigation into a deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C., gets underway, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) criticized President Trump for seeming to blame the crash on federal diversity and inclusion initiatives. "That's an attack on those pilots, and how dare he?" Duckworth told CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion. An American Airlines flight collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River while the jet was landing at … Continue Reading
January 27, 2025
Senators are trying — again — to make air travel easier for breastfeeding parents
Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois is set to try again on a bill to make air travel easier for breastfeeding parents that has gotten bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress and has passed the U.S. Senate. Duckworth on Monday is reintroducing The BABES Enhancement Act with Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, a Democrat, and Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Steve Daines of Montana. The bill aims to ensure that breastfeeding parents can bring breast milk and breastfeeding … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Sen. Duckworth Says Hegseth Is Trump’s ‘Least Qualified’ Cabinet Pick
Welcome back to Foreign Policy’s Situation Report. It’s executive order-palooza week in Washington. Here’s what’s on tap for the day: Sen. Tammy Duckworth doesn’t mince her words about Trump’s defense secretary-nominee, a senior Iranian official says Tehran wants to talk, and newly minted Secretary of State Marco Rubio may be packing his bags for Panama. In a statement to NBC News, Samantha Hegseth said there was no physical abuse in her marriage to Pete Hegseth. “I do not believe your … Continue Reading
January 17, 2025
‘Absolutely Clueless’: Tammy Duckworth Blasts Pete Hegseth and Senate GOP
The Department of Defense is the largest employer in the United States, sending out paychecks to 2.1 million service members and more than 770,000 civilians. Its annual budget — $900 billion dollars — is larger than the GDP of Switzerland. With an estimated 750 bases in at least 80 countries, it is sprawling, extraordinarily complex organization. And, to run it, Donald Trump picked a Fox News haircut with (an alleged) drinking problem. It’s hard to emphasize just how wildly unqualified Pete … Continue Reading
January 17, 2025
Tammy Duckworth Says Pete Hegseth’s Vetting Was Fundamentally Flawed
Sen. Tammy Duckworth voted for both of Donald Trump’s former secretaries of defense, Mark Esper and James Mattis. A combat veteran herself, who lost both her legs in 2004 from a rocket-propelled grenade while flying in Iraq, she’s been able to find common ground with Republicans on military issues and matters of national security. When it comes to Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for the job this time around, however, Duckworth is a hard no. “Let me just say the American people need a SecDef. … Continue Reading
January 14, 2025
Veteran, IL Sen. Duckworth grills Trump's Defense Secretary pick Hegseth: 'You're not qualified'
WASHINGTON (WLS) -- President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Defense secretary was grilled Tuesday on Capitol Hill during his Senate confirmation hearing. Pete Hegseth faced tough questions about his qualifications and his comments on women. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, was in full combat mode as she went hard after Hegseth and his qualifications to lead the nation's military. The decorated, disabled combat veteran's questioning was perhaps the moment of this hearing. "We ask … Continue Reading
January 14, 2025
Pete Hegseth Seems Really Confused About Where Southeast Asia Is
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, revealed an embarrassing ignorance about a major geopolitical organization during his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, was taking questions from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) when she challenged him to share his knowledge about even just one member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. “Can you name the importance of at least one of the nations in ASEAN … Continue Reading
January 13, 2025
‘Not Qualified’ And ‘Out of Touch’: Combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth on Why She Opposes Pete Hegseth’s Nomination
Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Pentagon is, at the moment, the most endangered of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet choices. Hegseth’s hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday—among the first of the incoming Administration—could offer some clarity on whether the former Fox News host is still on track to lead the nation’s largest employer. Central to that debate is likely to be Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat on the committee who happens to be disabled … Continue Reading
January 13, 2025
Hegseth’s track record falls short of military standards: Dem senators
When duty called, both of us considered it an honor to answer. In different wars, under different commanders in chief and secretaries of defense, each of us packed our bags, laced up our boots and deployed to the Middle East — flying combat missions over Iraq because we believed in our country and, crucially, because we believed in the military and civilian leaders who asked us to sacrifice. At any point in time, many of the 1.3 million active-duty U.S. service members stationed across the … Continue Reading
January 03, 2025
IL Sen. Tammy Duckworth joins Senate Veterans Affairs committee
ILLINOIS, USA — Friday, Jan. 3 is the first day back in office for U.S. Senators. It was also Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth's first day as part of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Since she was injured during her service in Iraq in 2004, Duckworth has been advocating for veterans like herself. "It's a real honor to join the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to continue my work and my life's mission," Duckworth said. "I want to make sure that our heroes are provided with the care and … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Senator Duckworth meets with NIU leaders and Indonesian House delegation
This week, Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth met with Northern Illinois University leaders and a delegation from Indonesia’s House of Representatives. Sen. Duckworth, an NIU alum, says groups like the university's Center for Southeast Asian Studies help create international leaders, strengthen international bonds, and lead to real outcomes. “Trying to convince countries around the world to buy Illinois-grown, Illinois-produced ethanol; going to Indonesia and saying, ‘Hey, you should have … Continue Reading
December 16, 2024
Duckworth visits JALC Nursing Program expansion
CARTERVILLE — U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited John A. Logan College to see firsthand the impacts that a $1,235,000 federal investment she secured through Fiscal Year 2024 Congressionally Directed Spending is having on the college’s nursing program. This Duckworth-secured federal investment enabled JALC to build new classrooms and purchase equipment to better prepare students for careers in health and nursing. While on campus, Duckworth also met with Dr. Kirk Overstreet, JALC’s … Continue Reading
December 13, 2024
'I don't trust him': Senator shoots down Trump nominee's new scramble to save nomination
December 10, 2024
Trump nominee 'should scare all of us,' Duckworth says
CHICAGO - Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth has announced her intention to meet with Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, calling him "dangerously unqualified" for the position. "Should scare all of us," she said. What we know Duckworth, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a combat veteran, has expressed strong opposition to Hegseth, particularly due to his past remarks opposing women in combat roles. "Every one of those women are more qualified to … Continue Reading
December 10, 2024
Tammy Duckworth: Pete Hegseth Only Chosen For Defense Secretary Because Trump Thinks He Looks Good On TV
Pete Hegseth, a U.S. Army veteran and former Fox News personality, has become a lightning rod for controversy. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated him to run the Defense Department, but Hegseth is facing allegations around rape and alcohol problems and has been lambasted for and comments in which he says opposes women serving in combat roles. Hegseth has hit Capitol Hill in recent days, courting Republican Senators as he seeks to keep his nomination alive. Senator Tammy Duckworth … Continue Reading
December 09, 2024
Elected officials meet with Navy about future of troubled Halsey Village; ‘There is an opportunity for economic development’
Demanding action from the U.S. Navy to deal with uninhabitable housing conditions in Halsey Village at Naval Station Great Lakes since May, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Hoffman Estates, is relieved to see something coming of her efforts and those of local officials. “It is absolutely uninhabitable, and no one should have to live in those conditions,” Duckworth said. “I am pleased to see the Navy is preparing to work on remediation. I am going to stay laser-focused on this.” Lake County Board … Continue Reading