Press Releases
Durbin Meets With Illinois Air Traffic Controllers As They Continue To Work Without Pay During Shutdown
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually with Toby Hauck, the President of Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and Illinois members from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) as they work to keep the aviation system travel is disrupted during the shutdown. During the shutdown, more than 10,000 air traffic controllers across the country are working without pay. The shutdown already has exacerbated dire air traffic controller … Continue Reading
October 10, 2025
Durbin Statement On Judge Perry Granting Temporary Restraining Order Blocking National Guard Troops To Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after U.S. District Court Judge April Perry issued a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump’s national guard deployment in Illinois for two weeks: “I welcome this ruling against the President’s diabolical plan. President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Illinois, without the consent or request of Illinois’ elected leaders, is … Continue Reading
October 09, 2025
Durbin Joins Senator Duckworth On The Floor To Denounce Deployment Of National Guard Troops To Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor along with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to denounce the Trump Administration’s deployment of Texas and Illinois National Guard troops to Illinois. In his remarks, Durbin emphasized the illegality of President Trump’s deployment of troops to American cities and underscored that these actions are motivated by the President’s desire to play a strongman … Continue Reading
October 09, 2025
Durbin Statement On Indictment Of New York Attorney General Letitia James
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James in federal court: “President Trump has successfully turned the Department of Justice into a shield to protect himself and his MAGA allies and a sword to attack his opponents, enabled by an Attorney General who follows orders. “This Administration shows no allegiance to our country nor the … Continue Reading
October 09, 2025
Durbin Condemns Unprovoked Trump Administration Escalation In Chicago, Attorney General Bondi’s Conduct At Oversight Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, condemned the Trump Administration’s unprovoked and unlawful escalation of immigration enforcement in Chicago and the arrival of Texas National Guard troops. In an opening statement at a Committee executive business meeting, Durbin began by highlighting Republican hypocrisy, saying: “To my Republican colleagues, how would you react if a Democratic President deployed the National … Continue Reading
October 09, 2025
As Republican Shutdown Continues, Durbin Speaks With American Federation Of Government Employees President
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President Everett Kelley to discuss the government shutdown as President Trump threatens to withhold back pay for furloughed federal workers. During the phone call, Durbin and Mr. Kelley spoke about the Trump Administration’s gutting of federal agencies and the impacts of the Trump shutdown on federal employees, who are forced to work without … Continue Reading
October 08, 2025
Durbin Meets With New Ukrainian Ambassador, Introduces Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Russian Incursions Into NATO Territory And Reaffirming NATO Article 5 On Collective Defense
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, met with Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S., Olha Stefanishyna, along with a bipartisan group of Senators to discuss Russia’s ongoing war and how the United States and its allies can continue to help Ukraine defend itself and address Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia. During the meeting, they also discussed Durbin’s bipartisan resolution condemning Russian incursions into NATO territory and … Continue Reading
October 08, 2025
Durbin On Deployment Of National Guard Troops To Chicago: The Trump Admin’s Unlawful Use Of The Military To Police American Cities Makes Our Country Less Safe
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor to denounce the Trump Administration’s deployment of Texas and Illinois National Guard troops to Illinois. In his remarks, Durbin emphasized the illegality of President Trump’s deployment of troops to American cities and underscored that these actions are motivated by the President’s desire to play a strongman on television rather than to help … Continue Reading
October 08, 2025
Durbin Urges Republicans To Work With Democrats To Address The Imminent Health Care Increases
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor urging Congressional Republicans to finally work with Democrats to fund the government and address the imminent health care crisis if the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits are allowed to expire. Republicans have shut down the government and gone on a prolonged summer vacation, despite the fact that health care costs are about to spike dramatically for tens of millions of Americans. Democrats are … Continue Reading
October 08, 2025
Durbin On AG Bondi's Testimony In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing: AG Bondi Was Unwilling, Maybe Unable, To Defend What Has Happened At DOJ
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday delivered a speech on the Senate floor about Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi’s appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a hearing to conduct oversight on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). During the hearing, AG Bondi failed to answer many of Durbin’s questions regarding the weaponization of DOJ in order to prosecute the President’s perceived political enemies; … Continue Reading
October 07, 2025
Durbin Statement on Arrival of Texas National Guard in Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement today as Texas National Guard troops arrive in Illinois: “Deploying the Texas National Guard, over the objections of Illinois elected officials, is not only unnecessary, but it is also unlawful. The law, specifically the Posse Comitatus Act, expressly forbids our nation’s military to be used for domestic law enforcement without express statutory or … Continue Reading
October 07, 2025
During Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing, AG Bondi Refuses to Answer Durbin's Questions on Whether DOJ was Consulted by the White House Regarding Deploying the National Guard to Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi at a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing. Durbin’s questions focused on the weaponization of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Trump and AG Bondi, Bondi’s conflicts of interests as a former lobbyist for Qatar who signed off on accepting the gift of a Qatari plane, the Department’s role in the President’s surge of troops … Continue Reading
October 07, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing With Attorney General Bondi
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Oversight Committee hearing with Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi. Durbin’s opening statement condemned the weaponization of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Trump and AG Bondi, highlighted the unprecedented purge of senior law enforcement officials, commented on Ms. Bondi’s many conflicts of interests as a … Continue Reading
October 06, 2025
Durbin Condemns Ruthless ICE Raids, Orders To Deploy National Guard Troops To Illinois In Senate Floor Speech
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning the Trump Administration for the cruel, inhumane raids being carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents at the direction of President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem during “Operation Midway Blitz.” In his remarks, Durbin shared … Continue Reading
October 06, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Illinois Democrats In Demanding President Trump Immediately Rescind His Order To Deploy National Guard Troops To Chicago
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led all Democratic members of the Illinois delegation in sending a letter to President Donald Trump, demanding that he immediately reverse his decision to federalize and deploy 300 Illinois National Guard troops and up to 400 Texas National Guard troops and to the Chicago region. “We write to urge you to reverse your … Continue Reading
October 04, 2025
Durbin Statement On President Trump Deploying The Military To Chicago
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement today as the Trump Administration reportedly prepares to deploy the military to Chicago: “Terrorizing families with midnight raids and military troops in our streets is writing a shameful chapter in our nation’s history. This President is not intent on fighting crime. He is intent on spreading … Continue Reading
October 03, 2025
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Opposes Nomination Of Stanley Woodward To Serve As Associate Attorney General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor opposing the nomination of Stanley Woodward, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Associate Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). In his remarks, Durbin made clear that Mr. Woodward, who has been an active participant in gutting critical divisions at DOJ, is unfit to serve in this position. Mr. Woodward’s nomination is … Continue Reading
October 03, 2025
Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Pausing Grants For Chicago Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate Floor today after Russell Vought, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), announced that the Trump Administration would “put on hold” $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago infrastructure projects, including the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project and CTA’s Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) … Continue Reading
October 03, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Trump Administration Pausing $2.1 Billion In Grants For Chicago Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after Russell Vought, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), announced that the Trump Administration would “put on hold” $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago infrastructure projects, including the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project and CTA’s Red and Purple … Continue Reading
October 01, 2025
Calling Out Yesterday’s Partisan Hearing On Crime, Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting. Before voting on today’s nominees, Durbin expressed frustration about yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on crime. Rather than holding a hearing on the harms of the Trump Administration’s illegal and unconstitutional deployment of the military to police American cities as … Continue Reading