Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 5/30/26-6/5/2026

Supporting Ukraine

[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, returned from a weeklong visit to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv and to participate in the Black Sea Security Forum (BSSF) in Odesa.

"This tenth trip to Ukraine felt different than the ones before; again and again, we were hustled down dark stairwells into bunkers as Putin attacked the country with missiles and drones, escalating cruelty that signals his desperation. Ukrainian heroism is turning the tide, with undeniable indelible costs. We saw the bombed and burned-out apartments and malls, still smelling of fire," Blumenthal said. "We met with rescue workers who rushed into the flames seeking to save helpless civilian victims. We spoke with children kidnapped and held by Russia- among the more than 20,000 taken by force and often compelled to fight for Russia. We met with President Zelenskyy and top members of his team who showed a clear-eyed strategy and unshakable resolve to prevail. We heard soldiers ready to return to the fight despite their injuries. Most impressively, amidst all the pain and grief, we saw a kindness and humanity in Ukrainians reaching out and caring for each other- offering food, shelter, clothing-a moving antithesis to Putin's bloody aggression."

Blumenthal shared a piece about his trip to Ukraine on his Substack page.

Blumenthal further called for continued U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion on Twitter/X.

"Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov says American diplomats should leave Ukraine-to avoid their blood thirsty bombs. In Ukraine now, I'm seeing firsthand brave American diplomats who refuse to be cowed by Russian bullying. As I told Zelenskyy, we'll make sure they're secure-our priority-but more determined than ever. America is standing with Ukraine," wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

"Here in an Odessa bunker-our third air raid of the day, this one at 3:40 am-there's no question about the heightened intensity of Putin's murderous bombing terror. All around Ukraine Russia's escalating cruelty has inflicted increasing, unspeakable pain, death & destruction. Still, on this 10th visit, the Ukrainian spirit seems stronger than ever-unshakable. Bravery, caring & kindness are watchwords-getting them through long nights & demanding days. To repel this slaughtering assault of bombs, drones, missiles, Ukraine clearly needs more American air defense aid," wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal released the statement below after the House of Representatives approved legislation to provide military aid to Ukraine and sanction officials and businesses that support Russia's war machine:

"Really significant, robust support for Ukraine could come at a critical moment as it turns the tide against Russia. As I saw during my visit last week, Putin's escalating cruelty- unspeakably bloodier bombing of civilians- reflects his increasing desperation. He's losing troops, territory and resources at an unsustainable pace. This bill's sledgehammer combination of military support and economic sanctions would help give Ukraine the means to finish the job. It strongly serves our own national interest by stopping Putin before he spreads his murderous aggression, and pressures him to seek peace. Congratulations and thanks to leaders of this bill on their steadfast support for Ukraine. I've been proud to help lead support for Ukraine on the Senate side and will continue to work hard on passing legislation to make it clear America stands with Ukraine."

Demanding Answers from Trump Administration for Plot to "Kill Off" 2.7 Million People in Social Security Database

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote to three former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers and the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) demanding information about plans to mark 2.7 million people as dead in a Social Security database as part of the Trump Administration's immigration enforcement agenda.

A former SSA career official has publicly come forward for the first time to share firsthand knowledge of actions DOGE officials took to "kill off" more than 6,000 immigrants in SSA's records and future plans to mark as dead 2.7 million more individuals. Although the Trump Administration's efforts to weaponize SSA to target immigrants has been previously reported, the whistleblower, Jeremiah Schofield, has shared new details of conversations a DOGE staffer had regarding the specific motivation for this plan: either "the lives of these individuals would be ruined. . . and they would be driven to 'self-deport'" or "they would have to go to a local Social Security office, at which point SSA field office staff would send them to DHS offices" where officials would "detain them for deportation."

"As always with the Trump Administration, cruelty is the point. Thanks to this brave whistleblower's disclosure, we have more evidence that the Trump Administration used DOGE not just to recklessly slash government programs - they were looking for ways to purposefully hurt people, especially immigrants," Blumenthal said. "Senator Warren and I are demanding answers about how DOGE and the Trump Administration weaponized the Social Security Administration to carry out its lawless immigration enforcement agenda."

Warren and Blumenthal's letter to former DOGE official Antonio Gracias is available here. Their letter to former DOGE official Jon Koval is available here. Their letter to former DOGE official Payton Rehling is available here. Their letter to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano is available here.

In July, Blumenthal released a PSI Minority staff report unveiling that DOGE generated at least $21.7 billion in waste across the federal government between January and July 2025. The report, "The $21.7 Billion Blunder: Analyzing the Waste Generated by DOGE," followed a months-long investigation into Elon Musk and DOGE and detailed a comprehensive account of how taxpayer dollars were squandered by DOGE despite its ostensible goal of eliminating government waste. That report followed an April 2025 memo completed by PSI Minority staff that estimated the legal liability Elon Musk was able to avoid through his previous efforts to gut the federal workforce and exert influence over federal agencies while he was at the helm of DOGE. PSI found that Musk and his companies were able to avoid at least $2.37 billion in potential liability due to federal investigations or other regulatory actions.

Probing Tether on its Role in Iranian Shadow Banking

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of PSI, wrote to Tether Chief Executive Officer Paolo Ardoino demanding records and information related to Tether's apparent failure to prevent illicit use by sanctioned entities, terrorist organizations, and other money laundering schemes associated with Iran and Russia.

As Ranking Member of PSI, Blumenthal has led an inquiry into the illicit use of cryptocurrencies by sanctioned entities, previously writing to the cryptocurrency exchange Binance to seek documents and information about money laundering and terrorist financing by its partners and customers. Blumenthal is now raising concerns about the recurring role of Tether's stablecoin in Iranian and Russian money laundering schemes, including recently sanctioned Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges.

"Through its U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDT, Tether has provided unparalleled access to a high-liquidity and widely accepted international payment system that is otherwise denied to Iran due to international sanctions and counterterrorism financing measures. For example, according to The Wall Street Journal and Fortune, hundreds of millions of dollars of USDT were used in two Chinese money laundering schemes that enabled illicit oil sales and financed terrorist organizations such as the Yemeni Houthis," Blumenthal wrote.

Blumenthal continued, "The Subcommittee's review raises questions about whether and how Tether complies with American sanctions law and other counterterrorism finance measures, as well as the steps it takes when its customers and wallets transacting Tether cryptocurrencies can be credibly linked with illicit finance. Tether was originally founded in the United States and maintains a deep reliance on American financial infrastructure, including its operational and business relationship to Cantor Fitzgerald and the family of the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick."

"The use of Tether's stablecoin in Iranian shadow banking, and uncertain compliance with American sanctions and banking law, has a significant impact on the United States' ability to apply economic pressure on the Islamic Republic to negotiate an end to the current war and resolve matters such as its nuclear program and regional destabilization," Blumenthal concluded.

The full text of Blumenthal's letter to Ardo is available here.

On the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced legislation to hold claims sharks and other predatory actors accountable for exploiting veterans' and survivors' earned benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The lawmakers' Stopping Abuse, Fraud, and Exploitation by Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (SAFEGUARD) Veterans Act would clarify that only accredited individuals can assist veterans with VA benefit claims. And it would reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited agents who charge veterans extortionate fees for assistance with VA disability claims-a service provided for free by VA and accredited nonprofits. While federal law prohibits this activity, predatory actors have used loopholes to avoid prosecution and federal agencies are limited in their ability to enforce the law without criminal penalties.

"Veterans need protection against claims sharks and other predatory scammers who are stealing millions in hard-earned benefits," said Senator Blumenthal. "Our legislation will close loopholes and impose strict criminal penalties- deterring as well as punishing bad actors. There should be zero tolerance for exploitive tactics robbing veterans of funds they well deserve and need to live. I hope this measure will have bipartisan backing."

Among its many provisions, the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act would:

• Reestablish criminal penalties for unaccredited claims representatives scamming veterans;
• Prohibit VA accreditation of any person found guilt of unauthorized solicitation, charging, or receiving compensation for assisting with VA benefit claims;
• Close loopholes exploited by unaccredited actors to skirt federal prohibitions on unaccredited agents assisting veterans with VA benefit claims;
• Prohibit the use of robocall technology to obtain VA claims information-targeting claim sharks who spam VA call centers to gain unauthorized access to veterans' claims information;
• Require VA to establish a system to track accredited agents and where veterans can report scammers; and
• Increase warnings to veterans about claim sharks and other predatory practices of unaccredited agents.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal called on Bank of America to restore consumers' legal rights and protections.

Blumenthal and the Connecticut Delegation opposed a shortsighted plan to close a Hamden invasive species research facility.

Blumenthal applauded a House vote moving ahead with sanctions on Russia's war machine and Ukraine funding.

Blumenthal joined MS NOW's Morning Joe to discuss yesterday's House vote showing support for Ukraine & the need for the Senate to follow suit.

Blumenthal introduced bicameral legislation to protect and expand National Scenic Trails.

Blumenthal introduced bipartisan legislation to shield youth from targeted gambling advertising.

Blumenthal slammed Trump's $1.8 billion slush fund.

Blumenthal called out FAA's refusal to mandate lifesaving technology.

Blumenthal slammed President Trump's pick of Bill Pulte to be Acting Director of National Intelligence.

Blumenthal called for enforceable mandates to AI to cover broader national security risks after Trump signed an AI executive order with less-advanced government scrutiny.

Blumenthal slams Trump's nomination of Todd Blanche for Attorney General.

Blumenthal called out DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin for dodging questions about obeying court orders.

-30-

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet

Previous Article

Next Article