Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 3/27/2026-4/3/2026

Slamming Trump Cuts Making it More Difficult to File Taxes

[Hartford, CT] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined advocates to slam cuts by the Trump Administration that are making filing taxes more challenging this year. Last fall, the Trump Administration announced it was ending the free Direct File program following pressure from commercial tax preparation software companies. The program allowed taxpayers to file their taxes online, for free and directly with the federal government. Blumenthal is co-sponsoring legislation to make the program permanent.

"Direct File was a tremendous boost for lower- and middle-income tax filers. And unfortunately, the Trump Administration eliminated it. Why? Because of pressure from the giant tax preparing industry-companies like TurboTax and H&R Block, big Trump donors, wanted to make more money from people filing taxes through them. Trump eliminated Direct File, costing Americans potentially $23 billion this year, which would have been the savings from a fully operative Direct File program. That's disgraceful at a time when people are already hit with rising costs in food and fuel, and now to have to pay hundreds of dollars to file their taxes is both insult and injury," said Blumenthal at the press conference.

Blumenthal further slammed the Trump Administration's cuts to Direct File on Twitter/X.

"Filing your taxes is painful-& Trump is making it more so. Cruelly & stupidly, Trump has eliminated Direct File (costless, simple, easy, quick) & fired one-third of IRS's workforce. Hence, there are more expenses to file, fewer IRS staff to answer questions, longer waits for refunds, more maddening run around. Direct File was a free, straightforward tax filing option, but Trump sold out American taxpayers to appease the big tax preparation software companies that lobbied against the program. I'm demanding it be restored. Americans are required to pay taxes, so the federal gov should provide an easy, low cost option to do so. Cancelling Direct File was stupid & hurts hundreds of thousands of Americans who used it. Big tax preparers charge $150 or more to file your taxes-unaffordable for many. Ahead of Tax Day on April 15, I've demanded the IRS ensure they are fully prepared for tax season. Trump slashed 27% of their workforce last year-leading to long wait times, delayed refunds & poor customer service. American tax payers deserve better from the IRS-not a crippled agency struggling to deliver on their sole purpose," wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal wrote the Internal Revenue Service expressing concern about the agency's ability to meet the needs of American taxpayers during the upcoming 2026 filing season.

"The Trump administration's decision to significantly reduce IRS staffing, coupled with Republican funding cuts, hiring challenges, and persistent leadership instability, raises serious questions about the agency's preparedness for the 2026 tax season. Over the past year, the IRS has lost more than 27,000 employees - nearly one-third of its workforce. These workforce reductions are already affecting taxpayers, contributing to delays in assistance and slower refund processing," Blumenthal wrote.

"American taxpayers deserve better from the IRS-they need an agency that is fully staffed, adequately resourced, and capable of delivering timely, reliable service. I urge the IRS to take immediate steps to ensure it is fully prepared to meet American taxpayers' needs during the 2026 filing season.," Blumenthal continued.

Combatting Surging Youth Sports Betting

Blumenthal joined Southington High School students for a roundtable discussion on the risks of sports betting among young people. As sports betting continues to expand rapidly across the United States, concerns are growing about its accessibility and impact on adolescents. According to a recent poll by the National Council on Problem Gambling, 1 in 3 young adults report betting on sports before they turn 21. Blumenthal will emphasize the urgent need for stronger consumer protections and highlight student-led efforts to raise awareness in their community.

Blumenthal leads several bills that would establish significant safeguards on the betting industry and protect consumers from harms including the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act, legislation designed to create nationwide standards for the mobile sports gambling industry, and the Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment and Treatment (GRIT) Act which would repurpose 50 percent of the 0.25 percent excise tax levied on sports betting revenue and dedicate it to gambling addiction treatment and research. Blumenthal introduced the Prediction Markets Security and Integrity Act, legislation to prevent abuse and fraud in prediction markets, earlier this month.

"We have become a betting society. Literally-people bet on everything. They were betting on whether the United States would bomb Iran. And on the evening before the Saturday we bombed Iran, there was a spike in prediction market betting. So, somebody was talking, which is a break of security. There is a national security issue," said Blumenthal at the roundtable.

"We are in the midst of an addiction crisis in this country. The perfect storm is the combination of technology and big corporations and new kinds of means of profiting that have created all kinds of opportunities for exploitation of people's vulnerability," continued Blumenthal.

Blumenthal further highlighted the need to combat the surge of sports betting among young people on Twitter/X.

"The pervasive spread of sports betting is leading to addiction, personal bankruptcies, & mental health challenges. I'm proud to see young people speaking out on this rapidly growing issue impacting communities in CT & across the country," wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Investigating Big Tech's Efforts to Conceal Impact of Energy-Guzzling Data Centers

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, wrote to public utility regulators in all 50 states seeking documents and information regarding non-disclosure agreements or other restrictions on the public disclosure of data centers' energy usage, water access, infrastructure strain, or related environmental and economic effects. Following public reporting that data center owners and their clients have sought to limit state and local officials' ability to share information about the impact of data centers, Blumenthal is raising concerns that Big Tech is preventing the public from having full transparency over data centers' burden on communities.

In his letters to public utility regulators, Blumenthal highlighted the increased cost and strain data centers have imposed on consumers: "Consumers have shouldered the cost from new demand and modernization in terms of higher bills and increased risks of blackouts and other failures. Since January, families have seen the average price of household energy climb by ten percent. In regions near new data centers, residential retail energy rates are projected to further increase between 30% and 60% in the next five years. These sharp increases can have a devastating impact on consumers who must make significant sacrifices just to keep the lights on."

Blumenthal continued, "Facing grassroots, community-based opposition, Big Tech companies and data center owners have sought to conceal the impact of their operations, while engaging in a public relations campaign to improve their image and lobbying to block efforts to hold them accountable for their costs."

Blumenthal pointed to reported examples of Big Tech using non-disclosure agreements to conceal the impact and scale of data centers across the country: "Also alarmingly, data center operators have reportedly used non-disclosure agreements to limit state and local officials' ability to share information about the scale and impact of proposed data centers, even the name of the owner and partners involved. For example, in Arizona, Amazon sought to restrict a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors from discussing details of a controversial $3.6 billion data center. Researchers from the University of Mary Washington found that in Virginia localities where a data center could be identified, the vast majority (25 out of 31) of local governments are operating under an NDA, often broadly limiting disclosure of basic information such as the number of data centers planned and the size of those projects."

"American families deserve full transparency over Big Tech's expansion of data centers across the country and in their communities, and public officials should be able to hold operators accountable for their use of electricity and water. Regulators should actively provide the public with any non-disclosure agreements requested or required by data center operators without delay," Blumenthal concluded.

Copies of Blumenthal's letters to all 50 public utility regulators are available here.

Joining Community Members in the Fight Against Gun Violence

Blumenthal joined advocates in Hartford to host a roundtable on the most effective strategies to prevent gun violence. Last month, seven people died by gun violence in Hartford and a 14-year-old boy was injured in a shooting. Just last week, four people including a 4-year-old, 12-year-old and their mother were killed during a domestic violence incident in Plainville. These tragic deaths underscore the urgent need for Congress to pass common sense gun violence prevention legislation and the continued need to invest in community organizations working to prevent these tragedies.

Blumenthal urged passage of a number of gun violence prevention initiatives including his Ethan's Law, to require safe storage of firearms, and his Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act of 2025, legislation to prevent people who are in crisis from accessing deadly weapons. Blumenthal also co-sponsors bills to provide comprehensive funding to community violence intervention groups. expand background checks, establish a federal Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and crack down on 3D printed ghost guns.

"The work against gun violence has to involve the community, and the champions that we have at this table represent a community-different parts of this community-that are essential to winning this fight against gun violence. There is a lot of reason to be discouraged in this political climate. But we can't afford despair. We don't have the luxury of defeatism. We have to continue this fight. The tragedies that we see every day in this country are unnecessary, they're preventable, they are unconscionable, and we need to have the courage and strength and passion to continue this fight in a tough time," said Blumenthal at the roundtable.

Blumenthal further amplified the important work of the advocates in pushing for fun violence reforms on Twitter/X.

"Inspiring meeting with members of our community tirelessly working to combat the scourge of gun violence," wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal reacted to Trump's address giving no clear explanation for or update on the war in Iran.

Blumenthal demanded answers from the SEC Chairman over preferential treatment of Trump Crypto backers.

Blumenthal introduced a bill to bolster GI Bill benefits for veterans and their families.

Blumenthal released a statement on the $3.8 billion contract for RTX.

Blumenthal held Markwayne Mullin to his nomination hearing promise that he will overturn ICE policy allowing agents to forcibly enter without a judicial warrant.

Blumenthal pressed Binance on potential misrepresentations regarding money laundering and terrorist financing.

Blumenthal released a statement on the firing of Pam Bondi as Attorney General.

Blumenthal released a statement on the $1.3 billion contract for Electric Boat.

Blumenthal joined John Heilemann to discuss DHS funding and reforms for ICE, the draconian SAVE Act, and Trump's war of choice in Iran.

Blumenthal celebrated the UConn men's and women's basketball teams for making it to the Final Four in the NCAA March Madness tournament.

Blumenthal attended the Connecticut Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology Career Fair.

Blumenthal attended the Connecticut Construction Career Day.

Blumenthal called out the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General regarding reports that the IG had ignored at least 20 different requests to scrutinize misconduct.

Blumenthal visited the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to highlight the risk of tick-borne diseases.

Blumenthal visited the Connecticut Workforce Summit.

Blumenthal celebrated Passover.

Blumenthal joined No Kings rallies in Hartford, Niantic, Westport, Stamford, and Greenwich.

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