Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 11/28/2025-12/5/2025

Slamming Pete Hegseth for Putting American Servicemembers at Risk

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) ), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to a report issued by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General which found that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's use of a commercial messaging application to share classified information put U.S. personnel and their mission at risk.

"This Pentagon watchdog report is shocking and repugnant, and yet another reason for Secretary Hegseth to resign or be fired. His deliberate noncooperation with the investigation- refusing to provide his cell phone or be interviewed- call for additional investigation and action. Any other Department of Defense employee would be fired, lose their security clearance, and would likely face prosecution for doing what Secretary Hegseth did."

"Hegseth clearly and severely endangered American pilots by disclosing highly sensitive classified details about a bombing mission they were about to conduct just hours later against well-armed Houthi terrorists. He revealed specifics like location of targets, time over targets and more on an unsecure, unapproved device with a commercial app- his personal cell phone on Signal. His disclosures were plainly vulnerable to hacking and other surveillance by hostile adversaries, as shown by subsequent reporting in the Atlantic."

"Hegseth's contention that he unilaterally declassified this information fails to address the immediate serious risk he created for American military operations. This information would be immensely valuable to well-armed terrorist adversaries under imminent attack. It potentially deprived pilots of a preeminent advantage- the element of surprise."

The investigation was launched following reports that numerous members of President Trump's cabinet and national security team - including Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Marco Rubio, then-National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe - discussed classified military operations over Signal in a group chat that included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.

Blumenthal joined CNN News Central to discuss the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General report and the ways in which Hegseth's actions endangered American servicemembers.

"I think that, in effect, absolving Secretary Hegseth of any violation of rules gives him a pass-because let's review clearly what happened here. Secretary Hegseth talked about the targets American pilots were going to hit just hours later-targets that were manned by Houthi antiaircraft gunners, who have some of the most sophisticated weaponry by virtue of Iran providing it. Now, I've talked to some of these pilots, I can tell you that going over the Houthi targets are challenging, and pilots would have been absolutely aghast that Secretary Hegseth was disclosing this kind of information on a nonsecure platform," said Blumenthal.

"So, we need to look at the public responsibility here. Put aside all the technical detail-whether it was classified or not, it was highly sensitive. It put our American pilots at severe risk. It endangered American servicemen for Secretary Hegseth to be disclosing as he did this kind of information. And frankly, anyone else in the Department of Defense doing it would have been disciplined, perhaps prosecuted, and the element of surprise was so critical for these pilots, that discipline against anyone else would have been well warranted. It's only because Secretary Hegseth is at the very top of the command that he will not be disciplined in this way," continued Blumenthal.

Calling for Designation of Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

Blumenthal spoke at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to discuss Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children during the ongoing war. Blumenthal called out the brutality and criminality of Russia in their kidnapping of Ukrainian children and highlighted the need for his legislation with U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Katie Britt (R-AL) that designates Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law if they fail to return the Ukrainian children kidnapped during the course of the war.

"Of all the moments in my life, of this privilege of public service, which we all have, this one will stay with me forever-talking with children about how they were declared orphans because the Russians killed their parents, or simply abducted by Russian soldiers," said Blumenthal. "Having talked to some of these children, I think the people of the United States should know about these atrocities, war crimes, genocide, as part of a systematic, deliberate effort to indoctrinate the children of Ukraine with pro-Russian ideologies and to delegitimize and deny their national identity."

"I was proud to join you, Mr. Chairman, along with Senator Britt and Senator Klobuchar in introducing this legislation earlier this year that would designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism-part of a very exclusive club, well-earned by Russia and Vladimir Putin. I challenge my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to vote for this measure. And if you are in possession of an ounce of humanity, you will support this measure enthusiastically," said Blumenthal.

A video of Blumenthal's full remarks can be found here.

On the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Blumenthal and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) joined veteran advocates to highlight how 267,000 veterans who rely on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits will be harmed if Republicans allow these critical tax credits to expire.

Republicans have thus far refused to work with Democrats to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that have helped millions of Americans afford health insurance. Now with open enrollment underway, Americans across the country-including 18.7 million ACA marketplace enrollees in Red states-are staring down increased health insurance rates that are set to double and even triple their monthly premiums. Coupled with Republicans' Medicare and Medicaid cuts that are set to go into effect next year, Americans, including millions of veterans, are bracing for higher costs and a looming health care crisis.

"The stark fact is that a failure to extend the healthcare tax credits will mean 267,000 veterans will go without healthcare insurance, because of skyrocketing premiums that affect all Americans who buy their healthcare insurance through the ACA marketplace. These 267,000 veterans need this insurance just as all the rest of Americans do. They will find it as unaffordable as all the rest of Americans who will be stranded without affordable healthcare insurance," said Blumenthal. "So, we face a real crisis, a perfect storm for veterans-Medicare threats, Medicaid cuts, failure to extend the tax credits are combining to drive veterans out of healthcare or to the VA healthcare system, which cannot afford to provide the healthcare that they need. And so, there is really no excuse, zero excuse, for a failure to extend these healthcare tax credits because veterans will suffer-all Americans will-but veterans particularly will bear the brunt of that failure of Congress if there is inaction between now and the end of the year."

Blumenthal further highlighted the need to protect veterans' access to affordable health insurance on Twitter/X.

"Republicans are refusing to extend ACA tax credits, threatening access to affordable health care for Americans nationwide-including 267,000 veterans. I'll fight to protect veterans' access to affordable health insurance," wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

At a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing, Blumenthal questioned witnesses on reports of significant mental health staffing shortages across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

"Dr. Fletcher, to what extent have waiting times for mental health appointments been due to diminished staff?" asked Blumenthal.

"What we've heard from the warriors we've served is they are experiencing access to care difficulties and that can create problems," said Dr. Erin Fletcher, Warrior Care Network director for Wounded Warrior Project.

The VA Office of Inspector General's witness, Dr. Julie Kroviak, the Acting Assistant Inspector General for Healthcare Inspections, also confirmed these mental health care staffing shortages: "Yeah, we are aware of shortages in mental health providers and access to care within mental health and health in VA. That's not unique to the VA health care system. The wait times we're seeing in VA are also reflected in the wait times veterans are experiencing when being referred to the community."

During the hearing's second panel, Blumenthal noted reports that Connecticut veterans are experiencing longer wait times for critical mental health care at VA clinics across the state: "As you know, VA Secretary Collins has repeatedly stated that access to VA care has not been affected by staffing reductions. But the VA's own data, in my view, tells a very different story. Wait times for new mental health appointments have increased sharply since January in my home state, Connecticut. For example, the most recent data shows the current wait time for a new patient mental health appointment at the Orange VA Clinic in Connecticut-an outpatient facility specializing in mental health-is 208 days, nearly six months. Let me ask you, given these kinds of wait times, how does VA plan to prevent overreliance on medication when veterans cannot access timely appointments and what steps are necessary to address this issue?," asked Blumenthal.

The video link of Blumenthal's Q&A is available here.

Enacting Guardrails on Future White House Construction & Demolition

Blumenthal introduced new legislation that would put additional guardrails on the White House's construction and demolition process. The No Palaces Act requires the Executive Office of the President to obtain National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) approval for demolition activities and gives Congress a chance to disapprove of any modifications to the White House.

"President Trump took a wrecking ball to the White House-demolishing the iconic East Wing to make way for his monstrous, multi-million-dollar ballroom," said Blumenthal. "My No Palaces Act prevents future presidents from recklessly destroying historic sites like the East Wing without approval from the independent National Capital Planning Commission or consideration from Congress. The guardrails in this measure will ensure future presidents cannot remake the People's House into their personal palace."

As Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Blumenthal has demanded answers from the private donors to President Trump's multi-million White House ballroom project, the fundraiser and lobbyists who have coordinated funds for the ballroom, and the architect, construction firm, and engineering firm working on the project.

The full text of the No Palaces Act is available here.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal introduced the bicameral Junk Fee Prevention Act to end unfair surprise costs for consumers.

Blumenthal joined MS NOW to discuss why Hegseth must go and the need for an investigation into the deadly military strikes in the Caribbean.

Blumenthal visited with Israeli-American hostage families at the U.S. Capitol.

Blumenthal visited Bridgeport's new "The Recollective" for Shop Small Business Saturday.

Blumenthal attended the swearing in ceremony of Bruce Walczak and other local officials in Newtown.

Blumenthal celebrated Albania's Independence Day with ceremonies in Waterbury and Greenwich.

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