Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 6/20/2025-6/27/2025
Responding to U.S. Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reacted on Twitter/X to the information presented to Senators at a classified briefing on the impact of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“After today's briefing on the Iran strikes, anybody who says we know with certainty the full outcome of this attack is making it up. Right now, I’m far from comforted with how much damage was done to the Iran nuclear program. I’m in awe of the skill & bravery of our military in hitting Iranian nuclear assets, but there’s been no final assessment about the degree of damage. I certainly wouldn’t use the word obliterated. A nuclear armed Iran remains a threat to the entire world. Including the U.S.,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal joined MSNBC to share his reactions to information shared at the briefing.
“I left that briefing with scant comfort that we know how much of Iran's nuclear arms program has been destroyed or how long it will take them to rebuild it if they choose to do so. Anybody who is using that term ‘completely obliterated’ is making it up, and I certainly wouldn't use that term,” said Blumenthal, “And I will just say very flatly, there's no reason right now for a mission accomplished moment. I'm in awe of the brave and courageous and competent military men and women who executed this mission. But we need a final battle assessment, a damage assessment, before we can draw any conclusions about how severely damaged Iran's nuclear program, in fact, has been.”
A video of the full interview can be found here.
Blumenthal issued the following statement below in response to President Trump’s original announcement that the United States has struck three nuclear sites in Iran:
“I continue to believe a nuclear armed Iran is a threat to the entire world, including America, but confronting that threat requires strategy as well as strength. History has taught us the unintended consequences of American involvement in Middle East wars. The Constitution and War Powers Act require every President to inform Congress and seek approval for using American military force. President Trump has done neither. I urge Senate Republican leadership to bring Senator Kaine’s resolution to the Senate Floor immediately for a vote. My immediate concern is protection for our 40,000 troops and other personnel in the region. President Trump owes the American people, not just Congress, an explanation for this military action. He must now do everything in his power to seek to avoid a wider conflict. We deserve to know a clear, effective strategy for peace in the region.”
Fighting for Reproductive Rights
On the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Blumenthal led the entire Democratic caucus in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans. The bill’s introduction comes as the Trump Administration further attacks a woman’s right to choose and Congressional Republicans barrel ahead with a bill that defunds Planned Parenthood. Put together, Trump and Congressional Republicans’ assault on Americans’ reproductive rights is a backdoor national abortion ban, ripping away millions of women’s access to abortion care and right to control their bodies.
“This issue is about more than health care; it is about women’s rights, individual rights, and human rights. The foundation of the Women’s Health Protection Act is simply the right to make your own health care decisions. Three years after Dobbs, American women don’t have that right. Today, thanks to Republican lawmakers and conservative courts, a woman in America might walk into an ER and faint, bleeding, and be refused treatment. That woman might die,” said Blumenthal. “By restoring abortion access and implementing basic protections against medically unnecessary restrictions on health care, the Women’s Health Protection Act overturns the death sentence handed down by Dobbs.”
Blumenthal held a press conference highlighting how the Republican Reconciliation bill will defund Planned Parenthood and other important reproductive health care programs. The Republican reconciliation bill, which the Senate defunds Planned Parenthood jeopardizing 200 health centers across the nation and over 1 million patients who rely on the organization for health care.
“In the 3 years since Roe was overturned, we’ve seen a medley of menacing measures to slash reproductive freedoms. Now, thanks to Trump’s Big, Ugly Betrayal, women’s health care will suffer directly, irrevocably, catastrophically as a result of these cuts,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal spoke at a spotlight forum highlighting the ways that reproductive health care and access to abortion are coming under attack by the Trump Administration. During the hearing, Blumenthal spoke with panelists who have suffered the consequences of the Dobbs decision and subsequent abortion bans and called for the strengthening of the FACE Act, legislation that makes it illegal to harm, threaten, or interfere with an individual receiving or facilities providing reproductive health services.
“I’ve been involved in enforcing the FACE Act in Connecticut, and I know there is talk from time to time about repealing the FACE Act. The President pardoned 23 people who were convicted of violating the FACE Act—which in my view is absolutely abhorrent and unacceptable,” said Blumenthal. “But I’d like to know from you whether, particularly Ms. Chelian, what kind of protections are important, whether they need to be strengthened, whether you feel more secure because of the FACE Act rather than repealing it, whether they need to be strengthened?”
“Well, yes, the FACE Act needs to be strengthened. When we walk into the clinic in the morning and protestors are doing the kind of heinous things that they’re doing—videotaping patients, trying to put their pictures on the internet, screaming and yelling and threatening them, intimidating and harassing them… We need FACE strengthened, not repealed. We won’t last if it’s repealed,” said Renee Chelian, Founder and CEO of Northland Family Planning Centers in Michigan.
“House Republicans are trying to repeal the FACE Act—shockingly, right after the IVF clinic bombing in California, they started, which is horrific. I think what we’re seeing now in context though, it’s the FACE Act repeals, but it’s also the pardoning of the January 6 insurrectionists, it’s the climate and culture of fostering extremism in this country, and an Administration that is willing to pardon folks like that sends a very clear, chilling signal to the rest of the country that it’s open season on our providers,” said Mini Timmaraju, President and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All.
A video of Blumenthal’s full interaction can be found here.
Blumenthal further highlighted the need to bolster protection for reproductive health care on Twitter/X.
“3 years ago, the Supreme Court ripped away reproductive freedoms & made it clear that women should not be allowed to make their own health care decisions. Because of Dobbs, women across America are being denied care & forced to stay pregnant—even when their lives are on the line,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
“This new report from GAO shows how the Dobbs decision has been a death sentence for so many women—& condemnation to financial ruin for even more. There’s a proven, tragic link between draconian abortion restrictions, maternal mortality rates, & devastating financial distress,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
Calling Out Trump Administration’s Corrupt Federal Judgeship Nominee
Blumenthal pressed Emil J. Bove III, President Donald Trump’s nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, about his role in the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams reportedly in exchange for Adams’s promise to cooperate with the President’s immigration policies. During the hearing, Blumenthal called out Bove for evading questions about his role in the DOJ’s decision to drop the charges against Adams and raised concerns about Bove’s ethical standards and disregard for the rule of law.
“I am absolutely flabbergasted that you would come before this Committee and refuse to tell us basic facts about a case that is at the core of the challenges to the appearance of impropriety that should disqualify you. You have the opportunity to clear the air, to come clean with the American people, as well as this Committee, and you are evading and avoiding these questions,” said Blumenthal.
“I am concerned about the quid pro quo that the judge concluded had been done. In fact, he said, ‘everything here smacks of a bargain.’ Everything here smacks of a bargain. But the quid pro quo that really concerns me is the one that brings you here today. You were virtually the only attorney in the Department of Justice willing to go to court and make a claim that career prosecutors said violated their basic standard of ethics,” Blumenthal continued.
A video of Blumenthal’s full interaction with Bove can be found here.
Blumenthal further slammed Bove for his ducking and dodging of providing full answers to questions during the Hearing.
“I am downright flabbergasted that Emil Bove would come before the Senate Judiciary Committee & repeatedly refuse to answer basic questions about the unethical conduct that seemingly disqualifies him from becoming a judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
“When asked about his role in purging DOJ & FBI staff who prosecuted & investigated January 6th insurrectionists, Emil Bove nitpicked word choice, but didn’t truly dispute that he engaged in politically targeted firings of staff who were properly doing their jobs,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
At a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing focused on the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), Ranking Member Blumenthal stressed the harmful impact the Trump Administration’s policies and cuts will have on this life-saving resource for veterans experiencing mental health crises. Blumenthal emphasized how the hiring freeze at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), return to work policies, and VA Secretary Collins’ goal to fire 83,000 VA employees will worsen existing problems at the VCL—including current staffing shortages.
“…[T]he lack of transparency and accountability from this VA and this Administration make meaningful oversight of VA programs like the Veterans Crisis Line extremely challenging,” said Blumenthal. “The [Government Accountability Office] and [Inspector General] reports that we are discussing today show the Veterans Crisis Line needs more resources, more staffing, more investment into technology. These recommendations demonstrably conflict with the ongoing mismanagement of the Department by Secretary Collins and this Administration.”
Blumenthal questioned Ms. Marcia Blane, a former VCL employee who retired in May 2025 after nine years of working at the VCL, on the effect of Collins firing these VCL employees working as SSAs: “These Social Science Assistants who were terminated are important to the work you do. I’d like you to expound on why that termination was so shortsighted.”
Ms. Blane responded by highlighting the critical role these employees—who were among the fired—play at the VCL, supporting responders and veterans in crisis: “The Social Science Assistants are on the same level as 9-1-1 operators. They are our eyes, our ears, and our fingers when we are handling a crisis call. We send a message saying ‘Hey, I need to find this person. They are actively suicidal…’ I can focus on the veteran when I have a Social Science Assistant who is diligently working, tracing calls, working to get locations, full name, date of birth, so I don’t have to be bothered in the sense of redirecting my attention. I can stay with this veteran. When those SSAs were terminated, averagely on the shift, you’re talking 45 to 50 people per two SSAs. My heart broke because…for every crisis that was coming in, they’re juggling so many different calls. It was a slap in the face of the SSAs and responders, because you’re telling us to give our best—but you take our best from us. Our best support, our best voice, our best fingers, and you leave all of us—including the veteran in crisis—in a gap and possibly harmed.”
A video of Blumenthal’s exchange with Blane can be found here.
Blumenthal further slammed the Trump Administration on Twitter/X for the harm they are inflicting on veterans with VA cuts—specifically highlighting how cuts will hurt the Veterans Crisis Line.
“The Trump Admin’s VA is gutting life-saving resources for veterans struggling with mental health issues. The Veterans Crisis Line needs more support, more staffing, more investment into technology not threats of looming employee cuts,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) called on HSGAC Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) to hold a hearing to consider the nomination of Cheryl Mason to be the VA Inspector General. Mason’s nomination is unprecedented for an Inspector General given her role serving as a Trump political appointee at VA. If confirmed, she would be charged with conducting independent oversight of the Department and VA Secretary Collins, who she recently served as a senior advisor.
“We write to request you convene a hearing on the nomination of Cheryl Mason to serve as Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)…so Members of this Committee can ensure this nominee meets the high standards required for this position,” wrote the Senators in a letter to Chairman Paul.
The Senators continued, “As you are aware, Inspectors General are a critical part of that oversight to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer funds…The hearings held by HSGAC and SVAC in 2016 to vet Mr. Missal were crucial to ensuring his experience, qualifications, and impartiality prior to confirmation. As the Senate’s primary oversight committee with jurisdiction over Inspectors General, it is vital HSGAC continues the precedent of holding hearings for these unique roles that ensure transparency and accountability in our government.”
The full text of the Senators’ letter is available here.
Blumenthal Bulletin
Blumenthal released a statement on the Supreme Court’s decision on birthright citizenship.
Blumenthal pressed the Trump Administration on the politically motivated targeting of ActBlue.
Blumenthal called on VA’s Office of Inspector General to investigate Trump VA’s chaotic contract cancellations.
Blumenthal released a statement on the passing of Mark Davis.
Blumenthal demanded the Trump Administration explain “disturbing” secret hospital guideline changes.
Blumenthal introduced legislation to protect Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure recipients following Trump’s attacks.
Blumenthal exposed Republican hypocrisy for undermining state and local lawsuits that seek to hold Big Oil and Gas companies accountable.
Blumenthal demanded the Trump Administration reverse course and fully implement broadband.
Blumenthal announced over $8.7 million in federal funding for two Connecticut airports.
Blumenthal attended the Bridgeport Pride March.
Blumenthal celebrated the town of Seymour’s 175th birthday.
Blumenthal attended Pride Fest in West Hartford.
Blumenthal celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Polish National Alliance Lodge #513.
Blumenthal rallied with parent and advocates to highlight the need to pass the Kids Online Safety Act and protect children from the harms of Big Tech.
Blumenthal slammed harmful AI provisions in the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
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