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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 2d

They shut down the government with a partisan plan that has us barreling toward a national health care crisis — and they won't even come to the table.

Oh, and House Republicans have been on a paid vacation for weeks. They just don't give a damn about anyone other than their billionaire buddies.

White House declines to engage Democrats as shutdown drags into second week

The White House has yet to engage Democrats on ending the government shutdown, despite the potential political ramifications of the closure.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 2d

This isn't just cruel to these dedicated public servants — it also harms the millions of Americans who will lose the vital services they provide.

Trump's been illegally withholding funds and slashing services since Day 1 — and is on even shakier legal ground now.

Back to court.

Trump administration begins laying off federal workers amid shutdown

White House budget director Russell Vought said reductions in force were underway.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 2d

This is what courage in the face of authoritarianism looks like. No university should take Trump's bribe & surrender their integrity — bending the knee to a bully only feeds the beast & puts ALL our rights at risk.

Others should follows MIT’s example ASAP.

MIT rejects Trump administration deal for priority federal funding

MIT is one of the nine schools that were asked to agree to adopt conservative priorities and policies in exchange for funding perks.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 3d

Presidents and governors shouldn't be able to deploy National Guard troops from one state to another if that state's governor objects.

That is common sense, and yet Republicans just blocked my amendment to stop this blatant abuse of power. Another shameful abdication of duty.

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 3d

Another day, another hit to our democracy as Trump’s corruption of the DOJ continues. AG Bondi is his tool for prosecuting his political targets.

Normalizing this is how democracies die. I refuse to accept it — and the American people shouldn’t either.

New York AG Letitia James indicted for alleged fraud following pressure from Trump

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted on at least one count of alleged fraud following pressure from President Donald Trump.

abcnews.link

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 3d

This is the first hopeful moment in a long time. At last we have an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all the hostages, and a surge of desperately needed aid to the people of Gaza. It is long overdue.

My full statement:

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 4d

First Republicans shut down the government instead of lowering health care costs, and now they blocked our bill to end Trump's sham "energy emergency" — which is just a gift to Big Oil that is gutting clean energy and RAISING energy prices.

Another betrayal of American families.

thehill.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 4d

Trump officials and Laura Ingraham don’t get the difference between furloughing and firing federal workers.

Let me break it down for them: workers are furloughed because Trump shut down the government. His threats to FIRE them are illegal — and would devastate American families:

What Trump officials and Laura Ingraham don't get about the shutdown

YouTube video by Senator Chris Van Hollen

youtube.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 5d

If Republicans don’t pass our bill to reopen the government and extend ACA tax credits, millions of families will see their health care costs soar.

Here's just one example of a MD couple who would see their costs nearly TRIPLE — a health catastrophe and another Trump betrayal:

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 5d

Let me be clear: backpay for these workers is required under a federal law I wrote with former Senator Cardin — which Trump signed — during the last Trump shutdown.

This is just more fear mongering from a president who wants a blank check for lawlessness. It won't work.

Federal workers not entitled to back pay after shutdown, budget office claims

Federal workers may not be entitled to back pay after the government shutdown ends, the Trump administration’s budget office wrote in a new draft memo obtained by The Washington Post, ratcheting up te...

www.washingtonpost.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 5d

On this solemn two-year anniversary of the horrific Hamas terror attacks of October 7th, let us remember the lives lost that day, and commit ourselves to bringing home the hostages, ending the war in Gaza and building a future that ensures security, peace, and dignity for all.

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 6d

The Trump admin has lied about this case from the start — and now it can't get its story straight about next steps for Mr. Abrego Garcia.

This reeks of a political prosecution and the courts must continue to ensure his due process rights are protected.

Judge Poised to Free Abrego Garcia if Officials Can’t Supply Deportation Plans

www.nytimes.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 6d

Every day Republicans are choosing to keep the government closed rather than lower your health care costs.

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 6d

🚨STARTING NOW: As we enter another week of Trump's shutdown, @alsobrooks.senate.gov and I are hosting a telephone town hall with Marylanders to discuss our fight to reopen the government and prevent a health care crisis in America.

Tune in: www.vanhollen.senate.gov/live

Live | U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland

The Official U.S. Senate website of Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland

www.vanhollen.senate.gov

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 6d

Trump is taking a wrecking ball to Lady Liberty — snuffing out her torch of freedom and humanity.

And by favoring white South Africans over true refugees, he is making a mockery of the entire system. A truly twisted person.

Trump Administration Is Said to Plan to Cut Refugee Admissions to a Record Low

www.nytimes.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 7d

I’m glad Van Jones apologized for his sick joking about dead kids in Gaza.

But the problem goes deeper: he spread Netanyahu propaganda that the mass killings of civilians in Gaza—including 20K+ kids—is Iranian fake news.

It’s not the students and young people who are fooled. It’s Van Jones.

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 7d

JD Vance is blaming Democrats for Trump’s government shutdown. That’s BS.

What he didn’t tell you? Senate Republicans voted against our bill to reopen the government and prevent a health care crisis FOUR TIMES.

The truth: They’d rather keep it shut than lower health care costs.

October 5, 2025

YouTube video by Senator Chris Van Hollen

youtube.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 7d

The Israeli Minister in charge of prisons has called for the starvation of civilians in Gaza yet he's the one calling the flotilla participants — including American vets — trying to feed starving civilians in Gaza “terrorists.”

Outrageous and unacceptable.

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 7d

On Friday I spoke with relatives of Americans on the Gaza aid flotilla who were being detained by Netanyahu’s government.

Ambassador Huckabee says his highest duty is to protect Americans abroad but has done virtually nothing to return them. He needs to do his job.

I met with relatives of Americans on Gaza aid flotilla who were detained by Netanyahu government

YouTube video by Senator Chris Van Hollen

youtube.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 9d

Today a judge said what has been clear from the beginning: the evidence shows the Trump Admin is vindictively punishing Mr. Abrego Garcia for having the audacity to pursue his due process rights.

Those rights MUST be upheld. This is not about one man — it’s about ALL our rights.

Judge Says DOJ May Be Vindictively Punishing Abrego Garcia for Challenging Removal to El Salvador

Read more here.

www.democracydocket.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 9d

Let me be clear: this is stealing from the American people. They think this illegal blackmail will make us cave — but it's just proving exactly why we can't give these crooks a blank check.

Americans won't tolerate their tax dollars and communities being held hostage.

Trump to withhold $2.1 billion for Chicago infrastructure projects amid shutdown battle

The pause affects a long-awaited plan to extend the city’s Red Line train. White House budget director Russ Vought wrote on social media Friday that the money was “put on hold to ensure funding is not...

www.pbs.org

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 9d

Let me get this straight: American taxpayers pay for bombs and planes that the Netanyahu government uses to strike sites in Qatar, and now Trump enters into a security agreement where he promises to use American soldiers and money to protect Qatar?

Is this what he means by America First?

Trump commits US to defending Qatar’s security | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order for the US to guarantee the security of Qatar — a significant commitment to a non-NATO, Arab ally.

www.cnn.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 10d

Trump doesn’t get to “determine” we’re at war—that’s Congress’s job. Check the Constitution, Art. 1, Sec 8, Clause 11.

And while he’s talking tough out of one side of his mouth, he’s disbanding the DOJ task force fighting cartels with the other.

This isn’t about public safety. It’s a power grab.

Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told

www.nytimes.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 10d

First Trump blackmailed universities into suppressing free speech. Now he’s bribing them with taxpayer dollars to enforce his agenda. Corruption and authoritarianism, plain and simple.

No university should cave to this blatantly unconstitutional coercion.

Trump offers top universities funds if they boost conservative ideas

Brown and MIT among nine schools told to back conservative views or risk losing federal support, sparking free speech fears

www.theguardian.com

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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 10d

Trump shut down the government because he thinks he's a king, and now troops aren't getting paid.

But sure, let's spend $20 billion to prop up a far-right government in Buenos Aires.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 10d

Bessent on Trump's bailout of Argentina: "America first doesn't mean America alone ... what you don't want are these failed economic models. Argentina has 100 years of decline and President Milei is working against history. He's done a fantastic job."

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