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Earlier today, it was reported by the Washington Post that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is holding up the transfer of U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles from European countries to Ukraine. The missiles are a crucial component of Ukraine's air defenses, protecting civilians from Russian missile strikes. The interceptors were already sold to European allies under agreements that require U.S. approval before they can be transferred to Ukraine.

Earlier today, First Lady Melania Trump posted a list of her “5 Pillars of Women’s Health Innovation” on social media. This post followed President Trump’s signing of an Executive Order that the White House claims will “advance women’s health.” House Appropriations Committee and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) issued the following statement in response to the First Lady:

According to a new report, the White House issued the order to restrict Starlink service over Ukraine, interrupting missile-defense systems that protect civilians from Russian attacks. Starshield—the version of Starlink used by the military—is provided by SpaceX, a company owned by Trump ally and Republican mega-donor Elon Musk. The interruption comes as Russia increases their attacks on civilian targets. Civilian casualties in Ukraine were 85 percent higher this September compared to last, and more than 2,500 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since January, according to the United Nations. House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) issued the following statement:

Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, released the following statement on the Trump Administration holding back or cutting off Billions of dollars Congress provided the Department of Energy to bring new energy online and lower Americans’ energy costs. Four recent reports detail how, over the last 18 months, President Trump’s policies have raised energy costs for families and delayed and defunded critical energy investments.

Today, the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued multiple decisions reaffirming Congress’s constitutional power of the purse and concluding that the President cannot unilaterally withhold appropriated funds. House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) issued the following statement on these decisions:

After President Trump personally directed that taxpayer funding be used for a series of political ads, he has reportedly reversed course. Instead, he is opting to pay for the spots with his donors’ money, through his political action committee (PAC). House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) issued the following statement on the president’s abrupt about-face:

Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, released the following statement in response to the Department of Energy’s announcement of another release of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

A new joint report from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2883 and the Public Data Observatory found that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have suffered estimated workforce losses of 30 percent, or more than 3,800 civil servants under the reckless stewardship of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and President Trump.