Senators Demand Transparency on Airstrikes, Food Security Legislation Advances

U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jack Reed (D-RI) are leading a push for the declassification and public release of a legal memo concerning lethal airstrikes conducted by the Trump Administration in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The Senators, supported by their Democratic colleagues, sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on November 24, 2025, emphasizing the need for transparency in military operations.

The letter highlights the significance of understanding the legal justifications behind the use of lethal force. “Few decisions are more consequential for a democracy than the use of lethal force,” the Senators stated. They argue that making the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion public is essential for Congress and the American people to be fully informed. The letter was co-signed by a total of eleven Democratic Senators, including Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

The request comes after Armed Services Committee members were permitted to review the classified OLC opinion in a closed session. Since taking office, the Trump Administration has carried out a reported 21 unauthorized military strikes, primarily near Venezuela, resulting in 83 fatalities.

Food Security Legislation Introduced by Congressional Democrats

In a separate initiative, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act on November 20, 2025. This legislation aims to reverse recent Republican cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which the Senators described as unprecedented and damaging.

The proposed legislation seeks to restore funding to SNAP, which has faced cuts amounting to an estimated $187 billion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Klobuchar criticized these cuts, stating they would disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. “This Administration has taken every opportunity to make it harder for Americans to put food on the table,” she remarked.

The political landscape surrounding food security is increasingly contentious, with the Democratic caucus united in their efforts to uphold a longstanding commitment to combat hunger in the United States. The bill has a companion measure introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Jahana Hayes (D-CT) and Angie Craig (D-MN).

Senator Mark Kelly Speaks Out Against Administration’s Tactics

During appearances on CNN’s State of the Union and NBC’s Meet the Press on November 30, 2025, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) voiced his opposition to what he described as efforts by the Trump Administration to silence dissent. Kelly criticized the administration’s tactics, asserting that they send a “chilling message” throughout the nation.

“I will not be silenced,” Kelly affirmed, emphasizing his commitment to accountability and transparency regarding the administration’s actions. His remarks come amid growing concerns about intimidation tactics employed against members of Congress.

On November 25, 2025, a joint statement was released by U.S. Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) condemning the use of the FBI as a tool for intimidation against Congress. They expressed their determination to uphold their constitutional duties, asserting that “no amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us.”

Additionally, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) are demanding answers regarding what they describe as an unprecedented political purge of Department of Justice employees. Their concerns, articulated in a letter to Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, cite numerous reports of politically motivated dismissals that threaten the agency’s integrity and national security mission.

Durbin also publicly criticized the Trump Administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics during a Senate speech on November 18, 2025. He recounted the story of Diana Patricia Santillana Galeano, a teacher unlawfully detained during “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago. Durbin condemned the operation for using extreme measures that have instilled fear within immigrant communities.

As these legislative efforts and critical discussions unfold, it remains clear that the issues of military transparency, food security, and civil liberties are at the forefront of political discourse in the United States. The calls for accountability and reform reflect broader concerns about governance and the protection of democratic principles as the nation heads towards the next election cycle.