Beyer, Don RSS Articles

Beyer: President Trump’s Policies are Doing Serious Damage to the American Economy

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Don Beyer, Senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its July 2026 jobs report, which found that the U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July with previous job gains in May and June revised down by a combined 103,000 lower than previously reported. While the unemployment level edged down to 4.1 percent, that decline came as labor force participation fell again to 61.4 percent – its lowest level since February 2021 – with another 264,000 Americans leaving the workforce entirely.

“Today’s jobs report is deeply alarming and offers some of the clearest evidence yet that President Trump’s policies are doing serious damage to the American economy. Job creation has effectively ground to a halt, and businesses simply are not hiring at the pace a healthy economy demands. Wages tell the same troubling story: wage growth slowed to just 3.2 percent, its weakest pace in five years, while inflation has surged to 3.5 percent.

“None of this is happening in a vacuum. President Trump inherited a strong economy and has spent the past 18 months tearing it down. His chaotic tariffs have raised costs for American families and businesses while creating enormous uncertainty that discourages investment and hiring. His cruel and indiscriminate immigration policies are shrinking the labor supply and making it harder for businesses to find the workers they need, and his reckless war in Iran is imposing still more costs on working families, including higher prices at the gas pump.

“We are now seeing the consequences of these disastrous policies, which economists repeatedly warned would raise prices and weaken economic growth. Trump’s economy is not merely slowing down, it is moving backwards. Wages are failing to keep pace with inflation, businesses aren’t hiring, and discouraged Americans are leaving the workforce altogether.

“Yet Republicans in Congress continue to cede their constitutional authority rather than rein in the Trump Administration’s harmful economic policies or confront the President’s shameless corruption. As Americans struggle to afford groceries, electricity, housing, and health care, Donald Trump is abusing the presidency to enrich himself while insulating himself and his family immunity from tax audits. Republicans in Congress are standing by while working families pay the price. It is a complete disgrace and a profound dereliction of our duty to the American people.”

Beyer, Meeks Reiterate Concerns on Senate Passage of Russia Sanctions Bill

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, and Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued the following statement upon Senate passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026:

“While we do not doubt the good intentions of our Senate colleagues’ work on the Sanctioning Russia Act, the fundamental concerns we’ve previously stated about this bill have not been addressed with its Senate passage. This bill’s sanctions still contain the broadest possible waiver authority for President Trump, who already has the power to impose these sanctions on Russia under U.S. law but has refused to do so.

“What the bill does grant, however, are sweeping new tariff authorities that the president could weaponize with abandon, as he has repeatedly done in the past. President Trump just last month recklessly imposed new 50% tariffs on our closest trading partner, Canada; there is no reason to believe he would not use the even larger tariffs authorized by this bill in a manner similarly harmful to our alliances and Americans’ wallets.

“We welcome our Senate colleagues’ urgent effort to support Ukraine and punish Russia for its continued illegal war, but this bill would not achieve those goals. Instead, it would allow President Trump to dodge holding Russia accountable and impose yet more tariffs in his destructive trade wars, leaving Americans to foot the bill.

“Though the Paul-Wyden amendment to strike the dangerous tariff authorities failed, the vote total demonstrates that continued refinement of the Sanctioning Russia Act is imperative before it can be sent to the president’s desk. We will continue to seek a path forward that remedies this bill’s flaws, and we remain ready to negotiate expeditiously with Congressional colleagues to achieve our common objectives. But the current text is unacceptable.”

Beyer, Walkinshaw, Subramanyam Conduct Unannounced Oversight Visit at Chantilly ICE Facility

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (VA-08), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) released the following statement after conducting an unannounced oversight visit yesterday evening at ICE’s temporary holding facility in Chantilly, Virginia.

“We exercised our right to direct congressional oversight over ICE facilities after hearing reports of overcrowding and lengthy stays at a facility designed for temporary processing.

“At the time of our visit, we did not witness overcrowding. ICE staff asserted that they are complying with a recent court order limiting stays at temporary processing facilities like Chantilly to 12 hours.

“Our oversight does not end with one visit. We will continue monitoring this facility and holding ICE accountable to ensure everyone in its custody is treated humanely and in accordance with the law.”

Beyer, DeGette, Raskin, House Democrats Demand AHRQ Reverse Cancellation of More Than $200 Million in Health Care Research Grants

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), House Energy and Commerce’s Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) today led 68 House Democrats in demanding that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) immediately reverse the cancellation of more than 150 grants supporting over $200 million in critical health care research. Among the research projects affected by the cancellations are efforts to integrate behavioral health services into routine pediatric care; use telehealth to expand access to care and reduce costs, including in rural communities; improve postpartum care for patients with chronic medical conditions; and reduce the overuse of antibiotics following hospital discharge to combat antimicrobial resistance.

In a letter to AHRQ Director Roger Klein, the lawmakers noted that Congress provided AHRQ with $345.38 million in funding as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, reflecting bipartisan support for the agency’s work to improve health care access, affordability, and quality. The lawmakers warned that the mass cancellation of grants may constitute an illegal impoundment of Congressionally authorized and appropriated funding and raised concerns that the agency failed to follow federal regulations governing the termination of awards.

“Given the disastrous impact of these notices, the potential procedural defects in issuing them, and our concerns surrounding AHRQ’s use of Congressionally-appropriated funds, we ask that you immediately withdraw these notices and fully fund the grantees that have waited for committed funds for over a year,” wrote the Members. “Additionally, we ask that you provide Congress with a comprehensive list of all awards for which notices referenced above have been issued and, for each of the canceled grants, list grant-specific information regarding the grantee’s progress, management practices, and other factors considered before issuing the notice.”

The letter is also signed by Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Troy Carter (D-LA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Herb Conaway (D-NJ), Angie Craig (D-MN), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Jacon Crow (D-CO), Danny Davis (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-WA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Adelita Grijalva (D-NM), Van Hoyle (D-OR), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Summer Lee (D-PA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), John Mannion (D-NY), Doris Matsui (D-CA), April McClain Delaney (D-MD), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Jerry Nadler (D-NJ), Richard Neal (D-MA), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Mark Takano (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), James Walkinshaw (D-VA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

Full text of the letter follows below, and a signed copy is available here.

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Dear Director Klein:

We write to request the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Grants Management Office immediately reverse the mass cancellation of grants issued July 15, 2026. AHRQ has a statutory responsibility to support research to improve the quality and effectiveness of health services for the American people. The cancellation of more than 150 meritorious grants violates this duty and is likely an illegal impoundment of Congressionally-authorized and appropriated funds. The Grants Management Office also failed to follow federal regulations governing the termination of awards. We urge you to realign your Agency with federal law and the best interests of the American people and reverse these grant cancellations.

On July 15, 2026, AHRQ reportedly sent an estimated 150 cancellation notices to grant recipients. This action is expected to eliminate more than $200 million in lifesaving healthcare research that AHRQ funds as the lead federal agency directing studies into delivering care efficiently, effectively, and safely. At a time when the United States spends $5.3 trillion on healthcare annually, accounting for 18% of national gross domestic product, it is shocking that AHRQ would choose to end its support of that critical research.

Congress consistently authorizes and appropriates federal dollars to AHRQ, and most recently received $345.38 million in the FY26 Consolidated Appropriations Act, demonstrating bipartisan support for improving healthcare access, affordability, and quality, including in areas of priority for AHRQ like rural healthcare, artificial intelligence, and the prevention of healthcare associated infections. Examples of canceled research grants include programs to:

Integrate behavioral health services into routine pediatric care offerings.
Use telehealth to improve access and reduce costs of unscheduled care, making healthcare more affordable and accessible for the communities who rely most on telemedicine, including in rural areas.
Improve postpartum care in primary care settings for patients with chronic medical conditions.
Reduce overuse of antibiotics upon hospital discharge, reducing the well-recognized, long-term risks of antimicrobial resistance.

The above list is a small sample of the myriad topics addressed through canceled AHRQ grants that would improve healthcare quality, safety, and cost for the American people.

Withholding federal dollars from grant recipients across nearly 30 states without seeking Congressional approval under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is likely illegal and continues what is now a multi-year violation of federal law. The cancellation notices issued on July 15 fail to meet basic standards for grant cancellation notices. The notices cite 42 C.F.R. § 67.17(d) and 42 C.F.R. § 67.17(e), styling the notices as “non-awards” of future funding, rather than cancellations of ongoing research. However, the notices then assign recipients specific obligations under 2 C.F.R. § 200.344, which only applies when grants are canceled. The authorities to cancel ongoing grants provided under 42 C.F.R. § 67.17 require that specific factors are taken into account to cancel individual awards, including “the grantee's progress and management practices and the availability of funds.” Applying blanket language across up to 150 grants covering more than $200 million in awards is not consistent with careful consideration of individual grantees’ progress or performance.

Given the disastrous impact of these notices, the potential procedural defects in issuing them, and our concerns surrounding AHRQ’s use of Congressionally-appropriated funds, we ask that you immediately withdraw these notices and fully fund the grantees that have waited for committed funds for over a year. Additionally, we ask that you provide Congress with a comprehensive list of all awards for which notices referenced above have been issued and, for each of the canceled grants, list grant-specific information regarding the grantee’s progress, management practices, and other factors considered before issuing the notice. We request an update on AHRQ’s plans to withdraw these notices, as well as the full list of requested grantee information, no later than August 21, 2026.

Beyer Statement On National Park Service Analysis Finding Trump’s Vanity Arch Would Severely Disrupt Major Capital-Area Sites

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today responded to an assessment by the National Park Service of the impacts on capital region historic sites by President Trump’s proposed 250-foot arch, which found the project would “adversely affect” dozens of major sites, many of which are in Beyer’s district. Beyer represents a Northern Virginia district in the U.S. House that includes Arlington National Cemetery, and is leading congressional efforts to block the project.

“The Administration itself is confirming that Trump’s illegal arch project would massively disrupt many of the sites that draw millions of people to the capital every year,” said Beyer. “This is ridiculous and unacceptable, and nobody here wants it. Trump’s arch would be an enormous monument to his vanity and insecurity, and an insult to our heroes buried at Arlington National Cemetery. I will do all in my power to ensure that it is never constructed.”

The National Park Service’s “Assessment of Effect” on President Trump’s proposed 250-foot “triumphal arch” found that the arch would “adversely affect” dozens of nearby historic sites and monuments, including Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Memorial Bridge, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the National Cathedral, George Washington Memorial Parkway, and many others. The proposal currently faces legal challenges, which allege that it violates the National Historic Preservation Act.

Rep. Don Beyer is leading congressional efforts to block construction of Trump’s arch. His Northern Virginia district includes the Arlington National Cemetery, where his parents, grandparents, and sister are buried. He is the author of the Arlington National Cemetery Viewshed Protection Act, which would explicitly prohibit construction of the arch. He previously raised concerns about the projects impacts on traffic in the region, which the Trump Administration has yet to address. The arch has been a consistent source of anger and concern to Beyer’s constituents, who like much of the country, vociferously oppose the project.

Beyer Introduces Bill to Reinforce Legal Options Against Illegal Impoundments

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) today announced his introduction of the Restoring Accountability in Appropriations Act, which would empower private parties and the U.S. House of Representatives to prevent illegal delays and cancellations of federal grants.

The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA) put in place clear guardrails to safeguard the Congressional "power of the purse," enshrined in Article I of the Constitution. Under the ICA, the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is granted authorities to investigate illegal withholdings and impoundments of federal funds and sue to end those illegal delays.

Unfortunately, President Trump, Administration officials, and Congressional Republicans have repeatedly attacked GAO. Threats to defund the watchdog agency, refuse to lawfully cooperate with investigations, and direct federal agencies to "pay no heed whatsoever to [its] conclusions" are a serious threat to its ability to fully enforce the ICA.

That situation is untenable for the countless federal grantees and partners who have lost hundreds of billions of dollars due to illegal impoundments of taxpayer dollars, and the millions of Americans who benefit from services those organizations provide. Over the past few months alone, the Trump Administration has withheld funding for community programs to reduce poverty, public health services, and more than 20 education programs.

“Donald Trump's repeated refusal to follow the law and fully fund medical research, education programs, immigration services, foreign assistance, anti-poverty programs, and much more is a disaster for the American people and the American economy," said Congressman Beyer. “The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse. Faced with repeated attacks on that power and on the watchdogs already empowered to enforce it, every impacted party should have the express opportunity to seek legal remedies and prevent disastrous consequences for our constituents and for the countless Americans helped every day by federally-funded programs.”

GAO has found that the current Trump Administration has already violated the ICA at least seven times, while opening at least 39 further investigations. One of those investigations was opened pursuant to a request from Congressman Beyer to investigate the illegal impoundment of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality grants to improve the quality and delivery of critical health services.

Others include investigations into the impoundment of more than 1,800 National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, delays affecting more than 2,500 projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and President Trump’s rescission of billions of dollars in foreign assistance appropriated for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

“When Congress passes an appropriations law and the president signs it, it is no longer a suggestion, it's a requirement,” said AcademyHealth’s President and CEO Aaron Carroll, M.D., M.S. “For over a year, thousands of taxpayer-invested research grants that were tackling the biggest problems in our country have been thrown in disarray due to illegally withheld funds. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has been functionally wiped out entirely by unlawful impoundments. Unfortunately, the pathway for grantees to seek redress has been incredibly steep. This legislation is a key step in ensuring stability and accountability in taxpayer investments by those that are harmed by violations of budget laws.”

Specifically, the Restoring Accountability in Appropriations Act would:

Add to the Impoundment Control Act an express right of action for any private parties impacted by illegal impoundments of federal funds to seek legal redress, with federal courts empowered to make funds available as required by law.
Create a pathway for Members of the House of Representatives to, in the absence of an existing lawsuit by the Comptroller General, compel the House to bring its own suit to make funds available as required by law.

This legislation continues Congressman Beyer's legislative work to reassert Constitutional powers vested in Congress. Last year, Congressman Beyer introduced the Congressional Trade Authority Act to take back powers, given expressly to Congress under the Constitution, that the Trump Administration has used to raise costs and unleash economic chaos worldwide.

Full text of the Restoring Accountability in Appropriations Act is available here.

Beyer Urges Rejection of Edsall Data Center Substation

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) today urged the Fairfax County Planning Commission to deny the permit application filed for Edsall Data Center Substation 2232 at the Plaza 500 site at 6299 Edsall Road in Lincolnia, citing serious concerns about the project’s potential impacts on land use, flooding mitigation, light pollution, noise pollution, and whether this proposal is consistent with Lincolnia’s sustainable growth goals.

In a letter to the Fairfax County Planning Commission, Beyer noted that while Fairfax County has adopted guidelines intended to minimize the impacts of data center infrastructure on surrounding neighborhoods and preserve land for housing, economic opportunity, and transit-oriented development, he shares the concerns of many residents and stakeholders that the proposed substation is inconsistent with those goals.

“I am writing regarding the Edsall Data Center Substation 2232 Application currently before the Planning Commission. As the Member of Congress representing the community in which this proposal is located, I have serious concerns about the potential impact of this project on residents,” wrote Rep. Beyer. “Data center infrastructure should not be built in residential areas where its scale and likely impacts are fundamentally incompatible with the character and quality of life of adjacent neighborhoods. As such, I respectfully request the Commission deny the Application... I recognize the important of maintaining the infrastructure necessary to support our region’s economy and technological leadership. However, as we continue to experience unprecedented growth in data center development, we must ensure that these projects are appropriately located outside of residential areas.”

Full text of the letter follows below, and a signed copy is available here.

***

Dear Commissioners:

I am writing regarding the Edsall Data Center Substation 2232 Application currently before the Planning Commission. As the Member of Congress representing the community in which this proposal is located, I have serious concerns about the potential impact of this project on residents. Data center infrastructure should not be built in residential areas where its scale and likely impacts are fundamentally incompatible with the character and quality of life of adjacent neighborhoods. As such, I respectfully request the Commission deny the Application.

The proposed substation is understandably a matter of significant concern for my constituents. Residents have raised important questions about the compatibility of this project with the surrounding community. Specific concerns include land use, environmental impacts like flooding, excessive lighting and noise pollution, and whether this proposal supports thoughtful, sustainable growth envisioned for Lincolnia.

Fairfax County has taken important steps to establish guidelines addressing these particular concerns associated with data center infrastructure and development. As I understand it, these guidelines are intended to minimize impacts on surrounding neighborhoods while preserving land designated for housing, economic opportunity, and transit-oriented development. Many residents and stakeholders have expressed concerns that this particular proposal does not align with those objectives. I share those concerns.

I recognize the importance of maintaining the infrastructure necessary to support our region’s economy and technological leadership. However, as we continue to experience unprecedented growth in data center development, we must ensure that these projects are appropriately located outside of residential areas.

Thank you for your consideration of this important request and for your service to Fairfax County.

Beyer, Raskin, Norton, Ivey Oppose Trump Administration’s Rushed “Redevelopment” of Historic East Potomac Park

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Representatives Don Beyer (VA-08), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04), along with 43 of their colleagues, demanded transparency about the Trump Administration’s new vanity project, the proposed redevelopment of East Potomac Park designed by President Trump’s handpicked architect, Tom Fazio. The letter, written to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Acting Director of the National Park Service Jessica Bowron, called on the Administration to preserve the park’s historical features and affordability.

In this latest letter, the lawmakers are demanding the administration disclose the cost of the golf course’s redevelopment and how any changes would affect bike and walking paths. They also demanded the administration comply with historic preservation laws and disclose how the golf course’s pricing may change.

“We write with strong objections to your rushed ‘redevelopment’ of East Potomac Park, as well as the lack of clear public communication as to the changes planned for a beloved historic and recreation site,” the lawmakers wrote. “Any significant construction… requires compliance with bedrock environmental and historic preservation laws, robust public consultation and review, and protection of the existing uses of the site.”

East Potomac Park, which includes East Potomac Golf Links, lies on federal land in Washington, D.C. The existing golf courses are well-used and popular, and hosted 130,000 rounds of golf in 2025. The courses are known for both their affordability—a tee time costs as little as $17—and their rich history and accessibility for players of all skill levels. In addition to the golf courses, East Potomac Park is also a beloved recreation site for thousands of residents in D.C., Maryland and Virginia who use the park’s biking and walking paths and picnic on scenic Hains Point. In the spring, the park hosts visitors who travel to see D.C.’s oldest stand of cherry blossoms.

The courses became a core part of the nation’s civil rights history in 1941 when three Black golf players insisted on playing a round of golf, making East Potomac Golf Links one of the first desegregated public golf courses in the country.

In addition to public access considerations, the lawmakers raised transparency concerns surrounding the redevelopment project’s financing.

“A private entity called the National Garden of American Heroes Foundation has sent brochures of the redesign to prospective donors and advertised the option for these donors to remain anonymous,” the lawmakers wrote. “The only information available about this shadowy foundation is that interested donors can contact President Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign finance director if they have any questions.

The lawmakers first sounded the alarm on threats to East Potomac Park in response to the 35,000 cubic yards of toxic debris that the Trump Administration dumped on the golf courses following the illegal demolition of the White House’s East Wing. The proposed East Potomac Park redevelopment follows the Trump Administration’s pattern of unauthorized demolition and construction projects. Following the personal involvement of President Trump, the Administration has defaced other cultural and recreational spaces in the Nation's Capital, including the East Wing of the White House, the Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The letter is also signed by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), André Carson (IN-07), Sean Casten (IL-06), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-03), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James McGovern (MA-02), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Dave Min (CA-04), Jerry Nadler (NY-17), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Emily Randall (WA-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Robert “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

Read the full text of the letter here and below:

Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Director Bowron:

We write with strong objections to your rushed “redevelopment” of East Potomac Park, as well as the lack of clear public communication as to the changes planned for a beloved historic and recreation site. Any significant construction at East Potomac Park, which was expressly created by Congress in 1897 to be “forever held and used as a park for the recreation and pleasure of the people,” requires compliance with bedrock environmental and historic preservation laws, robust public consultation and review, and protection of the existing uses of the site. Removing or diminishing any of those uses, including the existing affordable public golf course, the biking and running trails around the course, and the historic grove of cherry trees along Hains Point, is unacceptable and potentially illegal. We urge you to immediately abandon those efforts and protect this essential site for generations present and future.

East Potomac Golf Links has been an indispensable public asset since 1921. The National Park Service (NPS) responded to popular demand that year to create one of the country’s first public golf courses. The three courses—Red, White and Blue—were designed or inspired by the designs of Walter Travis, who rejected Victorian-style designs favored by the rich and powerful to create links-style courses that all players could enjoy. The courses opened with rounds of golf priced at just 25 cents. This legacy of inclusive pricing continues to this day. Visitors can book a child’s tee time for just $9 and enjoy a hamburger at the Potomac Grille for under $10—an enjoyable afternoon that won’t break the bank. The courses became a core part of our national civil rights history in 1941 when three Black golf players insisted on playing a round of golf, making East Potomac Golf Links one of the first desegregated golf courses in the country. For 85 years, residents of all backgrounds in the District of Columbia and the surrounding area have enjoyed the golf course and the biking and running trails that surround it.

This all changed on August 1, 2025, when you met with President Trump to discuss destroying the Red, White, and Blue courses and replacing them with a single “championship- style” layout designed to host professional tournaments. This recently released “Washington National Plan,” credited to Tom Fazio—who has previously designed golf courses for President Trump—would be a wholesale redevelopment of a property that has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973. To make this design a reality, the existing 36 holes, split across the Red, White and Blue courses, would need to be destroyed, trees would be cut down, and an entirely new clubhouse would likely be constructed. All of this would yield just one large course, an 18-hole course designed for professionals, and one 9-hole pitch and putt course, leaving little room for the cycling, running and picnicking activities that are equally important to the park’s character.

On June 28, this already expansive redesign became catastrophic when President Trump toured East Potomac Golf Links and examined new renderings of a far more expansive redesign proposal than what you disclosed on social media. If the high-resolution photos of the plan clutched by the President during the tour reflect the Administration’s real intentions, the redesign would create just one 18-hole course for professionals, provide no 9-hole pitch and putt course, and completely eliminate Hains Point and the walking and biking trails surrounding the park. The Administration has not publicly released cost projections for this massive undertaking. The limited information shared about public access after the redesign includes estimates that the weekend price for local golfers could nearly double as a result of this complete transformation, even as the number of available courses to play on is cut by a third. This undermines the longstanding principles of affordability and public access which have driven East Potomac Golf Links since its founding.

While the courses are certainly in need of significant maintenance and repair following decades of underinvestment, this work must be accomplished in compliance with the law and with respect for the historic nature of this beloved public resource. NPS itself has performed a Cultural Landscape Report on East Potomac Golf Links, determining in 2019 that the Red, White and Blue courses are “essential” to the “design integrity at East Potomac” and that the historic design reflects “an egalitarian institution within the city of Washington, D.C., as originally intended.” Furthermore, the biking and running trails circumnavigating East Potomac Park—in addition to providing crucial public access to the waterfront—are core components of the park. Hains Point is a beloved and scenic picnic area that is also critical to residents and visitors alike, who come each spring to enjoy Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossom season.

To raise funds for the Washington National Plan, a private entity called the National Garden of American Heroes Foundation has sent brochures of the redesign to prospective donors and advertised the option for these donors to remain anonymous. The only information available about this shadowy foundation is that interested donors can contact President Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign finance director if they have any questions. We have seen this hollow promise before. Previous construction efforts that President Trump has touted as privately funded have both ballooned in cost and in fact been paid for by taxpayers.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires federal agencies to assess the effects of any proposed project on “historic federal properties.” It also requires federal agencies to publicly release development plans of this level of significance and incorporate sufficient time for public comment. Instead of engaging with the public about this design as required by law, the Administration began setting plans in motion to close the existing golf courses and clear stands of trees within them in May 2026. The trees have only been spared and the course only remains open due to pending litigation.

To learn more about your plans to redevelop the park, and how you will address our concerns about the redevelopment and its negative impact on multi-purpose recreation access, we request written answers to the following questions by no later than August 14, 2026:

What is the cost of redeveloping East Potomac Golf Links?
Will the beloved and heavily-used walking and biking paths and lanes through the Park be preserved? If so, will any changes be made to those paths and lanes?
Will the similarly beloved and heavily-visited cherry trees within the Park be preserved? If so, are there anticipated impacts on health or access to those trees?
How much more will it cost for the public to play golf at East Potomac Golf Links under the “Washington National Plan”? The similar courses that you have cited as cost models in your redesign proposal feature prices that are as much as double the current East Potomac Golf Links prices. What justifies this increase?
What is the relationship between the National Garden of American Heroes Foundation and members of the Trump Administration and specifically President Trump?
What are the Department’s plans to assess project compliance under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the wholesale redevelopment of East Potomac Golf Links?
1. If these plans move forward, what is the Department’s anticipated public comment schedule?

We appreciate your consideration and look forward to your prompt response.

Beyer Introduces Bill to Reduce Homebuilding Costs and Improve Housing Affordability

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee which has jurisdiction over U.S. trade policy, today introduced the Homebuilding Materials Tariff Relief Act to eliminate the Trump Administration’s tariffs on a series of critical products used in home construction and bring down the cost of housing.

“Rather than lowering costs for American families as he promised on the campaign trail, President Trump has been laser focused on making everything more expensive, particularly through his disastrous tariffs,” said Congressman Beyer. “The homebuilding sector has been particularly hard hit, as the new taxes Trump has imposed on imports of key materials like ceramic tiles, glass, particle board, cement, and others have increased the cost of new homes by thousands of dollars. The last thing the federal government should be doing is piling on additional costs that get passed along to buyers and puts homeownership even further out of reach for working- and middle-class Americans. This bill would provide immediate relief to homebuilders and buyers and ensure that any future tariffs on these materials can only be imposed if the housing crisis has abated and with Congressional approval.”

Specifically, the Homebuilding Materials Tariff Relief Act would:

Exempt a series of critical homebuilding products from all tariffs imposed since January 20, 2025, except any duties imposed under apolitical tariff actions like trade remedies, safeguards, and trade agreement dispute settlement.
Ensure that for tariffs to be reimposed on the listed products, Congress must enact a joint resolution of approval.
Further provide that future tariffs can only be reimposed on the listed products if national housing affordability has improved.

According to a report from the Center for American Progress, the Trump Administration’s tariffs on homebuilding materials could reduce new home construction by 450,000 homes through 2030 and raise the average cost of building a home by $17,500.

Full text of the Homebuilding Materials Tariff Relief Act is available here.

Beyer, Garamendi, Sherman: Congress Must Reject Dangerous Trump-Saudi Nuclear Deal Without Safeguards

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The co-chairs of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group in the House of Representatives, Representative Don Beyer (VA-08) and Representative John Garamendi (CA-08), and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa Brad Sherman (CA-32) issued the following statement in response to the recent announcement of a deal to provide Saudi Arabia with nuclear technologies without safeguards that prevent weaponization.

“As leaders who have long supported non-proliferation, we are deeply concerned about the failure of the proposed U.S. – Saudi civilian nuclear agreement to include key protections to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. It is unacceptable that this Administration would push forward a deal without comprehensive safeguards to prevent Saudi Arabia from weaponizing the nuclear technology that President Trump has agreed to give them. Without these safeguards, we could give Saudi Arabia the tools it needs to become a nuclear-weapons state – something Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman has openly aspired to achieve.”

“If the Trump administration submits this so-called deal for the required Congressional review, we will take all available steps, including legislative action, to reject any deal that fails to include the safeguards necessary to prevent Saudi Arabia from developing nuclear weapons.

“Any nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia should include the strongest safeguards, including both a requirement that the nation signs the ‘Additional Protocol’ with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guaranteeing robust inspection of nuclear facilities, and agrees to the ‘Gold Standard’ prohibiting uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel—capabilities that are necessary to produce nuclear weapons. The Additional Protocol and Gold Standard are reasonable and are included in our nuclear cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which allows them to generate electricity efficiently without posing a nuclear weapons threat.

“President Trump is currently waging a disastrous war against Iran ostensibly to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. It was the United States that provided preliminary nuclear technology to Iran when it was ruled by a friendly, pro-Western monarch – and all of the technology in the hands of the Shah in 1978 fell into the hands of the Ayatollah in 1979. We cannot make the same mistake with Saudi Arabia.

“Preventing Saudi Arabia from developing nuclear weapons has long been an area of bipartisan consensus here in Congress – because America’s national security depends on it. We will fight to make sure Congress rejects any nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that fails to protect the American people from a nuclear-armed Saudi state.”

Rep. Beyer Hosts Global Entry Enrollment Event

Sat, 17 May 2025 14:30:00 GMT

I’m hosting a Global Entry Enrollment Event for applicants who have been conditionally approved to complete the interview portion on Saturday, May 17 at the Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library in Alexandria. The event will run from 10:30 AM until 3:40 PM.

All conditionally approved Global Entry applicants can schedule this event from their Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) account, using the location “Alexandria (IAD GE/Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library)”.

Ninth Annual Women's Conference: The Ripple Effects of Resilience

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:30:00 GMT

After postponing my Annual Women’s Conference due to the government shutdown in October, I’m pleased to share that we have confirmed a new date and look forward to gathering with you.

Please join me as I host my Ninth Annual Women's Conference: The Ripple Effects of Resilience on Thursday, January 15 at George Mason University’s new Fuse building at Mason Square. This event is free to the public but capacity is limited, so attendees are encouraged to register online here.

This year's event will bring together women leaders to share stories of perseverance, strength, and resilience in the face of the challenges confronting our country and community in these unprecedented times.

The discussion will feature Brooke Sydnor Curran, founder of Move2Learn; Lisa Jacobs, Executive Director of the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium; and Elizabeth Jones Valderrama, Executive Director of Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR). The discussion will be moderated by Nyree Wright, Executive Vice President of Crisis & Risk Communications at Edelman. I will also present this year's Clara Mortenson Beyer Women and Children First Award.

Congressman Beyer Hosts Constituent Services Event For Former And Current Federal Workers And Contractors

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Please join me for a constituent services event for former and current federal workers and contractors on Saturday, September 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Paragon Theaters in Falls Church.

This event, held in partnership with City of Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi and the wellfed Team (former federal employees), will provide practical financial guidance alongside community and wellness support. Experts will lead a Financial Triage Workshop, sharing clear strategies for budgeting, expense tracking, and planning at every career stage, with time for Q&A.

There will also be space for connection and mental well-being, recognizing that resilience is built through both financial clarity and a supportive community. Refreshments and lunch will also be provided.

Please click here to RSVP.

POSTPONED: Ninth Annual Women's Conference: The Ripple Effects of Resilience

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Please join me as I host my Ninth Annual Women's Conference: The Ripple Effects of Resilience on Monday, October 6 at George Mason University’s new Fuse building at Mason Square. This event is free to the public but capacity is limited, so attendees are encouraged to register online here.

Alexandria Town Hall with NAACP

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 18:00:00 GMT

The NAACP Virginia District 8 proudly announces an engaging Town Hall Meeting scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 606 S Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. This vital community conversation will feature distinguished guest speakers including Congressman Don Beyer, Alexandria City Councilman John Taylor Chapman, Arlington County Board Member Julius "JD" Spain, Jr., and Virginia Delegate Marcus B. Simon.

October No Kings Rally

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 18:30:00 GMT

No Kings rally in Market Square, Alexandria, featuring Mayor Gaskins, Olivia Troye, and other local leaders.

No Kings: Alexandria

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 19:00:00 GMT

No Kings rally at Market Square in Old Town, Saturday, June 14th.

Rep. Beyer's Telephone Town Hall

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:00:00 GMT

I'm hosting my next telephone town hall tomorrow night, Wednesday, June 4 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the latest in Congress, the federal government, and Northern Virginia. To participate, sign up here: https://beyer.house.gov/forms/form/?ID=89

Rep. Beyer Holds Telephone Town Hall As Shutdown Looms

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 21:30:00 GMT

I'm holding a telephone town hall on Monday 9/29 at 5:30pm. I will discuss the impending lapse in federal appropriations and possibility of a shutdown, and take questions on the latest in Congress, Northern Virginia and more.

To participate, you can sign up here: https://beyer.house.gov/forms/form/?ID=90

Protect Our Medicaid Panel

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:30:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08), Virginia House of Delegates Majority Leader Charniele Herring, Chair of the Virginia House of Delegates’ Health and Human Services Committee Mark Sickles, and state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), join a coalition of Virginia home care workers, doctors, and reproductive freedom advocates for a panel discussion to raise the alarm about how threatened Medicaid cuts would impact Northern Virginians.