Tammy Duckworth

Notable Quotes

"These deployments are not just an immense waste of taxpayer dollars, they are harmful to our military's readiness, morale and resources and create an incredibly dangerous precedent." — January 28, 2026

from Troops in American cities · Updated May 23

Stories

DHS expands biometric surveillance infrastructure

New Capabilities

Pressing DHS on oversight of biometric programs

On May 22, ICE awarded a $25.1 million no-bid contract to Plymouth, Massachusetts firm BI2 Technologies for iris-scanning hardware and continuous access to a database of more than five million booking records. The award is roughly five times the size of the $4.5 million contract ICE signed with the same vendor eight months earlier.

Updated May 27

Troops in American cities

Force in Play

Critic of deployment readiness impacts

The last time a president invoked the Insurrection Act to deploy federal troops in American cities was 1992, during the Los Angeles riots. President Trump has deployed over 10,000 National Guard troops and active-duty Marines to six cities since June 2025—without invoking that law. The Congressional Budget Office now reports the seven-month operation cost taxpayers $496 million, with ongoing deployments projected to add $93 million monthly.

Updated May 23

States recruit beauty professionals as frontline domestic violence spotters

Rule Changes

Co-sponsor of federal SALONS Stories Act

Maryland became the sixth state to require barbers and cosmetologists to complete domestic violence awareness training before renewing their licenses. The one-hour mandate took effect January 1, 2026, turning an estimated 50,000 beauty professionals into potential first responders for abuse victims who may reveal bruises on their necks during routine appointments. The movement reached Congress in February 2025 when bipartisan legislators introduced the SALONS Stories Act, which would provide federal funding incentives for states adopting similar requirements.

Updated May 19