What Elon Musk and Donald Trump are doing at NIH isn’t just illegal — it will literally cost American lives⬇️

Congress Member Profile|U.S. Senator|Democrat|Maryland
Chris Van Hollen
Source: Wikipedia • View full (CC BY-SA)
SoupScoreanalysis-first civic rating · view full breakdown
Loading…
Voting Record — 825
Yes27%
No71%
Present0%
Not Voting2%
Party align97%
Cross-party0%
SoupScore
District Map
Senate District (Statewide)
U.S. Census Bureau boundary data.
Social & Web
External Resources

Chris Van Hollen
U.S. SenatorDemocratMaryland
SoupScore
Chris's ATmosphere Activity
20 recent posts · 60 sponsored · 430 cosponsored
Recent ATmosphere posts, sponsorships, and cosponsorships.
Today, Senate Republicans continued Donald Trump's great betrayal of the American people — passing a budget that lays the groundwork to deliver tax cuts for billionaires while Trump and Musk cut vital services for working people.
My full statement on this sham Republican budget:
Nearly 14 million American children were hungry last year, and 1 in 5 don't know where their next meal will come from.
Yet Senate Republicans still blocked my amendment with @hirono.senate.gov to prevent cuts from school lunch programs while preparing to cut taxes for the ultra-rich. Shameful.
Let me explain exactly what Senate Republicans are doing tonight — and why it's just the latest chapter in Trump's great betrayal of the American people:
Too many Americans can’t afford to buy a house right now — and yet tonight Republicans BLOCKED our amendment to reign in hedge funds that are gobbling up real estate and jacking up prices.
So much for all their talk about lowering prices for working people.
Tonight we proposed an amendment to ensure that the Republican budget doesn’t raise prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare.
And guess what? Republicans blocked it — just like they opposed us when we gave Medicare the power to lower drug prices.
Republicans are working to pass a budget to give a tax cut to big corporations and billionaires, yet tonight they blocked our amendment to ensure their plan would reduce housing costs for Americans.
As if we needed more proof that they don't ACTUALLY care about lowering costs.
Let's be clear about what Senate Republicans are doing tonight: they're laying the groundwork to pass huge tax cuts for billionaires while cutting vital services for everyone else.
Let me explain Trump's great betrayal and how we're fighting back tonight ⬇️
Senate Republicans just BLOCKED our amendment to stop tax cuts for billionaires, which isn't surprising since the only constituents they care about are Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and their ultra-rich cronies.
Trump is once again trying to play king — this time threatening to revoke home rule and self-determination for 700,000 D.C. residents.
This is why #DCStatehood is so vital and why I will never stop fighting for it and for the rights of Maryland’s neighbors in D.C.
Tonight Senate Republicans will try to ram through a budget that sets the stage for huge tax cuts for billionaires — all while Trump and Musk continue to cut vital public services for all other Americans.
We'll be fighting back all night and proposing amendments to stop this betrayal.
EVERY American should be ashamed by what Trump said today, undermining the Ukrainian people and freedom and democracy around the world. What an American President says matters. And Zelenskyy is not the dictator — Putin is.
This is just plain wrong. And Republicans should say so.
Senate Republicans are trying to ram through a budget that cuts vital services for the American people so they can pay for tax cuts for Musk and the billionaires.
I'm live on the Senate floor to discuss this and Trump's great betrayal of the American people:
Egg prices are soaring and other costs rising, so what are Trump, Musk and Republicans focused on?
Cutting vital public services for the American people so they can pay for tax cuts for billionaires.
Included in Trump and Musk's mass layoffs were hundreds of FAA employees who keep U.S. air travelers safe.
Apparently Trump and Musk are missing what’s obvious to the American people: we need to do MORE to improve our air safety right now — not less.
As I told @maddow.msnbc.com, we're fighting Trump and Musk's illegal power grabs everywhere we can — in Congress, in the courts, and on the ground in Maryland and across the country.
They're counting on us to sit quietly while they tear our government and our country apart. We will not.
This is what happens when you let a bunch of inexperienced hacks tear down vital government agencies and services.
This is not a game. Elon Musk and the DOGE boys are playing with people’s lives and our national security, and we need to shut them down.
To all those receiving layoff notices from the Trump-Musk Admin, know that we stand with you and are working with our legal partners and in Congress to fight back and right these wrongs.
If you want to report what you're seeing or experiencing, you can share your story here:
I salute the federal workers, prosecutors, and others who have chosen to resign on principle rather than follow illegal, unethical and wrongful orders from Trump and Musk.
I stand with you — and I will keep fighting to stop and reverse the spree of illegal actions they've taken.
I am all for negotiations to bring peace in Ukraine. But the Ukrainians should be at the table and Trump should not be making unilateral concessions before the talks begin.
We and our NATO allies must stand with Ukraine — not engage in extortion.
SoupScore Breakdown
Loading analysis metrics…
Voting History825 total votesExpandCollapse
Voting History
825 total votes
Recent roll calls with party-majority context so it is easier to scan how this member tends to vote.
| Date | Bill | Question | Position | Party Maj | Align? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-30 | H.R. 7148 (119th) | Kill the motion | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion to Table Agreed to (58-42) |
| 2026-01-30 | H.R. 7148 (119th) | Kill the motion | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion to Table Agreed to (67-33) |
| 2026-01-30 | H.R. 7148 (119th) | Vote on amendment | NO | NO | ✓ | Amendment Rejected (32-67) |
| 2026-01-29 | H.R. 7148 (119th) | End filibuster to begin debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected (45-55, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2026-01-27 | S. 3627 (119th) | End filibuster to begin debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected (47-45, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2026-01-15 | H.R. 6938 (119th) | Final passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Bill Passed (82-15) |
| 2026-01-15 | H.R. 6938 (119th) | End debate | YES | YES | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (85-14, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2026-01-14 | S.J. Res. 98 (119th) | Point of Order S.J.Res. 98 | NO | NO | ✓ | Point of Order Well Taken (50-50, Vice President of the United States, voted Yea) |
| 2026-01-13 | S.J. Res. 84 (119th) | Begin consideration | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion to Proceed Rejected (47-52) |
| 2026-01-12 | H.R. 6938 (119th) | End filibuster to begin debate | YES | YES | ✓ | Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to (80-13, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2026-01-08 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (53-40) |
| 2026-01-08 | S.J. Res. 98 (119th) | Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 98 | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion to Discharge Agreed to (52-47) |
| 2026-01-07 | S.J. Res. 86 (119th) | Begin consideration | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion to Proceed Rejected (43-50) |
| 2026-01-06 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (52-48) |
| 2026-01-06 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (53-47) |
| 2026-01-05 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (50-35) |
| 2025-12-18 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (51-42) |
| 2025-12-18 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (60-35) |
| 2025-12-18 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (58-36) |
| 2025-12-18 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (53-43) |
| 2025-12-18 | S. Res. 532 (119th) | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (53-43) |
| 2025-12-18 | S.J. Res. 82 (119th) | Approve resolution | YES | YES | ✓ | Joint Resolution Defeated (50-50) |
| 2025-12-17 | S. Res. 412 (119th) | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (53-47) |
| 2025-12-17 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (71-29) |
| 2025-12-17 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (69-27) |
| 2025-12-17 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (67-30) |
| 2025-12-17 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (67-30) |
| 2025-12-17 | S. 1071 (119th) | Accept House changes | NO | YES | ✕ | Motion Agreed to (77-20) |
| 2025-12-15 | S. 1071 (119th) | End debate | NO | YES | ✕ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (76-20, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2025-12-11 | S. 1071 (119th) | Begin consideration | NO | YES | ✕ | Motion to Proceed Agreed to (75-22) |
| 2025-12-11 | S. Res. 532 (119th) | Approve resolution | NO | NO | ✓ | Resolution Agreed to (52-47) |
| 2025-12-11 | S. 3385 (119th) | End debate | YES | YES | ✓ | Cloture Motion Rejected (51-48, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2025-12-11 | S. 3386 (119th) | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Rejected (51-48, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2025-12-10 | S. Res. 532 (119th) | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (51-47) |
| 2025-12-10 | S.J. Res. 82 (119th) | Begin consideration | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion to Proceed Agreed to (50-49) |
| 2025-12-09 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (51-46) |
| 2025-12-09 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (49-46) |
| 2025-12-09 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (49-46) |
| 2025-12-09 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (51-46) |
| 2025-12-09 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (51-46) |
| 2025-12-08 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (52-44) |
| 2025-12-04 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (57-32) |
| 2025-12-04 | S. Res. 520 (119th) | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Rejected (43-37, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2025-12-04 | H.J. Res. 131 (119th) | Approve resolution | NO | NO | ✓ | Joint Resolution Passed (49-45) |
| 2025-12-03 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (63-34) |
| 2025-12-03 | S.J. Res. 91 (119th) | Begin consideration | NO | NO | ✓ | Motion to Proceed Agreed to (49-47) |
| 2025-12-03 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (57-41) |
| 2025-12-03 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (56-40) |
| 2025-12-02 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (60-39) |
| 2025-12-02 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (61-36) |
Alignment stats consider only votes where a clear yes/no majority existed for the legislator's party. Cross-party marks divergence where the vote matched the opposite party majority. ↔ indicates cross-party divergence.