Dear Friend, 

Welcome back to the McBride Memo, my dispatch to Delawareans from DC. 

Amidst the ongoing government shutdown that is causing major travel delays across the country and withholding pay from critical workers across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Republicans in Congress are choosing to extend the chaos. Early Friday morning, the Senate unanimously passed a funding bill that would pay TSA agents, pay FEMA employees, and pay our Coast Guard—funding every piece of DHS except ICE and CBP. 

But, Republicans in Congress are so extreme and committed to the unchecked cruelty of these agents that they are willing to deprive people of the pay they need to live and have proposed to bring forward funding for all of DHS, instead. The fact is, Democrats and Republicans alike would have voted to pass funding for DHS without ICE and CBP—but Congressional Republicans would rather continue giving a blank check for cruelty by ICE agents across the country instead of passing bipartisan funding that would ensure funding for TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard. 

This bill will likely be brought to the House for a vote either later today or this weekend, so I will keep you updated as the situation unfolds. 

Meanwhile, here are five big things: 

This week in a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, I pressed the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security about one of the many dangerous consequences of the ongoing war in Iran: the rising threat of nuclear proliferation around the world. 

When the Administration degrades the international norms and rules that have governed the longest period of peace between great powers in modern history– when our President decides to thrust the world into a might-makes-right global order– I fear it is the perfect recipe for nuclear proliferation.

French President Emmanuel Macron said it plainly earlier this month, “The next half century will be an age of nuclear weapons.” I don’t want him to be right, but we need to be clear-eyed about the reality. Because when global order is disregarded and alliances are weakened, countries don’t feel safe—and that insecurity drives nations to begin seeking nuclear weapons as an insurance policy. 

That is the dangerous path we seem to be heading down; a world with more nuclear weapons, less transparency, and fewer guardrails. We should be working to actively reduce the risk of nuclear conflict, not accelerating its rise by sowing uncertainty and chaos around the world. 

I will keep pushing for a foreign policy rooted in stability and accountability, because that is the kind of leadership that makes the world safer. We still have the opportunity to address the conditions that give rise to nuclear proliferation and restore the rules-based global order. You can see my full exchange with the Under Secretary here.

This week, we saw reporting that makes something crystal clear: my neighbors, and Americans everywhere, are paying attention—and they do not like what they are seeing from this president. 

President Trump’s approval rating has reached an all-time low across both of his terms in office. These numbers matter, they send a clear message that families are frustrated and disapprove of the job this administration is doing. 

These numbers are driven, in large part, by the gap between what the president promised and what is actually being delivered; where he assured my neighbors he would lower costs on day one. They are now seeing gas prices nearing $4 per gallon and health care costs that are pushing Americans to the brink. That economic uncertainty is leaving Americans everywhere feeling the squeeze as they watch this president prioritizing policies of chaos instead of making life more affordable. 

There is no single greater disconnect than in the way Americans view the conflict in Iran—this unauthorized and escalating conflict with no clear strategy or accountability is not the America my neighbors wanted or deserve, and it’s causing gas prices to soar. 

With all of this in mind, it is no surprise that people are losing confidence everywhere—Delawareans want leadership that lowers costs, keeps us safe, and tells the truth about the challenges we face. Right now, they’re getting the opposite. 

This week marked sixteen years since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law; an ambitious and powerful piece of legislation that aimed to ensure families across this country have access to quality and affordable health care.

The ACA helped tens of millions of Americans get coverage and made health care more accessible for families across Delaware and the country, sending a simple message: your health care access should not depend on your circumstance; it is a fundamental right. As we mark over a decade and a half of this landmark legislation, we are seeing unprecedented attacks on not just the promise of the ACA, but on the entirety of the American health care system. 

Over the last year alone, we have seen how Congressional Republicans have summarily dismantled the health care of the American people to fund this president’s mass deportation machine and to give massive tax breaks to his wealthiest donors. 

Our neighbors are being forced to pay more out of pocket for basic health care. In my view, when you force working families to pay more for basic care, that is a tax—a tax on getting sick and a tax on staying healthy. And that is exactly what we are seeing as coverage is ripped away and premiums are spiking. 

I took to the House Floor to continue to sound the alarm; government should be making life easier for the people we serve, not harder and more expensive. You can see my full remarks here. 

My neighbors know the importance of staying connected—with one another, with our communities, with our jobs, and everywhere in between, and our Amtrak systems are critical to how we do exactly that. 

Today, I am proud to be co-leading a bipartisan effort to secure critical funding for Amtrak and passenger rail infrastructure in the next federal budget. This funding would support the Northeast Corridor—the busiest rail line in the country—which runs right through Wilmington and helps connect Delawareans with family, work, travel, and economic opportunity. 

Investing in rail is about more than just transportation. By securing more federal investment, we can increase the affordability, reliability, and safety of passenger rail—ensuring shorter commutes, stronger local economies, and an infrastructure that is built to last and meet the needs of our communities. 

I will keep working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that Delaware continues to benefit from investments like these—because connection and opportunity have the power to transform families across our state. You can read our letter here.

Over the last week, I had the pleasure of connecting with my neighbors both at home and in D.C., to hear how their work is shaping our communities. Here are just a few of those conversations: 

I met with Dr. Mary Swenson, the new President of the Delaware World Trade Center, to talk about strengthening Delaware’s role in the global economy. From supporting small businesses entering international markets to attracting investment here at home, our conversation centered on one goal: making sure Delaware workers and companies can compete—and thrive—on a global stage.

In Smyrna, I joined community leaders for Delaware’s Women’s History Celebration, centered on a powerful theme: “Her Voice. Her Legacy. Her Vote.” It was a reminder that progress is driven by participation—and that protecting the right to vote and uplifting women’s leadership remains essential to a healthy democracy.

On the topic of democracy, at the University of Delaware, I joined students from across New Castle County at the Mikva Challenge Youth Voice Showcase, where young people are engaging directly with democracy and showing what it looks like to take action. From middle school Project Soapbox speeches to high school advocacy projects, their message was clear: civic engagement doesn’t start when you register to vote, it starts as soon as you start speaking up for your neighbors and what you believe in. 

I met with leaders from the Brandywine Valley SPCA to discuss their work protecting animals and strengthening welfare systems across Delaware—and they just expanded their operations to the DC region! From providing quality pet care to advancing humane legislation, their mission reflects a simple truth: how we treat animals says a lot about who we are—and we have a responsibility to get it right.

After a week of pressing the administration on the dangers of the conflict in Iran, sounding the alarm of the cost of attacks on our health care system, and standing firm for funding for our TSA, FEMA, and Coast Guard—this week was a busy one of bringing Delaware’s voice to Congress.

Thank you for reading along and staying engaged—and I hope you find time to enjoy your weekend. 

Talk soon, Delaware! 

Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. Sarah McBride Delaware's Congresswoman

• Service Academy Night: If you are interested in learning more about our nation's service academies, my office and Sens. Coons and Blunt Rochester will be hosting the annual Congressional Delegation's Annual Service Academy Information Night in the DelOne Conference Center at Delaware Tech in Dover on Thrusday, April 2nd from 6:00 to 8:00 PM! RSVP and learn more here.
• DEADLINE APPROACHING: Congressional Art Competition: Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Congressional District. The deadline to submit your artwork is April 1, 2026. If you know a student interested in applying – please visit: mcbride.house.gov/services/art-competition
• Applications for the Spring round of EDGE 2.0 are open now! The Delaware Division of Small Business is now accepting applications for EDGE 2.0, the state’s flagship grant competition. This spring, $1.15 million is available to support early-stage businesses, with awards based on the strength of each pitch—not a fixed number of winners. Eligible Delaware-based businesses that have been operating for less than seven years can apply between February 6 and March 6. Learn more and apply at de.gov/edge
  
• A simple step that can save lives. Smart911 is a free, secure service that lets you create a safety profile with critical information—like medical conditions, medications, disabilities, and emergency contacts—that 911 operators can see when you call for help. That means first responders have the information they need before they arrive, helping them act faster and smarter. Learn more and sign up at www.smart911.com! 
• Help navigating a federal agency: If you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, our office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. While we cannot guarantee you a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem. If you need help navigating a federal agency, please visit: mcbride.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency