Dear Friend, 

Welcome back to the McBride Memo—my weekly dispatch to Delawareans about the work I am doing in Washington and the neighbors I got to see. 

Let’s get right to it, here are five big things:

This week offered yet another example of what happens when deeply unqualified and unserious people are given enormous responsibility. 

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified both before the House and Senate that his public health strategy is effective, downplaying the impact of measles outbreaks around the country. To be clear, the United States recorded more cases of measles in 2025 alone than across the last three decades—exceeding 2,000 cases for the first time since 1992. 

Meanwhile, a scandal-ridden Labor Secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, was forced out earlier this week amid various misconduct allegations, including taxpayer-funded personal travel. The Navy Secretary John Phelan was also pushed out this week—amid an ongoing naval blockade in Iran. 

These shifts, alongside the firings of Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi suggest a larger pattern that has become impossible to ignore, even for President Trump himself: these people are unqualified to lead these agencies, and their records both in these roles and beyond clearly show it. 

Across all of these departments, we are seeing confusion where there was once clarity, and ideological posturing where Americans expect and deserve evidence-based leadership. Bottom line: these leaders are entrusted with supporting and protecting public health, safety, well-being, and government function. Their inexperience, poor judgement, and unseriousness have already and will continue to have repercussions far beyond Washington. 

The incompetence of these officials reach kitchen tables in Delaware and shape whether families can trust the systems that are meant to serve them. Delawareans deserve public servants who respect the responsibility of government to treat people with respect and deliver results—not create chaos.

Meanwhile, in Iran, Trump’s illegal war of choice continues—with costly and unclear consequences for the region and here at home.

This week, we saw news of an extended ceasefire, but even so, the administration’s objectives continue to shift in real time, leaving Delawareans and Americans everywhere with no coherent explanation of what success is supposed to look like or how this conflict will be resolved. 

Not to mention, the facts on the ground remain deeply contradictory. While the United States and Israel may have inflicted serious damage to the Iranian military and their defense infrastructure, their regime remains in power and retains the ability to apply pressure in the region and continues to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. 

This is the reality of the situation—because despite Trump’s claims that the strait is open and secure, the seizure of cargo ships this week makes clear that Iran still holds meaningful leverage. So, while the administration tries to project control, reality is painting a different picture. As this conflict continues, with fluid goals, fragile conditions, and no clear agreement in sight, Delaware families are left paying the price at the pump and through broader instability. 

You deserve honesty and transparency about where this war stands, and as long as this conflict drags on, I will keep sharing the truth with my neighbors about the road ahead and how this administration intends to navigate out of this illegal war of choice. 

This week, at the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s hearing on NASA’s budget, I pressed the NASA Administrator on a basic but essential question: how can Congress carry out its oversight responsibility if the administration fails to provide the information we are legally entitled to receive for review? 

Essentially, in part because of the uniquely unqualified nature of this administration, Congress has often been left in the dark about different pieces of funding, operation, and the overall function of various departments, including NASA. When my colleagues and I are left waiting months after deadlines have passed to understand how appropriated funds are being spent, the damage is often already done. When spend plans arrive late, or not at all, it becomes more difficult to ask the right questions, hold agencies accountable, and make informed decisions about future investments. 

That concern becomes even more urgent when advanced scientific priorities are being cancelled or pushed aside—and choices like this have long-term consequences for America’s leadership in research, innovation, and discovery. 

I, for one, have been particularly moved by the recent Artemis II mission and even shared with the administrator that a photo from the recent mission is currently my phone lock screen. It is precisely this type of innovation and scientific excellence that Congress appropriates funding to NASA to utilize. 

We should be investing in the future with seriousness and transparency—to ensure that missions like this continue to be possible in the future. Congress has a clear role in this work, and that is our duty to provide oversight, and agencies like NASA need the support and accountability to pursue ambitious scientific goals that move our country forward. You can watch my full remarks and questions here.

I was proud to help introduce the Highway Fair Share Act, because surface transportation infrastructure shapes so much of daily life in Delaware. Our roads, bridges, and highways connect us to work, to family, to health care, and to the places that anchor our communities. They create access to opportunity that shapes our lives and help tie us to our neighbors. 

Right now, though, Delaware is being shortchanged by a flawed and outdated federal funding formula that has left our state among the least-funded in the country. The Highway Fair Share Act would allow Delaware to receive more of the federal investment our communities need and deserve. That adjustment would help to address a critical gap at a time when more than a third of Delaware’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, costing drivers an estimated hundreds of millions every year. 

Fairer funding means safer roads, stronger connections, and greater opportunity for families across our state. This is exactly the type of work I came to Congress to do: delivering for more neighbors and ensuring that Delawareans get their fair share—and this legislation aims to move us a step closer to that goal. 

Everywhere I went this week, Delawareans reminded me that the future we want is already being built—by educators, labor leaders, health care advocates, and community partners—here’s a look at a few of those conversations:

I was honored to join Delaware’s Sikh community for a Vaisakhi celebration at the Sikh Center of Delaware in New Castle. Vaisakhi is a celebration of faith, service, equality, and resilience, and it was a privilege to be welcomed into a gathering that reflected all of those values so clearly. At a moment when too many communities still face hatred and discrimination, coming together in celebration of religious freedom, cultural pride, and shared humanity felt especially meaningful.

I was glad to join the Megawatts & Middle-Class Jobs: Powering What’s Next policy conference hosted by the Delaware Environmental Institute at the University of Delaware and the Carper Collaborative. Senator Carper has spent his career fighting for a central mission: Delaware cannot separate climate resilience from economic opportunity. As the lowest-lying state in the nation, our state has every reason to lead with urgency—and with creativity. Bringing together leaders from business, government, labor, and academia, this event reflected the kind of practical partnership we need to strengthen our grid, support good-paying jobs, and build a more sustainable future for our neighbors.

I met with Delaware’s Career and Technical Education team from the Delaware Department of Education to talk about how we prepare students not just for graduation, but for a lifetime of opportunity. With more than 30,000 students enrolled in Delaware Pathways across 89 middle and high schools, they are helping young people connect classroom learning to real careers and real purpose. Their work is a reminder that when we invest in career and technical education, we invest in dignity, mobility, and a future where every student can see a place for themselves.

I also sat down with leaders from NeighborGood Partners and Housing Development Corporation MidAtlantic to discuss the urgent need for more affordable housing across Delaware. They shared what it takes to build stability—not just units, but real community—through housing counseling, lending, development, and support services that help families stay rooted. Their message was clear: housing affordability touches everything, from economic security to family well-being, and solving it will require partnership and persistence.

I had a great conversation with representatives from the Brandywine School District, who were in Washington advocating for equity, opportunity, and stronger support for students. From STEM education to school culture to special education, these leaders are thinking deeply about how schools can help every student thrive. I left that meeting reminded that some of the most important work in public service happens every day in our classrooms—and that educators deserve the tools and support to keep shaping bright futures.

I met with the Delaware Building Trades Council to talk about what it takes to create and sustain middle-class jobs in our state. From port expansion to major infrastructure projects to workforce development, Delaware’s union trades are making sure growth means opportunity for working people. These leaders know that strong communities are built by skilled hands, fair wages, and pathways into good union jobs—and I’m grateful for their continued partnership in that work.

I also met with the Delaware Healthcare Association and leaders from hospitals and health systems across our state to hear directly about the pressures facing Delaware’s health care landscape. We talked about the importance of protecting access to care, supporting providers, and making sure policy decisions keep patients at the center. Their advocacy reflected a truth I hear often: health care works best when it is grounded in prevention, stability, and a shared commitment to helping people get the care they need close to home.

This week, I had the chance to address students, faculty, and alumni connected to the University of Delaware’s Alumni Fly-In Day, and it was such a joy to spend time with young people preparing for lives in public service. They asked thoughtful questions about working in Washington and about what it means to lead with purpose. Their curiosity, seriousness, and sense of possibility left me hopeful—because the next generation of public servants is already asking the right questions and preparing to make a difference.

That is all for this week. Thank you for staying engaged, and I look forward to continuing the work that is most important: defending Delaware’s interests at every turn. 

Have a great weekend! Talk soon, Delaware. 

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

• Upcoming Mobile Office Hours: Our constituent advocacy team is hosting the next Mobile Office Hours event in Middletown on Tuesday, May 19 from 4 to 6pm at the Appoquinimink Library. Representatives from our office will be available to help neighbors with a variety of issues, you can learn more and RSVP here. 
• Service Academy Nominations: Our office is accepting applications from Delaware students seeking nominations to our nation’s prestigious service academies! As a member of Congress, it is my honor to support these students in their efforts to serve our nation in uniform. The application deadline is October 15th and you can find more information on eligibility and application requirements here.
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• 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: https://mcbride.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency

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