The following is an interview transcript with Democrat Sen Chris Van Holen of Maryland, aired on 27 July 2025 on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brainon”.
Margaret Brainon: And we have now joined the Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Holen, one of the appropriations we were speaking with the budget director. You just heard everything he had kept. There were no specific details on when these clawbacks could come, but they are on the table. He says that they do not want to stop. He did not say that they want, you know, a constant resolution. Do you know what is coming?
Sen Chris Van Holen: Really not. One thing we know, and you asked Ras about this, he would say that this process is still very bipartisan, which means that they want to use this process only for Ram through agenda and overall agenda, when we saw that when we saw that when they passed so -called large, beautiful bills, which were beautiful for billionaires, which was beautiful for billionaires, but really does not provide tax cuts for anyone else. And I want to say Margaret, I denied him and said that the bill increased the deficit and debt. The budget office of the Nonpartison Congress said that it increased 3.5 trillion in our loan before interest.
Margaret Brainon: He is using an accounting gimmick in relation to the benchmark.
Sen van Hollen: AS- and Republican have called this accounting gimmick, so when-
Margaret Brainon:-And it was accepted-
Sen van Hollen: Well, they were unilaterally planted, it was not accepted by Democrat, and it was a departure from previous efforts. But you know, then they come back and they say they want to cut these important programs, NIHs and other things to reduce the deficit, when, in fact, what they are doing helps to try to finish those tax cuts for very rich people.
Margaret Brainon: So it is just moving towards us very unchanged and not very clear whether we will be able to avoid a government shutdown. If there is a shutdown then Democrats are being convicted, don’t you think? I mean, how do you step on it?
Sen van Hollen: We certainly do not want a government shutdown. And I think everyone has heard the juice saying that they want a low bilateral process. Which tells me that they are ready to use their powers only, if they do not find their way, then try to close the government. And what is the irony about this Margaret is that you have asked education NIH for these deep deductions, when they have asked for an increase for their OMB budget. He asked for an increase of 13% for his OMB budget. He asked more people to join OMB employees, while he is talking about rifling people in other departments, such as yes department- is getting rid of firing people in the department of veteran cases and other important priorities. So it is difficult to take the OMB director seriously when he says that he did not increase the debt and when he says he wants to cut his budget and employees except things.
Margaret Brainon: But if they move towards a government shutdown, why would there be any benefit until this is not a priority for some agencies to funding and give de-primaryness to other agencies. Well, it goes back to the executive, is this right?
Sen van Holene: Well, that finally, although you need, for example, what he is saying to stand behind four Republican senators. And what he has said is just like a double cross on the process, right? This is the so -called rescue, just the Washington name for the double cross. They support one thing, one day, the President also signs, and then they come back and say they changed their minds. And what we are asking for four Republican senators to publicly declare that they are going to fund the department of veteran affairs that they actually mean it.
Margaret Brainon: That they would not agree to return that money later.
Sen van Hollen: Absolutely
Margaret Brainan: Right. Therefore one of the things of Trump administration is clear and has got clobbacks of foreign aid. However, there is an exception. In June, the administration announced that it would give $ 30 million to this Israeli -backed organization, called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, GHF, I know you are familiar with it. It provides assistance through armed military contractors who stand behind the Israeli army in four specified areas, which have to receive themselves to get help. The State Department says that they are sending this money. Do they have
Sen van Hollen: For my knowledge, they have, although we have asked for details, we have not received them. In fact, today, I am sending a letter to Secretary Rubio, signed with my 20 colleagues, called for more information, but also called to blame. American taxpayers should not spend a penny to support this private organization and include the death trap by IDF. More than 1000 people have been shot dead by starving a crowd of people to try to get food on these four sites.
Margaret Brainon: The-bus to be clear here, the State Department says they are going to send $ 30 million. Reuters had reported that 7 million were already sent documents to them, which you were already sent, what you call, armed mercenary soldiers. But the Trump administration says that this is the best way, this is the only way to keep the money out of Hamas’s hands, which benefits from re-starting it to desperate the financially hungry people. Is there another way to feed desperate hungry people?
Sen van Hollen: Yes. And this is a big lie, claiming that when the United Nations organizations were giving food to the citizens of Palestinians, that it was systematically being diverted to Hamas. I want to say loudly and clearly, this is a big lie. Trump is–
Margaret Brainan: Systematic part of that.
Sen van Hollen: Systematic, but it is his claim. They claim that essentially, large amounts of assistance is being converted into Hamas. Now we know that from the testimony of American officials, Cindy McCain, and this week, the high level Israeli military officials, this is no evidence to support it. AID, USAID, while releasing a report, said that there is no evidence to support it. So what the Netanyahu government did was scrapping a delivery system that was working in providing food and assistance in favor of this other attempt. It was an excuse, claiming that Hamas was systematically changing food. The real goal of this other attempt is to use food as a weapon of food and population control.
Margaret Brainon: It is a violation of international law.
Sen van Hollen: Yes, it is.
Margaret Brainon: This is a human rights misuse. Senator Lindsay Graham was on “Meat the Press” this morning, and I want to ask for some of your response, as he was very strong in his words. He said, because the talks of ceasefire separated, Israel is assuring. He said that Israel is expected to have a complete military effort to take Gaza down, said, “As we did in Tokyo and Berlin. They are going to do in Gaza that we did in Tokyo and Berlin, take place with force, start again, present a better future.” The United States is a great supporter of the state of Israel. Is there anything that he says what he says?
Sen van Hollen: Well, the United States should make it clear that it is unacceptable to use American weapons to set fire or indiscriminate fire on citizens and citizens infrastructure. so–
Margaret Brainon: Because it looks like a business.
Sen van Hollen: Okay, we also know, just this week, members of the Netanyahu alliance, in fact, the ministers of the government essentially called to erase Gaza, and he said, it would become a Jewish state, Statallet. And part of- so- it was one-
Margaret Brainon: Netanyahu said he did not agree with his statement.
Sen van Hollen: Well, here is the problem, however, Margaret, we constantly see that Netanyahu, at the end of the day, fulfills his government’s farthest right wing, people like Ben Gwir, people like Smotrich. This is why he is allowed to remain in power, and therefore, at the end of the day, he takes the most extreme position.
Margaret Brainan: Senator van Holen, thank you for your time today. We will return with too much “facing the nation”. stay with us.
