Each spring, Members of Congress host the Congressional Art Competition to recognize and encourage the artistic talents of high school students from across the country. I’m pleased to once again invite students from Wisconsin’s Sixth Congressional District to participate in this year’s competition.

The winning artwork from our district will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol as part of a national exhibit featuring artwork from students representing congressional districts across the United States.

Students may submit original artwork in a variety of mediums, including paintings, drawings, photography, collages, prints, mixed media, and computer-generated art.

Artwork submissions are due by April 14, 2026, and may be mailed to my Fond du Lac District Office.

For complete rules and submission details, please visit Grothman.House.gov or contact my office for more information.

🎨 Click HERE for more information.

Last year, the Department of Defense took a major step toward restoring efficiency at the Pentagon by reducing its civilian workforce by more than 81,000 positions, about a 10% decrease. The civilian workforce declined from roughly 794,000 employees to about 712,000 in 2025, part of a broader effort to streamline operations and focus resources on supporting our warfighters.

Importantly, the majority of these departures were voluntary, with tens of thousands of employees participating in early retirement or deferred resignation programs. In total, the department processed more than 109,000 departures while hiring about 29,000 new employees during the year.

Defense leaders have said the goal is simple: reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and ensure the department is operating as efficiently as possible so that more resources can be directed toward military readiness and national defense.

For years, Washington has allowed layers of bureaucracy to grow while our military faces increasing threats around the world. Efforts like this are an important step toward ensuring our defense dollars are focused on what matters most: supporting the men and women who keep America safe.

📖 Read more HERE.

Friday was K9 Veterans Day. We honored the brave military working dogs who have served our country with loyalty and courage.

These incredible K9s have helped save countless lives by detecting explosives, tracking enemies, and protecting our troops. We’re grateful for their service and for the handlers who served alongside them.

It was great to join the Fox Valley Veterans Council at their annual Prohibition Ball in Oshkosh last weekend.

It was a fun night all in support of the veterans who have done so much for our community and our country. Thank you to everyone who helped make the evening a success and for your continued commitment to supporting our local veterans.

I had a great Thursday evening with the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce at their Annual Dinner & Awards.

It was a pleasure joining local business owners, community leaders, and neighbors to celebrate the hard work and innovation that help keep Plymouth and the surrounding area strong. Thank you to everyone who makes our local economy thrive.