Bill Foster

Bill Foster
Born	George William Foster 7 10, 1955
Birthplace	Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Title	U.S. Representative from Illinois
Known for	U.S. Representative for Illinois's 11th congressional district
Education	Harvard University (B.A., Ph.D.)
Website	[[foster.house.gov foster.house.gov] Official site]

George William "Bill" Foster (born October 7, 1955) is an American politician, physicist, and businessman who has served as the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 11th congressional district since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Foster previously represented Illinois's 14th congressional district from 2008 to 2011. Before entering politics, Foster had a distinguished career as a high-energy physicist at Fermilab, where he contributed to the design of particle accelerator systems. He is one of the few members of Congress to hold a Ph.D. in physics, a background that has shaped his approach to public policy, particularly on matters of science, technology, and economic policy. Foster represents a district in the western and southwestern suburbs of Chicago, encompassing portions of several counties in northern Illinois. His tenure in Congress has been marked by attention to fiscal responsibility, digital privacy, technology policy, and economic issues, and he has served on several key committees including the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

Early Life

Bill Foster was born on October 7, 1955, in Madison, Wisconsin. He grew up in a family that valued education and intellectual achievement. His father was a civil rights lawyer, which exposed Foster to civic engagement and public service from an early age. Foster showed aptitude in science and mathematics during his formative years, interests that would ultimately lead him to a career in physics before his entry into politics.

Details of Foster's childhood and adolescence in Wisconsin are limited in publicly available records, but his trajectory from the Midwest to the upper echelons of American physics research and eventually to the halls of Congress reflects a path shaped by academic rigor and a commitment to applying scientific thinking to real-world problems.

Education

Foster attended Harvard University, where he earned both his Bachelor of Arts degree and his Ph.D. in physics. His doctoral research focused on experimental high-energy physics, a field that investigates the fundamental particles and forces that constitute matter and energy. His time at Harvard placed him among a cohort of physicists who would go on to make significant contributions to particle physics research in the United States and internationally. The analytical training Foster received at Harvard became a hallmark of his later career, both in the laboratory and in Congress, where he has frequently cited scientific evidence and data-driven reasoning in policy debates.

Career

Physics and Fermilab

After completing his doctoral studies at Harvard, Foster joined Fermilab, the premier particle physics and accelerator laboratory in the United States, located in Batavia, Illinois. At Fermilab, Foster worked for more than two decades as a high-energy physicist. He was involved in the design and construction of major components of the laboratory's particle accelerator systems, contributing to experiments that advanced the understanding of subatomic particles.

In addition to his scientific work, Foster co-founded a successful theater technology company with his brother. The business manufactured lighting equipment and grew into a significant enterprise, giving Foster experience in entrepreneurship, business management, and private-sector economics—experience he would later draw upon as a legislator focused on economic and fiscal policy.

Entry into Politics: Illinois's 14th Congressional District

Foster first entered electoral politics in 2008, when he ran in a special election to fill the seat in Illinois's 14th congressional district vacated by Dennis Hastert, the former Speaker of the House. Foster won the special election on March 8, 2008, an outcome that drew national attention as the district had been considered a Republican stronghold. He subsequently won the regular election in November 2008 to serve a full term.

During his first stint in Congress, Foster focused on issues related to science funding, financial oversight, and economic recovery during the Great Recession. He served on the Financial Services Committee, where his scientific background provided an unusual perspective on complex financial instruments and regulatory questions.

Foster lost his reelection bid in 2010, a year in which a national wave of Republican victories swept many Democratic incumbents out of office. He was defeated by Republican Randy Hultgren in the general election.

Return to Congress: Illinois's 11th Congressional District

Following redistricting after the 2010 United States census, Foster ran for Congress again in 2012, this time in the newly drawn Illinois's 11th congressional district. The district encompassed large portions of the western and southwestern suburbs of Chicago, including parts of Kane, Kendall, Will, DuPage, and McHenry counties. Foster won the Democratic primary and then the general election, returning to Congress in January 2013.

Since his return, Foster has been reelected multiple times, establishing himself as the district's representative through successive election cycles. His campaigns have consistently emphasized his scientific credentials, his business experience, and his commitment to evidence-based policymaking.

Legislative Focus and Committee Assignments

In Congress, Foster has served on several influential committees. His assignments have included the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, both of which align with his professional background in physics and his interest in economic and technological policy.

Foster has been a vocal advocate for scientific research funding, technology policy, and digital privacy. He has also focused on fiscal responsibility and has been involved in debates over financial regulation, particularly in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. His background as a physicist has made him a distinctive voice in Congress on matters involving complex technical and scientific questions, from climate change to cybersecurity to the regulation of emerging financial technologies such as blockchain and cryptocurrency.

Recent Legislative Activity

Foster has remained active in the 119th Congress, taking positions on a range of legislative and policy matters. In February 2026, Foster issued a statement responding to the Supreme Court's decision to reject tariffs imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump. In his statement, Foster highlighted what he described as the economic impact and legal concerns associated with the tariffs, expressing support for the Court's ruling.

Also in February 2026, Foster released a statement regarding the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, criticizing the lapse in funding and its implications for national security and government services.

Foster voted against the SAVE America Act, which he characterized as an attempt to disenfranchise American voters. In a statement issued after the vote, he outlined his opposition to the legislation and its provisions.

In advance of President Trump's State of the Union address in 2026, Foster announced that his guest for the event would be Suzanne Hoban, Founder and Executive Director of the Family Health Partnership Clinic, an organization providing health services in his district. The McHenry County College board chair was also noted as a guest.

Constituent Services

As a member of Congress, Foster's office provides a range of constituent services, including assistance with federal agencies and nominations to U.S. Service Academies. His office accepts and processes applications from young residents of Illinois's 11th Congressional District who wish to attend military academies such as West Point, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy.

Personal Life

Bill Foster resides in the western suburbs of Chicago within the boundaries of Illinois's 11th Congressional District. He has spoken publicly about how his upbringing in a family led by a civil rights attorney influenced his commitment to public service. His transition from physics to politics was motivated, by his own account, by a desire to apply scientific reasoning and evidence-based thinking to the challenges facing the country.

Foster's dual background as both a scientist and a businessman has been a recurring theme in his public identity. He frequently references his years at Fermilab and his entrepreneurial experience when discussing policy issues, particularly those involving technology, economic competitiveness, and scientific research.

Recognition

Foster's unusual profile as a physicist-turned-congressman has attracted media attention and recognition from scientific and policy organizations. He is one of a very small number of members of Congress to hold a Ph.D. in a scientific discipline, a fact that has been noted in profiles by national and regional media outlets. His advocacy for science funding and evidence-based policymaking has earned him recognition among scientific advocacy groups.

His 2008 special election victory in a historically Republican district was widely covered in the national press as a bellwether of changing political dynamics in suburban America. His subsequent return to Congress in 2012, representing a different district, further established his electoral resilience and political standing within the Democratic Party in Illinois.

Legacy

Bill Foster's career represents an intersection of science, business, and public service that is uncommon in American politics. His decades of work at Fermilab placed him at the forefront of particle physics research in the United States, and his transition to Congress brought a scientifically trained perspective to legislative debates on topics ranging from financial regulation to climate policy to digital technology. His continued service in the House of Representatives through the mid-2020s has made him one of the longest-serving scientist-politicians in recent American history.

Foster's emphasis on data-driven policymaking and his willingness to engage with complex technical subjects have contributed to discussions about the role of scientific expertise in government. His career trajectory—from Harvard-trained physicist to Fermilab researcher to business co-founder to U.S. Representative—illustrates a model of public engagement in which technical and scientific professionals seek to apply their knowledge directly in the political arena.

As the representative for Illinois's 11th Congressional District, Foster has navigated a politically competitive suburban landscape, winning reelection in a district that reflects the demographic and political diversity of the greater Chicago metropolitan area. His legislative record and constituent service have defined his role as a representative who draws upon both scientific training and practical business experience in addressing the concerns of his constituents.