Katie Boyd Britt

Katie Boyd Britt
Born	Katie Elizabeth Boyd 2 2, 1982
Birthplace	Enterprise, Alabama, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Title	United States Senator from Alabama
Known for	Youngest Republican woman elected to the U.S. Senate
Education	University of Alabama (B.S., J.D.)
Spouse(s)	Wesley Britt
Children	2

Katie Elizabeth Boyd Britt (born February 2, 1982) is an American attorney and politician serving as the junior United States Senator from Alabama since January 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Britt made history as the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate when she won her seat in the 2022 general election at the age of 40. Before entering elected office, Britt served as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Richard Shelby and as president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, the state's leading business advocacy organization. In the Senate, she has focused on issues including appropriations, homeland security funding, child online safety, and economic development in Alabama. She gained national prominence in March 2024 when she was selected to deliver the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. In her Senate career, Britt has positioned herself as an advocate for Alabama's communities and has worked on bipartisan legislation addressing protections for young users on social media platforms.

Early Life

Katie Elizabeth Boyd was born on February 2, 1982, in Enterprise, Alabama, a small city in the southeastern part of the state located in Coffee County. Enterprise is known for the Boll Weevil Monument, and the community's agricultural roots shaped much of the local culture during Britt's upbringing. She was raised in Enterprise and attended local schools, where she was involved in various academic and extracurricular activities. Her father was a small business owner, and her family's connection to the Enterprise community and to the broader economic life of southeastern Alabama influenced her later interest in business policy and public service.

Britt grew up during a period of economic transformation in Alabama, as the state sought to attract new industries and diversify its economy beyond traditional agriculture and manufacturing. These formative experiences in a small Alabama city would later inform her political emphasis on economic development, rural community investment, and support for small businesses. She graduated from Enterprise High School before enrolling at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Education

Britt attended the University of Alabama, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She was active in campus life and served as the Student Government Association president, a prominent leadership role at the university. She subsequently enrolled at the University of Alabama School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Her legal education provided the foundation for her subsequent career in law, government, and advocacy.

Career

Early Legal and Government Career

After completing her law degree, Britt began her professional career in both the legal and governmental spheres. She practiced law in Alabama and became involved in Republican politics in the state. Her career trajectory took a significant turn when she joined the staff of U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, one of Alabama's longest-serving and most influential senators. Britt ultimately rose to the position of chief of staff in Shelby's Senate office, a role that placed her at the center of Alabama's federal policy apparatus. In this capacity, she managed the senator's legislative agenda, constituent services, and political operations, gaining extensive experience in the workings of the U.S. Senate and federal appropriations process. Shelby, who served as chairman and later ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was one of the most powerful figures in federal spending decisions, and Britt's tenure on his staff gave her deep familiarity with the appropriations process that would later define much of her own Senate work.

Business Council of Alabama

Following her service in Senator Shelby's office, Britt was named president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama (BCA), the state's principal business lobby and advocacy organization. The BCA represents a broad coalition of businesses, industry associations, and chambers of commerce across Alabama. As the head of the organization, Britt served as the primary voice for the state's business community, advocating on issues including taxation, regulation, workforce development, and infrastructure investment. Her leadership of the BCA further raised her profile in Alabama political and business circles and positioned her as a prominent figure within the state's Republican establishment.

2022 U.S. Senate Campaign

When Senator Richard Shelby announced in 2021 that he would not seek reelection in 2022, the open Senate seat attracted a competitive Republican primary field. Britt entered the race and quickly emerged as one of the leading candidates. The primary contest drew national attention, particularly when former President Donald Trump initially endorsed Representative Mo Brooks before later rescinding that endorsement. Britt ran on a platform emphasizing conservative values, economic growth, border security, and support for Alabama families and communities.

Britt advanced to a Republican primary runoff, which she won decisively. She then won the 2022 general election by a wide margin in the heavily Republican state of Alabama. At 40 years old, she became the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate. She succeeded Shelby, for whom she had previously worked, and took office on January 3, 2023.

U.S. Senate Tenure

Upon entering the Senate, Britt secured assignments on several key committees, including the Senate Appropriations Committee, which aligned with her experience from her years working under Senator Shelby. Her committee work has focused on directing federal resources to Alabama and addressing national policy priorities.

Appropriations and Alabama Investment

Britt has used her position on the Appropriations Committee to direct federal funding to Alabama communities. In fiscal year 2026 appropriations, she secured over $9.7 million for Alabama's River Region and Black Belt, areas that have historically faced significant economic challenges including poverty, limited infrastructure, and lack of access to healthcare and education resources. The Black Belt, a region stretching across central Alabama, has been a focus of economic development and investment efforts for decades, and Britt's appropriations work has continued that emphasis at the federal level.

Homeland Security and Border Policy

Homeland security and border policy have been central themes of Britt's Senate tenure. She has been an outspoken advocate for increased funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and has participated actively in negotiations over DHS appropriations. In 2025, Britt discussed homeland security funding on Fox News Sunday, where she criticized Democratic positions on national security and advocated for stronger border enforcement measures. She also took to the Senate floor to advocate for ongoing government funding negotiations, addressing DHS funding as a priority in broader spending discussions.

Child Online Safety

Britt has emerged as one of the Senate's prominent voices on the issue of child safety on the internet and social media platforms. Working across party lines, she partnered with Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii to press Meta Platforms (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) for answers regarding delays in implementing protections for young users. The bipartisan letter demanded explanations from Meta following disclosures about serious risks to young people on the company's platforms. This effort was part of a broader legislative push in the Senate to hold technology companies accountable for the safety of minors using their products.

Judiciary Committee and Law Enforcement

Britt has been active on matters related to the judiciary and law enforcement. In 2025, she commended the Senate Judiciary Committee for advancing the GUARD Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation, as well as the U.S. Attorney nomination of Thomas Govan. Her support for both the bipartisan legislation and the judicial nomination reflected her engagement with issues of federal law enforcement and criminal justice.

Trade and Tariff Policy

Britt has aligned with the Trump administration on trade policy, including support for the use of tariffs. In June 2025, following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that placed constraints on the president's authority to impose tariffs — specifically regarding President Donald Trump's "liberation day" tariffs — Britt, along with fellow Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, expressed being "deeply disappointed" in the Court's ruling. The senators characterized the decision as one that would "handcuff the President's ability to impose tariffs," signaling their support for broad executive authority on trade matters.

State of the Union Response

In March 2024, Britt was selected by Republican leadership to deliver the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. The selection of Britt, a first-term senator, for this high-profile assignment was notable and reflected her rising stature within the Republican Party. The address drew significant media attention and public commentary, making Britt a nationally recognized figure beyond Alabama politics.

Financial Disclosures

As a sitting U.S. senator, Britt is subject to the STOCK Act, which requires members of Congress to disclose financial transactions. In 2025, Britt disclosed new stock trades in accordance with these requirements. She also disclosed $361,700 in fundraising in a Q4 Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing.

Personal Life

Katie Boyd married Wesley Britt, a former offensive lineman who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots and the San Diego Chargers. Wesley Britt also played college football at the University of Alabama, where the couple met. They have two children together. The family resides in Alabama.

Wesley Britt's background as a professional athlete and his connections to the University of Alabama football program have added to the couple's public profile in the state, where college football holds a central place in the cultural landscape. Katie Britt has spoken publicly about balancing her career in public service with her role as a mother, a theme she emphasized during her 2022 Senate campaign and in her State of the Union response.

Recognition

Britt's election to the U.S. Senate in 2022 was itself a milestone, as she became the youngest Republican woman ever elected to that body. She was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama, as the state's previous female senator, appointed rather than elected, had served briefly. Her selection to deliver the Republican response to the 2024 State of the Union address further underscored her prominence within the national Republican Party.

Her work on child online safety, particularly her bipartisan efforts with Senator Schatz regarding Meta's protections for young users, has drawn attention from advocacy groups focused on children's welfare and technology regulation. Her appropriations work securing funding for Alabama's River Region and Black Belt has been noted as continuing a tradition established by her predecessor, Senator Shelby, of directing federal investment to underserved areas of the state.