1. United States
2. Neb.
3. Letter

I am a constituent writing again to ask you to speak up and do something about the domestic attacks to our safety. The cuts to federal agencies that protect us are already seeing effects. National health took a hit this week when we didn’t try to pick a flu vaccine. My elderly mother has severe asthma. She relies on us, her family, to get the flu shot to protect her. She also gets the vaccine to protect herself. Without our national leaders following the science, she will be left unprotected. Pneumonia is a complication of flu that she is susceptible to. Pneumonia kills people her age. We need you to speak up to protect her health. Another agency related to our safety is the FAA. They were already understaffed and underpaid for air traffic controllers. So cutting their budget impacts everyone who flies. We need more funding for the FAA not less. Thirdly, to cut back agencies that protect our cybersecurity is not logical. It makes America weak and vulnerable. Yesterday we saw a probe attack. Those “mysterious collision warnings” of planes in the DC area were not just a coincidence. It was a probe to see if hackers could. Do you remember the Zoom calls of the pandemic? When they got hacked it started as a probe. A random drawing on the screen. A random character posted by a person in the chat. Then seconds later the whole meeting was under the control of the hacker. This seemingly random collision warning was that probe. Hackers send it to see if they can get in. To see if they can gain control. There were targeted cuts to Russian cybersecurity teams. Those cuts leave us vulnerable to attacks and ransomware. It is our infrastructure that will be most vulnerable. America gains nothing from the cuts. Russia will not give us anything in return because they are now in the position of power. The best defense in cybersecurity is a position of offense which we no longer have. My son is currently studying to become a pilot. How will you act to support him and keep him safe? How will you ensure he comes home? Americans need you to speak up against cuts to agencies that protect our safety. The health, cybersecurity, and safety in the air all impact everyone. I haven’t even addressed NOAA and we are from Nebraska! Why are you silent?! Please speak up. Please join together to help protect my family.