1. United States
2. Conn.
3. Letter

Dear Representative Larson, I am writing to you as a constituent from Southington and a dedicated federal employee with the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). With the January 30th funding deadline rapidly approaching, I am filled with a mixture of dread and absolute outrage. Essential Work is Not Free Labor As a Case Advocate, I spend my days helping citizens resolve their most critical financial hardships with the tax system. If you fail to pass a budget by the 30th, I will likely be designated as an essential employee. This designation is a slap in the face: it means I am "essential" enough to be forced to work and solve the public’s financial problems, but "unimportant" enough to have my own paycheck withheld. It is morally bankrupt to expect federal employees to maintain the infrastructure of this country while their own families face financial instability because of congressional gridlock. Misaligned Priorities: ICE vs. Public Service Furthermore, I am deeply disturbed by the continued prioritisation of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It is unacceptable that the government can find billions of dollars for aggressive enforcement and detention, yet cannot seem to find the will to pass a clean funding bill that ensures its own workforce is paid on time. As a leader on the Ways and Means Committee, you have a direct hand in the fiscal direction of this country. I am demanding that you: 1. Ensure a clean funding bill is passed before January 30th. Do not use my livelihood as a bargaining chip. 2. Reject the expansion of ICE funding. Prioritize humanitarian efforts and the vital public services—like the TAS—that actually help Americans thrive. I am tired of the "government funding fatigue" being used as an excuse for dysfunction. I expect you to stand up for the workers in your district who keep the government running.