1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

To the best of my understanding, our Constitution gives to Congress the power to determine the allocation of funds from the Federal budget to different government agencies, to different research programs by NASA, DoD, NEH, NIH, etc., to institutions of higher learning that train tomorrow’s workforce, among other essential activities in our society. The Execute in the Trump Administration is using funds that have been appropriated to coerce instructions to carry out its agenda of hate and Congress is taking no action to curb their vile impulses. The Trump Administration believes that it has the power to curb academic freedom and has shown intent to micromanage a number of our most prominent universities. They have demanded, for instance, that Harvard allows them to interfere with admissions decisions, to shut down programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion, to eliminate the free discourse and exploration of perspectives that is essential to the creation of new knowledge. It is no exaggeration to say that this kind of action has been seen in fascist regimes. I would like to know how Congress is going to react to these egregious attacks on our Constitution and on the foundations of what has made the U.S. one of the most important producers of ideas and of scientific advances in the world. Are you going to remain silent and allow this administration to continue to extend its reach where it doesn’t have any constitutional role? Are you going to enable the hard move away from the U.S. being the home of the free because you are not brave enough to stand up for the law, for morality, and for rationality?