1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my profound outrage over the continued assault on the federal workforce under Russell Vought and this administration. The latest attempt to terminate collective bargaining agreements for thousands of Department of Defense civilian employees is yet another example of an administration that appears determined to weaken the rights of the very people who keep our government functioning every day. Instead of respecting the rule of law and the rights of federal employees, this administration continues to pursue actions that are forcing workers and their unions into court simply to preserve longstanding workplace protections. Federal employees are not the enemy. We process Social Security claims, care for veterans, defend our nation, inspect our food, protect our borders, respond to disasters, conduct scientific research, and perform countless other essential services for the American people. We deserve respect, not political attacks. Russell Vought has made no secret of his desire to dramatically reduce the federal workforce and reshape the civil service. Those policies are now having real consequences for dedicated public servants and for the Americans who rely on government services every day. Instead of strengthening government, these actions are creating instability, driving away experienced employees, increasing backlogs, and undermining the ability of agencies to fulfill their missions. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to provide oversight of the executive branch. Remaining silent while collective bargaining rights are stripped away and federal workers are repeatedly targeted is a failure to fulfill that responsibility. I urge you to publicly condemn these actions, defend the rights of federal employees, and oppose any effort that undermines collective bargaining, weakens the civil service, or politicizes the federal workforce. If this administration is acting within the law, the courts will determine that. If it is exceeding its authority, Congress should not stand by while that happens. The American people deserve a government that functions effectively, and that requires a professional, experienced, and respected federal workforce. Please stand with the public servants who have dedicated their careers to serving this country, not with efforts that erode their rights and weaken the institutions they support. History will remember who stood up for the rule of law, for public service, and for the American people. I hope you will choose to be on that side.