1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to oppose the Trump administration’s reported attempt to condition FEMA, homeland security, terrorism preparedness, or disaster-related grants on states adopting federally preferred election rules. This is an abuse of federal power. Disaster preparedness and public safety funding should protect communities from floods, fires, terrorism, and emergencies. It should not be used as leverage to coerce states into changing how they run elections. The Constitution gives states the primary role in administering elections, with Congress having a defined legislative role. It does not give the president or executive agencies authority to use unrelated emergency funding as a weapon against states that refuse to adopt the administration’s voting policies. I am especially concerned that these conditions would pressure states to impose proof-of-citizenship, voter ID, mail ballot, or voter roll changes that could burden eligible voters. Election integrity matters, but it must be pursued through lawful legislation and evidence-based policy, not by threatening public safety funds. Please publicly oppose this policy, demand oversight hearings, and support legislation or appropriations language that prohibits FEMA, DHS, or any federal agency from conditioning disaster, homeland security, or emergency preparedness grants on unrelated election administration changes. Federal emergency funding should not be turned into a tool for voter suppression or executive coercion. Protect state authority, protect eligible voters, and protect disaster preparedness funding.