1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

As your constituent, I urge you to launch a comprehensive congressional investigation into apparent pay-to-play conduct involving Matthew Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge, and the Trump administration that has obstructed the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, critically needed infrastructure supporting international commerce. In January 2025, Matthew Moroun donated $1 million to a Trump political action committee. In February, he received a meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Hours later, President Trump threatened on Truth Social not to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge—a $4.7 billion publicly owned crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario that Canada had fully funded and that was set to open after eight years of construction. For months, the Trump administration blocked the bridge's opening, delaying its ribbon-cutting ceremony that was initially scheduled for early June. The bridge now will not open until late July, following negotiations that imposed new anti-competitive restrictions: the federal government now must approve any toll reductions below regional averages—a requirement that directly protects Moroun's nearby Ambassador Bridge from competition. This pattern reflects a textbook quid pro quo. The Ambassador Bridge, which Moroun has owned for decades, generates up to $100 per truck crossing from the approximately 3 million trucks that use it annually. The new Gordie Howe Bridge threatened this monopoly by offering an alternative crossing. By blocking the bridge's opening and then imposing toll-approval requirements, the administration appears to have prioritized a major donor's corporate profits over American commerce and international relations in direct exchange for his political contribution. The economic damage is substantial. The 93-year-old Ambassador Bridge is heavily congested, causing severe delays that harm businesses conducting international trade. Many truckers now use alternative routes—a nearby tunnel or a bridge an hour away in Port Huron—creating inefficiency that damages U.S.-Canada commerce and strains critical supply chains for American manufacturers. I urge Congress to take the following investigative steps: Subpoena all communications between Trump administration officials, Matthew Moroun, and his representatives regarding the January donation, the February meeting with Commerce Secretary Lutnick, and the subsequent decision to block the Gordie Howe Bridge opening. Investigate the stated rationale for the administration's blockade, including Trump's claims that the U.S. should "own half the project" and demands for additional compensation—claims that contradict the existing 2012 agreement under which Michigan and Canada jointly own and operate the bridge. Examine the new toll-approval requirement imposed as a condition for opening the bridge to determine whether it was designed to protect Moroun's competing commercial interests rather than serve a legitimate public purpose. Request an analysis of the economic impact caused by the months-long delay on U.S.-Canada trade, American manufacturers relying on cross-border supply chains, and the truck transportation industry. The Gordie Howe Bridge obstruction is not an isolated incident. It is part of a troubling pattern of pay-to-play dealings that have defined this administration. Campaign contributions and payments to the Trump Organization have been exchanged for presidential pardons granted to political allies and financial supporters. Wealthy donors have gained access to sensitive U.S. technology and favorable trade policies. Business interests have secured sweetheart tariff deals that benefit their bottom lines at the expense of American workers and consumers. In each case, the administration has prioritized the interests of the highest bidder over the public good.