1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing because the continued conduct of Russell Vought and this administration should alarm every member of Congress, regardless of political party. The latest reporting about the administration’s ongoing fight with Congress over federal funding makes one thing painfully clear: Russell Vought and the Trump administration are attempting to fundamentally change the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. Congress has the constitutional power of the purse. That is not a suggestion. It is one of the most fundamental checks on presidential power in our system of government. Yet this administration continues to behave as though congressional appropriations are merely recommendations that the White House can ignore, delay, redirect, or cancel whenever they conflict with the President’s political agenda. That is unacceptable. Russell Vought has openly expressed his hostility toward the laws that restrict the executive branch from unilaterally withholding funds appropriated by Congress. His office has repeatedly been accused of blocking or delaying congressionally approved funding, and the administration has already used deeply controversial “pocket rescission” tactics to eliminate billions of dollars in funding. Now, as the September 30 fiscal-year deadline approaches, Congress is once again being forced to defend its own constitutional authority. How many times does Congress intend to allow this to happen? What concerns me even more is the apparent willingness of members of Congress to simply watch this unfold. If Congress appropriates money and the executive branch decides it does not want to spend it, then Congress is no longer exercising the power of the purse. The executive branch is. That is not how our constitutional system is supposed to work. This is bigger than Donald Trump. It is bigger than Russell Vought. It is bigger than partisan politics. The precedent being created here could be used by any president of either political party in the future. If Congress allows one administration to establish that the President can effectively override congressional appropriations, future presidents will inherit that power. That should concern every member of Congress. I am also deeply disturbed by the administration’s continued politicization of federal funding and federal agencies. Federal programs should not be treated as political weapons. Communities, states, nonprofits, federal employees, and ordinary Americans should not have to wonder whether funding that Congress legally approved will actually reach them because it does not fit the President’s political agenda. And this is not occurring in isolation. We have watched this administration attack federal agencies, undermine career federal employees, weaken institutional safeguards, politicize government operations, and concentrate more and more authority within the executive branch. Russell Vought should not be allowed to operate as though he is an unelected fourth branch of government. Congress needs to act. I am asking you to stop sitting on the sidelines and start defending the institution you were elected to serve. You should be demanding transparency from OMB, challenging unlawful withholding of appropriated funds, supporting congressional oversight, and defending Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending. You should also make clear that Congress will not tolerate an administration using procedural loopholes and end-of-year maneuvers to accomplish what it could not lawfully accomplish through the normal legislative process. And I want to be very clear about something: this is not about asking you to support Democrats or oppose Republicans. This is about defending the Constitution. If Congress allows the executive branch to take control of the power of the purse, Congress will have surrendered one of its most important constitutional responsibilities. I expect you to stand up to Russell Vought, Donald Trump, and this administration when they exceed the authority granted to them. I expect you to defend congressional authority, federal employees, federal agencies, and the rule of law. If you care about your constituents and about preserving our constitutional system of checks and balances, now is the time to prove it. Do not wait until the damage is irreversible. Stand up. Use the authority of your office. Defend Congress. Defend the Constitution. And stop allowing Russell Vought and this administration to dismantle the safeguards that are supposed to prevent exactly this kind of concentration of executive power. Your constituents are watching. And we will remember who stood up and who stayed silent.