1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action against the Trump administration's unconstitutional freeze of $10 billion in congressionally approved social service funding targeting five Democratic-led states. This unilateral decision violates the separation of powers and will directly harm children and vulnerable families in our communities. Congress controls federal spending through the appropriations process. Once funds are appropriated, the president cannot withhold them based on political considerations. This practice, called impoundment, was restricted by the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifically to prevent such abuses. The administration did not seek Congressional approval to rescind these funds and simply froze them unilaterally, claiming fraud concerns without evidence. The frozen funding covers essential programs including child care assistance that enables parents to work, cash assistance for low-income families, and social services providing housing, food, and safety for children. If fraud were the genuine concern, targeted investigations and enforcement would be appropriate, not a blanket freeze affecting millions of people. The consequences are already cascading through communities. Child care centers are shutting down, parents are losing jobs, children are going hungry, and families are spiraling into crisis. This is collective punishment of vulnerable populations being used as leverage in a political conflict. Federal courts have previously blocked similar Trump-era funding freezes as violations of the Constitution's separation of powers. I urge you to publicly oppose this funding freeze, support immediate legal challenges, and work with colleagues to restore these critical funds. While courts will likely intervene, significant damage is occurring right now. Children should never be used as collateral damage in political power plays. Please take a stand to protect both constitutional governance and the vulnerable families who depend on these essential services.