1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern over reports that the administration is threatening to withhold federal terrorism prevention funding from states unless they comply with a series of federal election policy demands. This is an alarming abuse of federal authority. Public safety funding should never be used as a political bargaining chip. Americans expect their government to prioritize protecting communities from real threats, not to jeopardize emergency preparedness in an effort to force states to adopt policies favored by a presidential administration. Our Constitution established a system of checks and balances and recognizes an important role for the states in administering elections. Whether one agrees or disagrees with particular election policies, Congress should not allow essential homeland security resources to be conditioned on unrelated political demands. That undermines public trust, weakens emergency preparedness, and creates unnecessary risks for communities across the country. I expect you to speak out publicly against this misuse of federal funding and to defend Congress’s constitutional authority over appropriations. I also expect you to support oversight of FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that funds appropriated to protect Americans from terrorism and other emergencies are distributed according to the law and not political loyalty. Silence is not leadership. Your oath is to the Constitution and to the people you represent, not to any president or political agenda. The American people deserve representatives who will stand up when executive power is used in ways that threaten constitutional principles and public safety. I respectfully ask that you tell your constituents where you stand. Will you defend the integrity of our democratic institutions and ensure that homeland security funding remains focused on protecting Americans, or will you allow critical public safety resources to become tools of political coercion? I look forward to your response.