1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

Operation Whirlwind was launched under Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin to investigate alleged threats against employees of DOGE. Framed as a national security measure, the operation quickly took aim at Congress over past remarks deemed threatening. However, recent reports indicate that Operation Whirlwind has transformed into something far more alarming: a tool for suppressing opposition, silencing the media, and intimidating critics of the Trump administration. News organizations, advocacy groups, and even individuals expressing dissent have been targeted with legal threats and harassment. The administration is pushing the boundaries of First Amendment protections, with concerns growing that this is a direct attempt to control the narrative and stifle resistance. Operation Whirlwind has expanded— Trump will now handpick which media outlets can participate in the presidential press pool, the small, rotating group of reporters who inform the public. This breaks decades of precedent, giving the White House more control over which journalists can witness the president’s actions and ask questions. Operation Whirlwind is also targeting citizens. People have been forcibly removed from events for speaking up against the administration. Everyday Americans who express dissent—whether at public forums, town halls, or even online—are becoming the latest targets of this operation. The crackdown on opposition is no longer limited to journalists and political figures; it is now reaching into communities across the country. Attorney Ed Martin has also threatened to prosecute any resistance member who is in the way of Elon Musk or his staffers. As the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk and his team have been granted extraordinary authority, with Martin signaling a zero-tolerance policy toward any interference with their activities. This move is a further extension of Operation Whirlwind’s use of the legal system to protect those in power while targeting their opponents. News media articles across the internet are being forcibly taken down, which we are sure many have noticed. Reports critical of the administration, investigative pieces exposing government overreach, and opinion pieces challenging the legitimacy of Operation Whirlwind are vanishing from websites, raising concerns about censorship at an unprecedented scale. Major news organizations are facing intense legal pressure, with some even forced to shut down sections of their coverage to avoid government retaliation. What can you do to help ensure suppression of the American people and the unchecked violation of our constitutional law does not continue? I urge you to fight against Operation Whirlwind and do everything within your power to find its actions oppressive and unconstitutional. Federal employees have taken great risks to make sure we have this and other information and we must fight for the rights of our citizens to know the truth!