1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep frustration and outrage over the continued attacks on federal employees and their unions by this administration and by Russell Vought. The ongoing effort to undermine collective bargaining rights, weaken civil service protections, and diminish the voice of federal employees is unacceptable. Federal employees dedicate their careers to serving the American people regardless of which political party occupies the White House. They deserve respect, due process, and the ability to be represented by their unions. Attempts to strip away those rights threaten not only federal workers but also the integrity and independence of the civil service itself. Several years ago, executive actions that restricted federal unions and sought to create Schedule F were revoked because they were widely viewed as harmful to the federal workforce and the merit-based civil service. Those actions recognized that an effective government depends on experienced, professional employees who are free from political retaliation. Today, we are once again seeing efforts to weaken those same protections. Russell Vought has been one of the driving forces behind proposals to dismantle long-standing civil service protections and reduce the influence of federal employee unions. I strongly oppose those efforts, and I expect my elected representative to oppose them as well. As my representative, your responsibility is to stand up for the people who keep this government functioning every single day. That includes the Social Security employees, veterans’ employees, public health workers, law enforcement personnel, scientists, inspectors, and countless other career civil servants who faithfully serve the American people. Silence is not leadership. I expect you to publicly speak out against attacks on federal employee unions, defend collective bargaining rights, and support legislation that protects the federal workforce from political interference and retaliation. Workers deserve a seat at the table and the ability to advocate for fair working conditions without fear of intimidation. Federal employees are also voters. We are paying close attention to who is willing to defend us and who is willing to stand by while our rights are eroded. If you choose not to support federal employees and their unions, I will not support your reelection, and I will encourage others to do the same. The time for remaining silent has passed. I urge you to publicly oppose these attacks on federal employees, reject efforts to weaken our unions, and stand firmly in support of the dedicated public servants who work every day on behalf of the American people. I look forward to seeing your leadership on this issue.