1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

As the Trump administration continues its systematic assault on our democratic institutions, constitutional checks and balances, and the fundamental rights of every American, it is more urgent than ever for Congress to engage in meaningful debate and pass legislation to guard against executive overreach, particularly the Protecting Our Democracy Act (PODA). The actions of the second Trump administration have shown a shocking disregard for the norms and safeguards that uphold our democracy. From weaponizing federal law enforcement against political opponents and ordinary citizens to undermining judicial independence, from abusing emergency powers to evading congressional oversight, and from dismantling federal agencies to diverting billions of dollars to Trump family businesses, these actions pose a direct threat to our system of government. They jeopardize the freedoms of speech, association, and equal justice that every American relies on. PODA includes vital reforms aimed at restoring accountability and preventing future abuses of executive power. Americans deserve a government that operates within the law, free from presidential vendettas, and legal protections that ensure liberty and justice are safeguarded from the reach of any single administration. PODA’s essential reforms—supported by both Republican and Democratic administrations in the past—are crucial for rebuilding the constitutional safeguards our democracy needs. These reforms include curbing abuses of pardon power, ensuring that no president is above the law, enforcing constitutional emoluments provisions, protecting whistleblowers, strengthening congressional oversight, safeguarding the power of the purse, limiting presidential national emergencies, and preserving the independence of law enforcement from political manipulation. By reinforcing these guardrails, PODA also protects the rights and freedoms of every American. Without these legislative measures, which build upon the anti-corruption reforms established during the Nixon era, we risk the continued erosion of democratic norms, the concentration of unchecked power in the executive branch at the expense of Congress, and the loss of fundamental rights that have defined our nation for generations. This is precisely the authoritarian drift our constitutional system was designed to prevent. This issue transcends partisan politics; it is about upholding constitutional governance and protecting our basic freedoms. Congress has both the constitutional authority and the moral obligation to act. Every official who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution must recognize the gravity of this moment. Inaction only enables autocracy. I strongly urge you to pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act without delay. Thank you.