1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing as your constituent in Springfield to express outrage over the treatment of America250, the official bipartisan commission Congress created to plan our nation's 250th birthday. Congress appropriated $150 million for this celebration. America250 was supposed to receive $100 million of that. It has received only $25 million. Meanwhile, a separate group called Freedom 250, created by executive order and run out of the White House, has received tens of millions in federal funds and has been made the "primary branding" for official events. America250 logos have been stripped from government websites and signage. This is not how our system is supposed to work. Congress appropriated funds for a specific, congressionally chartered commission. The executive branch does not get to redirect that money to a competing organization of the President's own creation, especially one that is not subject to the same oversight and reportedly offers donors access to the President for six and seven figure contributions. Our nation's 250th birthday belongs to all Americans, not to one man's brand. I am asking you to demand full accounting of where the appropriated $150 million has gone, to insist that America250 receive the funding Congress intended, and to support oversight of Freedom 250's finances. Rule of law means appropriated funds go where Congress directed them. I expect you to hold this administration to that standard. Your statement to the MS NOW reporter yesterday was unequivocally false. You said your constituents do not care that part of the America250 money went to Trump's Freedom250. I CARE and many of your other constituents care. Why do you lie?