1. United States
2. Ark.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the alarming expansion of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as reported in the Associated Press on February 3, 2025. Consolidating power into the hands of unelected individuals, notably Elon Musk’s civilian oversight team, represents a constitutional crisis and a severe national security risk. The article details how DOGE has seized control of federal agencies, accessed classified material without oversight, and carried out mass firings and furloughs of USAID personnel. The removal of USAID security chiefs for refusing to hand over classified documents to DOGE "inspectors" is beyond reckless—it is a direct threat to national security. Furthermore, DOGE's unauthorized intrusion into Treasury systems, including Social Security and Medicare data, clearly violates public trust. Congress must act now. I urge you to: Reassert Congressional Control Over Federal Funding – USAID’s budget and operations fall under the purview of Congress. The Executive Branch, through DOGE, has unilaterally overridden congressional authority by shutting down programs, blocking access to agency headquarters, and refusing to honor approved contracts. You must take back the power of the purse and restore lawful oversight of USAID and other affected agencies. Limit DOGE’s Powers Immediately—DOGE's unchecked authority must be curbed before further damage is done. If Congress fails to act, this will set a dangerous precedent for further executive overreach into critical federal functions. Mandatory Background Checks for All DOGE Personnel—Given their access to classified data and sensitive government systems, all DOGE staff must undergo the same rigorous background checks as federal employees. Their current unrestricted access is a glaring security vulnerability. If Congress fails to oppose this blatant abuse of power, it will effectively cede its constitutional responsibilities. I urge you to grow a spine and fight back against this unconstitutional power grab before it’s too late. I expect to see decisive legislative action to regulate and oversee DOGE before it further undermines our democracy. Please provide a public response outlining the steps you plan to take to address these issues.