Congress Must Defend the Constitution Against Presidential Overreach

Confront the Erosion of Congressional Power The balance of power between Congress and the President has tilted dangerously toward the executive branch. The Constitution gives Congress - not the President - authority to make laws, control spending, and oversee federal agencies. Yet the President increasingly acts alone - repurposing funds, refusing to spend appropriations, dismantling agencies, and ruling by executive order. Each time Congress fails to respond, the people’s voice grows weaker. The following are a few examples of a growing pattern of executive overreach that threatens the separation of powers. Stop the President from Dismantling Federal Agencies The administration has withheld billions in approved funds and initiated mass layoffs across government. USAID’s operations have been largely terminated, its staff reduced, and key programs folded into the State Department. As a consequence, according to The Lancet, there could be 8.5 to 20 million additional deaths by 2030, including more than 4.5 million children under five. At the Department of Education, staffing has been cut by more than half since March 2025, weakening enforcement of civil-rights and special-education laws. Address the Firing of Inspectors General The President has dismissed numerous inspectors general - watchdogs who protect against waste, fraud, and abuse. These firings weaken oversight and silence whistleblowers. Congress must ensure inspectors general are protected from interference and able to perform their duties independently. Confront the Politicization of Justice and Civil Service The Department of Justice has been reshaped through politically motivated firings, while the Public Integrity Section’s role has been reduced. The President has also revived “Schedule F,” enabling partisan replacement of career civil servants and eroding the expertise agencies depend on. Reassert Control Over Trade and Military Authority The President’s tariff hikes - from 10 to 50 percent on goods from major trading partners - have disrupted markets and raised prices without congressional approval. The administration has also ordered lethal strikes on vessels in the Caribbean without clear legal basis. Congress must reassert its authority over trade and the use of force. Exercise Constitutional Powers to Restore Balance Congress must now: • Enforce the Impoundment Control Act. • Hold hearings on executive branch overreach. • Require approval for major tariffs and military actions. • Protect civil servants and agency independence. Affirm Congress’s Duty to Defend the Constitution The Founders never intended for one person to control the nation’s purse, laws, and justice system. Congress alone holds those powers. It is time to reclaim them - fully and visibly - to preserve the Constitution itself.