Federal Workers Urge Congress to Step In Against Trump Administration Overreach
In a bold move that showcases both defiance and escalating concerns of reprisal, federal employees from more than 50 agencies have come together to publish a letter condemning the Trump administration for executive overreach and calling on Congress to intervene.
This letter is just the latest in a series of missives from federal workers at various agencies criticizing the administration for straying from the core missions of these agencies. The organizers had hoped to gather thousands of signatures before releasing the letter to lawmakers, but at the time of publication, it had just under 900 signatories. This number, while impressive, underscores the delicate balance federal officials face when speaking out against the administration – weighing the risks to their jobs and even their safety.
Jenna Norton, a program officer at the National Institutes of Health and one of the letter’s organizers, expressed the prevailing sense of unease among federal workers. She highlighted the fear and insecurity many employees feel, both in their jobs and in public, given the current tense climate.
The letter, specifically addressed to Congress ahead of the government’s fiscal year end on Sept. 30, calls on lawmakers to include provisions in the funding bills that safeguard the essential work of federal agencies, particularly in the realms of science and health. The signatories emphasize the need for Congress to prevent the President from unilaterally redirecting or ignoring allocated funding.
Jeremy Berg, a former NIH institute leader and signatory to the letter, stressed the importance of upholding the Constitution and speaking out against actions that may be deemed illegal or unconstitutional. The letter underscores the crucial role federal workers play in delivering essential services to the public, such as emergency response, public health initiatives, and research funding for diseases like cancer.
Despite the risks involved, the letter outlines specific requests, including reversing cuts to Medicaid, disaster relief, and veterans’ care, reinstating fired federal staff, and prohibiting political appointees from making arbitrary decisions on grants and funding.
However, the fear of retaliation looms large among federal workers, with the EPA’s crackdown on employees who signed a declaration of dissent serving as a cautionary tale. The recent incidents of political violence, including the shooting at the CDC headquarters, have only heightened concerns among federal workers about speaking out against the administration.
As the government faces the prospect of a shutdown, federal employees are rallying behind the letter as a plea to protect their agencies from further dismantling. The signatories emphasize the need for Congress to act as a safeguard against the administration’s encroachment on agency norms and essential services.
In the face of mounting disruptions and uncertainties, federal workers are standing united in their call for Congress to fulfill its duty in upholding the Constitution. The letter ends with a poignant challenge to lawmakers: “We took an oath. You did too. Will you uphold yours?”
