MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon requesting answers about how recent mass layoffs at the Department of Education (DOE) are impacting students in special education programs.

“As co-chairs of the Bipartisan Disabilities, we are deeply concerned about the impacts these significant cuts will have on the future of the special education programs students depend on.

“The reported layoffs will impact the department’s special education office from roughly 200 workers to about five total staff. Families in our districts rely on these teams of federal workers to coordinate with states and schools to ensure they are following disability laws to protect our students and ensure all learners are getting the education they deserve.  For example, in 2018, the Department of Education found out that Texas for years violated federal law by denying students with disabilities access to proper public education. Gov. Greg Abbott then ordered a plan to overhaul special education, and thanks to federal oversight, necessary changes were able to be implemented.  

“The staff reductions inside the U.S. Department of Education have the potential to effectively dismantle the federal offices responsible for protecting the rights of students with disabilities. Based on reporting, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has lost most of its personnel and the capacity to enforce civil rights is severely weakened. OSERS plays a vital role in ensuring states comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and in managing billions of dollars in federal grants that fund special education and vocational rehabilitation. The offices also provide legal and technical guidance to schools, fund research on effective teaching strategies, support training and retention of special educators, and coordinate transition services that help youth with disabilities move from school to employment and community life.”

Read the full text of the letter here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — On Day 17 of the Democrat Shutdown, Speaker Johnson held a press conference alongside House GOP Leadership and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers to discuss Senate Democrats not just blocking pay for U.S. troops through the clean CR, but also by rejecting a standalone bill to fund our nation’s defense. Speaker Johnson also addressed the Democrats’ “Hate America” rallies taking place across the country tomorrow.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here.

On Senate Democrats continuing to block pay for U.S. troops and defense:

If you’re keeping count at home, we’re on Day 17 of the shutdown. The Democrats have now voted for the 11th time to keep the government closed. 11 times now, they’ve refused to just do their basic job, get the government going again, making sure that federal employees are paid, that our troops are paid, Border Patrol agents, TSA agents, air traffic controllers, and everyone else who relies upon the vital services of our federal government.

They’re being denied that because Democrats in Congress are playing games. And right now, to add insult to injury, if you’re paying attention at home, you also need to make note of this. Yesterday, the Senate Democrats took it a step further. They rejected a standalone bill to fund our nation’s defense and pay our troops. They voted it down. Now, why is that so noteworthy? Well, the bill was passed out of committee in the Senate with broad bipartisan support, and yet the Democrats still engaged in a stunt on the floor, and they rejected it. So now they are on record, specifically and exclusively, to block the paychecks of the troops, to block the funding of our national defense in a very dangerous moment in world history. It is absurd to us. Leader Thune said this on the floor after that vote, he said, “That one vote demonstrates just how fundamentally disinterested Democrats are in supporting our troops and providing for our common defense.” Yes, that is exactly what we saw. And I suspect, if they were here today and it was on the floor, they’d do it once again.

On Democrats caring more about spectacle than substance:

For many of our Democrat colleagues, tomorrow is about creating really a spectacle. That’s what they’ve been doing here every day of the shutdown with their little TikTok videos and their publicity stunts. And they’re going to do it in a much larger venue tomorrow. And as the shutdown drags on, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this spectacle is the reason the Democrats have refused to reopen the government. Just read a sample of the materials that this organizing group has circulated far and wide about the event tomorrow. They distributed talking points, cheering on the shutdown. I mean, they’re urging this on. They love this. They’re cheering on Chuck Schumer’s decision to close the government. And their lead organizer said this is his words, not mine. “He hasn’t surrendered yet. I call that progress.” Maybe that’s what led Chuck Schumer to say that every day of the shutdown gets better for us. That’s what he said.

Since then, Democrats have had their 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th opportunities to reopen the government, and they have obeyed the mob. They have listened to that on Wednesday. This is pretty ominous. I don’t know if anybody’s reported on this, but you should. The lead organizer of tomorrow’s event issued an open threat to Democrats in Washington. And this is what he said: “The cavalry is coming in on October 18, and they’re either going to be celebrating you or they’re going to be calling for new leadership in the Democrat party.” Now, know who heard that? Chuck Schumer heard it. Hakeem Jeffries heard it. And their actions and their votes show that they are taking that as an order. Evidently, they’ve decided it’s more important to show a fight to President Trump and appease this mob than to reopen the government and ensure the American people are taken care of.

On Democrats catering to their Far-Left base at the “Hate America” rally this weekend:

Tomorrow, the Democrat Leaders are going to join for a big party out on the National Mall. They’re going to descend on our Capitol for their much anticipated, so-called “No Kings” rally. We refer to it by its more accurate description, the “Hate America” rally. And I’m not sure how anybody can refute that. If you think about what’s going to happen here tomorrow, you’re going to bring together the Marxists, the Socialists, the Antifa advocates, the anarchists, and the pro-Hamas wing of the Far-Left Democratic party. That is the modern Democratic party. That’s where they’ve gone. And the Hate America rally is the common theme among all those groups. Listen to the language they use themselves.

Many of them don’t like living in America. They hate capitalism. They hate our free enterprise system. They hate our principles. They hate the ideas that we come in to work every day to fight for, to preserve, in the greatest nation in the history of the world. They hate the idea of individual freedom and limited government. They hate the idea of the rule of law. They fight against it all the time. They hate the idea of peace through strength. They lobby against it all the time. Individual freedom, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, free markets, human dignity, the things that lead to human flourishing, the things that made us the greatest nation in the history of the world. They’re opposed to law enforcement. They’re opposed to military. And their votes show it over and over. That’s the collection of voices that you’ll hear tomorrow that the Democrats will go out and raise their hands with and cheer with. And some of these people are so blinded by their hatred of President Donald Trump, that they can’t find one reason to celebrate America or all that we’ve accomplished and continue to accomplish under this new Administration.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — Democrats have made clear that they will not end their own shutdown — even if it means America’s men and women in uniform are at risk of going without pay. They’ve now voted ELEVEN TIMES to block troop pay.

In the third week of the Democrat Government Shutdown — 1.3 million active-duty service members would have gone without pay — but President Trump has acted. On Saturday, he announced that his administration has identified funds to ensure troops are paid on October 15, using unobligated Department of Defense resources that Congress already appropriated.

STATES HIT HARDEST BY THE DEMOCRATS’ SHUTDOWN

Of the ten states with the largest active-duty military populations, SIX are represented by two Democrat Senators, the same Senators who voted to withhold their pay:

#1: CALIFORNIA – 157,000 Active-Duty Service Members
Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla are happy to vote for giving taxpayer-funded benefits back to illegal aliens over paying the nearly 160,000 troops in their state.

#2: VIRGINIA – 119,000 Active-Duty Service Members
Tim Kaine and Mark Warner are blocking pay for nearly 120,000 men and women in uniform — and another 150,000 federal civilian employees across Virginia.

#6: GEORGIA – 65,000 Active-Duty Service Members
Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have voted nine times against troop pay — even as Georgia service members line up at food pantries.

#7: WASHINGTON – 57,000 Active-Duty Service Members
Despite voting a CR 13 TIMES under Biden– both Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell — have voted 11 TIMES against pay for the men and women stationed in the Evergreen State.

#8: HAWAII – 43,000 Active-Duty Service Members
Mazie Hirono – who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee – and Brian Schatz want $500 million for liberal news outlets before paying our troops.

#10: COLORADO – 35,000 Active-Duty Service Members

Colorado’s Senators, John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet — who once lamented the “self-inflicted harm” that shutdowns create — have continued to block pay for the troops stationed in their own state.

REMINDER: SCHUMER KNOWS EXACTLY WHO GETS HURT — AND HE’S DOING IT ANYWAY

THE SHUTDOWN IS HURTING SECURITY AND SAFETY

Thousands of Border Patrol agents, TSA officers, air traffic controllers, and Capitol Police officers are being forced to work without pay.

And instead of standing with them, House Democrats are screaming at them.

Video shows Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-CA) yelling in the face of a Capitol Police officer — one currently working without a paycheck — while trying to barge into the Speaker’s office.

While Republicans are back home helping constituents navigate the shutdown Democrats caused, House Democrats are berating the very officers they forced to work without pay.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Duffy stepped in to keep rural flights running through the Essential Air Service program — but Democrats admit they won’t back down unless disaster strikes.

One senior Democratic aide even said they won’t concede short of “planes falling out of the sky.”

A CLEAN, RESPONSIBLE BILL IS WAITING IN THE SENATE

Senate Democrats will have additional opportunities this week to end their shutdown. The House-passed CR is just 24 pages long — a clean, responsible bill that funds essential services, protects national security, and guarantees pay for those who serve.

But Schumer and Senate Democrats are refusing to pass it. Instead, they’re continuing to demand $1.5 trillion in new partisan spending.

BOTTOM LINE

Republicans are fighting to reopen the government and protect those who serve.
Democrats are keeping it closed to protect their radical base.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson joined Jake Tapper on CNN’s The Lead and Laura Ingraham on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle to discuss Senate Democrats repeatedly voting against paying U.S. troops and reopening the federal government to satisfy their Far-Left base. 

Watch Speaker Johnson on CNN here, on Fox News here. 

On Senate Democrats refusing to reopen the government:

The only person who can answer that is Chuck Schumer. And he’s got to get permission from Bernie and AOC, I think, before he can ever vote to open the government again. I’m not sure he ever will, Laura. So, we need five reasonable Democrats in the Senate to do the right thing and vote to keep the lights on so that we can continue all the debates on all the outstanding issues. We have a lot of things to do, but they’ve turned the lights off and real people are hurting. And let’s not ever forget the counterproposal that they put on the table is absolute nonsense. They want to spend a trillion and a half additional dollars on a simple seven-week funding measure and all the things you listed, $200 billion for legal aliens to get free health care on the backs of American taxpayers. They’re going to get half a billion dollars to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to prop up leftist news organizations. 

On Democrats pulling stunts instead of serving their constituents:

Instead of doing publicity stunts like AOC likes to do, instead of making social media videos, Republicans are working. We have been working. Right now, they’re in their districts doing very valuable work. At our press conference this morning, I highlighted some of the very important things they’re doing right now. What are they doing? They’re trying to help their constituents navigate through this crisis that has been created like by Democrats like AOC. She voted on September 19 in the House to block the pay for troops, TSA agents, Border Patrol agents, air traffic controllers; to stop the services to nutrition supplemental programs to women, infants, and children. She voted to stop services to the elderly and disabled and veterans. That’s her voting record. And she’s trying to obscure that fact and blame Republicans. I am always open to negotiating, but we had the negotiations in the House and the mutual agreement by Republicans and Democrats who were appropriators, who were working on the government funding, was to extend it for seven weeks to November 21 so they would have time to finish the appropriations process. AOC engaged in political stunts, as did Hakeem Jefferies, and voted against it for their own partisan political purposes. And they have created this mess. 

On Democrat falsehoods about Rep. elect-Grijalva’s swearing-in:

When my dear friend and colleague from Louisiana, Julia Letlow, was elected under very similar circumstances in 2021, her late husband passed away, died of COVID, and they had a special election to fill the seat and Julia won it. Nancy Pelosi took 25 days to administer the oath to Julia. Now, we didn’t have press conferences to go banging on doors and make a big thing of it, because we understood that is the regular process and tradition of the House. I’m doing exactly the same thing. I have said a thousand times in response to this, I am happy and anxious to administer the vote to Rep. Grijalva, and we will do that as soon as we return to the legislative session. We need Chuck Schumer and the Democrats and the Senate to do that. It is ironic that the two senators from Arizona who are making noise about this are voting to keep the government shut down. If they want rep Grijalva to take the oath, they can vote. That’s Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego. They can vote to do this. 

Let me say this right now though, Jake, Grijalva should be working for her constituents. I don’t know what she’s doing. I keep seeing their political stunt videos where they’re knocking on the door and she’s not there. She should be in her office. She should be working or in the district for her constituents. She’s already hired 16 staffers. She should be taking constituent calls. She should be directing and helping them navigate the crisis that her colleagues here have created for her constituents. We we’re happy to administer the oath. We’re going to do it as soon as we get back, but we’ve got to get the lights on first. We got to make sure that our troops are being paid and our Border Patrol agents down in Arizona are being paid.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA) led a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) urging the agency to uphold Second Amendment rights and continue processing National Firearms Act (NFA) applications during the ongoing government shutdown. He was joined by Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Mike Collins (R-GA), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Troy Downing (R-MT), Randy Fine (R-FL), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA), Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Mark Harris (R-NC), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Rich McCormick (R-GA), John McGuire (R-VA), Mary Miller (R-IL), Barry Moore (R-AL), Riley Moore (R-WV), Robert Onder (R-MO), August Pfluger (R-TX), Chip Roy (R-TX), Michael Rulli (R-OH), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Rudy Yakym (R-IN).

“As you know, National Firearms Act (“NFA”) application examiners are among the ATF employees currently furloughed during this shutdown. This means that Americans are currently unable to acquire widely popular NFA-regulated firearms and safety equipment, such as shortbarreled rifles and silencers, because no one at ATF will approve their applications at this time,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Indeed, NFA application approvals are related to the discharge of the President’s constitutional duties and powers. The President of the United States is charged with protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States, and this includes the Second Amendment. To be sure, the National Firearms Act unquestionably violates the Second Amendment. But in enacting this statutory scheme, Congress tasked the Executive Branch with issuing application determinations. The President therefore has a constitutional imperative to ensure that Americans can exercise their Second Amendment rights even during periods of government shutdown. Otherwise, constitutionally enumerated rights rise and fall with congressional appropriation,” they continued.

“Gun Owners of America believes that the NFA is an infringement that should be repealed, and ATF’s refusal to facilitate the lawful purchase and transfer of NFA firearms only proves the point. Thank you to Representative Ben Cline and his leadership in this issue to ensure that the Second Amendment rights of gun owners to obtain NFA firearms are not further treated like a second-class right,” Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of GOA, said.

“Gun owners should not have their rights infringed because of a lapse in government funding. I hope that Acting ATF Director Daniel Driscoll will reverse this longstanding ATF shutdown policy by redesignating NFA examiners as ‘exempt’ during this Democrat-shutdown,” Aidan Johnston, Director of Federal Affairs of GOA, said.

Read the full letter here.

Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Due to Republican Shutdown, Tens of Thousands of Workers and Contractors in Massachusetts are Missing Wages and May be Unable to Pay Utility Bills

Letter to National Grid | Letter to Eversource

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) urged National Grid and Eversource, the primary gas and electric companies serving communities in Massachusetts, to issue an immediate moratorium on utility shutoffs for households impacted by the government shutdown, including federal workers, federal contractors, and the people who depend on them.

The Congresswoman’s letters come as the Republican-manufactured government shutdown has caused the more than 45,000 dedicated federal workers in the Commonwealth—most of whom reside in the Massachusetts 7^th Congressional District—to miss paychecks and be left without the ability to pay their utility bills. The Congresswoman’s letters also follow Governor Maura Healey’s first-of-its kind, comprehensive review of gas and electric rates and charges to identify ways to lower customer costs.

“For no fault of their own, federal workers and contractors are missing wages and may be unable to pay their utility bills,” the Congresswoman wrote in her letters. “Terminating service due to nonpayment translates to a lack of heat, electricity, internet, and other essentials. A disruption in service will undoubtedly disrupt learning for kids, diminish resources for elders, and endanger the health and safety of entire families.”

In her letters, Congresswoman Pressley called on Eversource and National Grid to continue all utility services and offer a payment deferral program to households impacted by the ongoing government shutdown. She emphasized that such a program should not require a down payment, nor should it carry interest or fees, to fully mitigate the financial burden.

“In moments of financial hardship, your customers need relief, not greater strain,” Congresswoman Pressley continued in her letters. “Tens of thousands of federal workers, federal contractors, and people who depend on them should not be punished for their commitment to serving our nation. Instead, they should be rewarded with compassion, understanding, and flexibility.”

A copy of the letter sent to National Grid is available here, and to Eversource is available here.

Amid the Republican-manufactured government shutdown, Rep. Pressley has continued to fight to defend healthcare, reopen the government, and protect federal workers and the essential services they provide.

• Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning Republicans after they chose to shut down the government rather than work with Democrats to protect families and save healthcare for millions.
• Just days into the government shutdown, Rep. Pressley held an emergency convening in Boston to highlight the harm of the shutdown to MA-07 constituents – federal workers, patients, advocates, and more.
• Amid government shutdown, Rep. Pressley and Senator Tina Smith reintroduced bill to provide back pay for federal contract workers, including low-wage food service and janitorial staff.
• Just hours before the Republicans shut down the government, Rep. Pressley rallied with advocates, colleagues, and impacted folks to demand Republicans protect healthcare and keep the government open
• Congresswoman Pressley stood in solidarity with workers and families who would be impacted by the government shutdown.
• Rep. Pressley also joined an all-day event with House Democrats to hold the line against Trump and Republicans’ efforts to rip away healthcare from millions of Americans.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) released the following statement in response to reports of a serious incident involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Oxnard.

“I have received deeply concerning reports about an aggressive ICE activity that escalated into a vehicle collision in an Oxnard neighborhood. This situation raises serious alarm given the troubling pattern of misconduct and abuse by immigration enforcement officials across the country.

“The lack of transparency and accountability from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE only further undermines public trust and makes our communities unsafe. The public deserves clear answers about what occurred. The continued silence from the responsible agencies only deepens concern and erodes confidence in their ability to operate safely and legally in our communities.

“No agency, including ICE, is above the law and the use of excessive force should never be tolerated. My office is actively monitoring this situation, and I will continue working closely with state and local officials to ensure the rights, safety, and well-being of every Ventura County resident are protected.”

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Issues: 119th Congress, Immigration, Local Issues

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

Democrats are fighting back against Donald Trump and Republicans’ ‘Big Ugly Law,’ which guts Medicaid by $1 trillion, and are calling on Republicans to negotiate a bipartisan funding bill that protects Americans’ health care
Rep. Pete Aguilar recently held a press conference at the San Bernardino Adult Day Health Care Center in partnership with the California Association of Adult Day Services to highlight how Donald Trump and Republicans’ policies to gut health care threaten adult day services and health care for seniors and people with disabilities in the Inland Empire. Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, covers 100 percent of the program participants’ care at San Bernardino Adult Day Health Care Center, which includes meals, access to preventive care and a space to socialize. Congressional Democrats are fighting to protect health care centers like these from Republican budget cuts and are calling on Republicans to fix the health care crisis they created with their Big Ugly Law. 
“Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have launched an all-out attack on the health care of seniors and adults with disabilities in the Inland Empire,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “For the people who depend on adult day services at places like the San Bernardino Adult Day Health Care Center, Medicaid isn’t just health insurance—it’s a lifeline that allows them to live with independence and dignity. Republican cuts to health care could force those who rely on adult day services into nursing homes or long-term care facilities, and that’s only if they can afford it. Democrats in Congress are fighting back against these harmful Republican cuts and are working to pass a bipartisan government funding bill that protects health care for people in the Inland Empire and across the country.”
“These historic Medicaid cuts create new uncertainties about the sustainability of thousands of Adult Day Health Care centers (ADHCs) across the country, including the more than 300 centers here in California that serve about 44,000 older and disabled Californians, rely almost entirely on Medi-Cal funding, and are also known as Community Based Adult Services (CBAS) centers,” said Brian Rutledge, Executive Director of the California Association of Adult Day Services. “The billions and billions of dollars that the White House is taking away from Medicaid – which we call Medi-Cal here in California – will make it harder to continue supporting our most vulnerable loved ones, especially those with dementia, developmental disabilities, and other chronic medical conditions.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

October 16, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) sent a letter to President Trump, along with 28 of their colleagues, expressing grave concerns regarding his executive order Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization and the related memorandum Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence, also known as NSPM-7, and demanding they be immediately rescinded.

These directives dangerously conflate constitutionally protected speech and political dissent with terrorism. The memo specifically targets ideologies such as “anti-capitalism,” “anti-Christianity,” and “hostility toward those who hold traditional American views,” raising serious First Amendment, due process, and civil liberties concerns.

“While protecting public safety and countering genuine threats are essential responsibilities of government, the sweeping language and broad authority in these directives pose serious constitutional, statutory, and civil liberties risks, especially if used to target political dissent, protest, or ideological speech,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Your memo uses ideologically charged language (e.g., “hostility toward those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality”) that invites enforcement based on an individual’s personal opinions or political beliefs rather than any objective concern for public safety,” the lawmakers continued. “This approach threatens our constituents’ civil liberties. Regardless of whether the President agrees with someone’s political views, the Constitution guarantees their right to speak and assemble peacefully.”

“The memo also characterizes ‘anti-capitalism’ as a hallmark of violent behavior without explaining the term,” the lawmakers go on to say. “This omission allows officials to potentially treat Americans as domestic terrorists for something as routine as organizing a local boycott or operating an employee-owned business. That lack of clarity threatens to chill lawful activism and punish economic alternatives.”

“Additionally, the memo’s inclusion of “anti-Christianity” as a concern implies that criticism of Christian doctrines or institutions may qualify as violent behavior,” the lawmakers continued. “This framing conflicts with the Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom and its prohibition against government favoritism toward any faith. Non-Christian religious communities, secular groups, and individual dissenters all have the right to express disagreement with religious doctrines without being treated as threats…Labeling criticism as “anti-Christian” would silence their voices and deter Americans from exercising their rights. This risk becomes especially acute if enforcement shifts from protecting religious freedom to penalizing dissent from certain traditions.”

“While the threat of political violence demands vigilance, your administration must not use this moment to undermine the very constitutional and democratic principles we are sworn to uphold. These actions are illegal, and we demand you immediately rescind both the memorandum and the executive order. We stand ready to take legislative action should you fail to do so,” the lawmakers concluded.

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

The list of signers include: Mark Pocan (WI-02), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andre Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Danny Davis (IL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Jesus Garcia (IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), John Larson (CT-01), Summer Lee (PA-12), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

Endorsing Organizations: American Atheists, American Humanist Association, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Amnesty International, Council for Global Equality, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, Immigration Equality, MPact Global Action, National Women’s Law Center, Secular Coalition for America

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (CA-08) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and 163 other lawmakers, in urging Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to follow the Employee Fair Treatment Act – which was passed and signed into law by Trump in 2019 – that requires furloughed federal employees to receive back pay during a government shutdown.

Despite this explicit law, President Trump and Director Vought have continued to bully and target our dedicated federal workforce, including by threatening to illegally withhold back pay after the shutdown ends.

“During the 2018-2019 shutdown, we worked with President Trump to enact the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019, the intent of which is clear – federal employees are entitled to retroactive pay in the event of a government shutdown. We applauded President Trump for signing this bipartisan bill into law,” the members wrote.

“The law is clear: all impacted government employees, regardless of excepted or furloughed status, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends, which is consistent with the guidance currently provided by federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM),” the members wrote. “OPM’s shutdown guidance from September 2025 still states that furloughed federal workers will be provided back pay once the government reopens.”

The members continued, “The decision by OMB to remove critical guidance on federal employee back pay is causing unnecessary stress for the federal workforce comprised of nearly 2.2 million employees.”

“We request you immediately clarify and update the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations Document and other relevant materials to affirm that furloughed employees will receive back pay, as is required by law,” the members concluded.  

In addition to Garamendi, Kaine, Murkowski, Beyer, and Hoyer, the letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

It is also cosigned by U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Janelle Bynum (D-OR-05), André Carson (D-IN-07), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Shomari Figures (D-AL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Jesús García (D-IL-04), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), Pablo Hernández (D-PR-01), Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Val Hoyle (D-OR-4), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Bill Keating (D-MA-09), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), John Larson (D-CT-01), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Susie Lee (D-NV-03), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Lucy McBath (D-GA-06), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), James McGovern (D-MA-02), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Robert Menendez (D-NJ-08), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Frank Mrvan (D-IN-01), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD-02), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Luz Rivas (D-CA-29), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13), Mark Takano (D-CA-39), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07), James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).

The official letter from lawmakers is available here.

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