Letter of the Week: When you’re back from vacay, Congress, do your job
“America’s 435 House of Representatives started their summer recess on July 25 while our 100 Senators’ recess began on Aug. 4; everyone will return to DC on Sept. 2.
This four to five-week respite should give our elected delegates time to reflect on their achievements since President Donald Trump’s 2.0 administration started on Jan. 20. And hopefully the break will give our legislators time to consider how they’ve come up short in representing their 340 million constituents by honoring the principles of the US Constitution, which they took an oath to uphold and defend. …
1) Trump signed multiple Executive Orders (EO) directing agencies to pause or redirect funds that were explicitly appropriated by Congress. Such actions violate the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act, which prohibits the president from unilaterally withholding congressionally allocated funds. Congressional response: nothing.
2) Trump fired 17 Inspector Generals in the first week of 2.0 without
providing—as mandated by law—the required 30-day notice and case-specific reasons to Congress. Congressional response: silence.
3) Trump issued a series of EOs asserting powers that contradict or
bypass federal statutes, such as border enforcement, birthright citizenship, and instructing the Department of Justice not to enforce TikTok’s ownership.
Congressional response: sound of crickets.
4) Trump signed EOs to place independent agencies—such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Communications Commission, and Federal Trade Commission—under his control and shut down USAID, bypassing congressional intent and defunding programs authorized by law. Congressional response: nada, nil and naught.
5) In March, Trump issued an EO that many think undermines the
independence of the electoral process, intervening where only Congress and the 50 states have constitutional authority. Congressional response: diddly-squat.
6) Trump’s personal business entanglements and refusal to place assets in a blind trust violate the Emoluments Clauses of the Constitution, which our Congressional delegates have taken an oath to uphold. Congressional response: zip.
Back in February, Gallup noted only 29% of Americans approved of
Congressional endeavors. Not surprisingly, today, only 23% of Americans
approve of the way Congress is handling its job (news.gallup.com).
Congress’ do-nothing behavior—since Jan. 20—is more alarming as their inaction risks normalizing executive overreach, enables unchecked
presidential power, ignores laws, weakens democracy, and most assuredly reveals an autocratic dictatorship is not coming to America, it is here!
Congress: When you go back to work on Sept. 2, re-read your oath of office,
uphold the constitution, and do your job without personal or political evasion!“
— Steve Corbin, Professor Emeritus of Marketing, University of Northern Iowa
