Reject Trump’s Rescissions, 100+ Groups Say
WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 100 groups today called on Congress to reject the rescissions package proposed by President Donald Trump. The groups warned that the package attempts to establish a “veil of legitimacy” over unconstitutional actions that began more than 100 days ago and fails to address the illegal impoundment of more than $420 billion federal funds.
“Most centrally, we are deeply concerned about the devastating impacts to real people that have already resulted, and will continue to result, from the Trump Administration’s gutting of federal spending,” the letter reads. “Some of our own constituencies include people directly harmed by these spending cuts – from people around the world for whom access to foreign aid means life or death, to those at home whose access to critical public services could be shuttered, as popular and bipartisan programs like local PBS programming and PEPFAR are on the potential chopping block.”
Neither Congress, the Government Accountability Office, nor the public has sufficient information to conduct proper oversight of the administration’s funding decisions, including fully assessing Trump’s proposed rescissions. The Trump administration has illegally shuttered the Public Apportionments Database. Without access to this database, it is impossible to understand the full scope of how the administration apportioned funds appropriated by Congress, including any requirements or conditions imposed on agency spending.
“Congress should not go along with any part of the administration’s slash-and-burn approach, and thus must reject these proposed rescissions,” the letter concludes.