Rep. Smith Statement on Trump Presidency, One Month Into Trump’s Second Term
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement:
"It has been a month of President Trump 2.0. and his chaotic, and often illegal, cuts to the federal workforce and federal funding raise legitimate concerns about a possible autocratic takeover of the United States government.
"I don’t come to this conclusion lightly. The Trump Administration has acted in clear violation of the law and the Constitution. The President unilaterally decided not to spend money that Congress has appropriated – which is blatantly illegal. He has fired dozens of inspectors general, who are meant to be non-partisan checks on executive power. He is cutting funding for cancer research, school meals, nuclear safety, and environmental protections. Elon Musk and his DOGE team are falsifying government records to artificially increase the amount of money that DOGE claims to have saved taxpayers. These actions of Trump and billionaire Elon Musk are the most profound threats to the representative democracy that I have seen in my lifetime.
"Just this week, I met with folks in Washington who run Head Start programs and workforce development programs who have been impacted by Trump’s funding cuts directly. Musk and Trump’s DOGE efforts are not improving government efficiency; they’re putting up roadblocks for groups to get the funding they’ve been promised by law.
"We must push back against Trump and Musk to effectively preserve our democratic form of government.
"Congress must hold the Trump Administration accountable using every tool in our toolbox. The U.S. Senate must aggressively challenge Trump nominees and vote “no” on confirming any nominees who are more loyal to Trump than the U.S. Constitution. The House must stand as a united front against the proposed budget plans that would grant tax cuts to billionaires at the expense of schools, childcare, and health care research. Congressional democrats have a real opportunity to fight for working families this March as Trump and his loyalists try to pass a budget.
"We must also recognize that we have room to grow as a Democratic Caucus. Congressional Democrats must offer a strong alternative to Trump and Musk with policies that prioritize the working class, like affordable housing, reliable childcare, and accessible health care. We must be present and active in our communities, both virtually and in-person and we must listen to the needs and concerns of our constituents.
"Since January 20, 2025, constituents of Washington’s Ninth have flooded my office with phone calls, emails, and letters sharing their concerns about Donald Trump’s actions as President of the United States. In the two Virtual Town Halls I’ve hosted so far, over 20,000 constituents attended to hear updates. I am impressed by the active engagement from constituents across the Ninth District and I encourage everyone to continue expressing their concerns far and wide.
"I know that my community, and communities across the nation, are looking for guidance and leadership in this difficult time. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to challenge the Trump Administration congressionally. It is my greatest honor to serve my community in Congress, and nothing will stop the work of House Democrats and I to protect our democracy from the sledgehammer that President Trump wields."
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