Rachel, Nebraska

Dear Congressman Bacon:

I'm Rachel from Nebraska. I want to write you again about President Trump's freeze on federal spending in grants and loans. His executive order confused many lawmakers and Americans because it was too broad and not well thought out. Everyone was concerned how his freeze would impact necessary programs like Social Security, SNAP, Head Start, and Medicaid. Numerous organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court and reportedly, Democratic attorneys general are preparing to file a lawsuit. These lawsuits are challenging the legality of the spending pause. I want to write to you to challenge the morality of the spending pause.

I appreciate any lawmaker or government leader who wants to review government spending in order to improve efficiency of good governance. The sudden withholding of funding for government programs already approved by Congress is not good governance. The Nebraska Examiner reported on a memo from the OMB that lists off the programs that would be paused while it reviews which spending it deems appropriate. The list included, "The Department of Agriculture's tribal food sovereignty program, Head Start, the Veteran Affairs Department's suicide prevention and legal services grants, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program, and numerous sexual assault prevention programs within the DOJ".

How can suicide prevention and legal services for our veterans not be considered appropriate spending of the federal government's money? Should we not support our troops and veterans? How can programs to prevent sexual assault not be appropriate for the federal government to invest money? Low-income families cannot afford heating or cooling bills. Shouldn't the government invest money into programs that can temporarily assist these Americans? What message does it send to Americans that the federal government doesn't value the growth and development of American children from low income, needy families? It is unethical to remove the right of Indigenous communities to control and develop their foodways.

Americans and their government should have a decent working relationship with each other when it comes to federal programs. Americans should develop and practice self-reliance, but there are times and situations when Americans need temporary assistance from the government they support. Good governments invest in the wellbeing of its people, supporting them in good times and bad. A healthy citizenry leads to a healthy and robust government.

The president should not pause funding for programs before the government has reviewed the impact and effectiveness of the programs. What President Trump and the OMB did was unethical and immoral. Millions of American need these programs. Programs with funding approved by Congress should continue to be functional and funded while reviewed by bipartisan lawmakers. Functioning programs and ethically conducted program reviews will best serve Americans. Ripping away programs with without careful considerations of immediate and future impacts is immoral, stupid, and not a sign of good governance.

I urge you to say "No" to presidential impoundment. Please protect federal programs that benefit Nebraskans and all Americans. Please work on making our government ethical again.

Thank you for your service to our state. I look forward to seeing how you address this important issue.

Sincerely,

Rachel, NE