Action 22: DEPLORE Trump’s UNCONSTITUTIONAL funds freeze
Background: By now you have probably read or seen the basic facts surrounding the directive from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that illegally and immorally freezes TRILLIONS of dollars for many essential federal programs. This is called “impoundment’ and ithas been illegal since Nixon. We have long predicted that maintaining the Trump tax cuts for the rich would result in cuts in federal spending on programs that benefit those who aren’t rich.
This is the first tragic “shock and awe” manifestation of that power grab by the oligarchy. It’s right out of the playbook for fascist takeover of democracy.
The truly savage freeze of funding announced January 28 has been stopped for a few days by a judge, and there are lawsuits flying (including one joined by our Attorney General Aaron Frey) that contend that the freeze is an unconstitutional violation of Congress’ authority over the budget. Our representatives have cried foul; King has noted the action “...is the most direct assault on the authority of Congress, I believe in the history of the United States.” Even Susan Collins says the freeze is “too sweeping” (but she fails to mention that the executive branch -the President and his OMB henchmen - have no authority to freeze funds appropriated by Congress unless they follow a process defined in law, which they clearly did not, and she knows it). The language used by the OMB interim lackey is appalling and ridiculous: “The use offederal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars...” Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget. What planet does he live on?
With Trump promising not to cut the big ticket items of social security, medicare or defense, the rest of the budget is still at risk of devastation to pay for the tax cuts for billionaires, even when this current piece of gestapo clown car theatrics is boo’d off the stage.
Action: Call the Senators and Golden expressing your outrage at the actions by Trump and his cronies. Tell our representatives that you are counting on them to protect you and your loved ones. If you have a personal story to share, tell them how the funding freeze could affect you.
While you are at it, express your appreciation to Senator King for his full-throated denunciation of the scheme, and to Aaron Frey for joining the lawsuit by the state Attorneys General. Keep your remarks short and to the point.
Contact:
Attorney General Aaron Frey: attorney.general@maine.gov. 207-626-8800
Senator Collins (202) 224-2523 https://www.collins.senate.gov/contact/email-senator-collins
Senator King (202) 224-5344 https://www.king.senate.gov/contact
Representative Golden. ((202) 225-6306 https://golden.house.gov/contact
Urgency: If you want to weigh in to help stop this blatantly unconstitutional act by a would-be
dictator, NOW is the time. News reports say calls are having an effect!
Extra Credit:
Robert Hubbell, Joyce Vance, Heather Cox Richardson, Simon Rosenberg and others on Substack.
Hubbell‘s “Today’s Edition Newsletter” is particularly good this morning.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-funding-freeze-student-loans-snap-medicaid/
https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-orders-pause-all-federal-grants-loans-2025-01-28/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-freezes-federal-aid-americans-164919757.html
https://thehill.com/business/budget/5111899-trump-spending-freeze-capitol-hill/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/28/federal-grants-paused-project-2025
Try to find a picture of Matthew Vaeth online...good luck. He’s been with OMB for 27 years. Fall guy? Stalking horse?