It's Time to Write Your Representatives - February 2025

There is significant turmoil in the United States due to the actions of the Trump administration and the rapid developments unfolding. Some of these actions are illegal and pose a constitutional crisis. I’ve created a template to help you clearly articulate your concerns to your representatives.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]

[Representative’s Name]

[Office Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]

Dear [Representative’s Name],

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding recent actions by the Trump administration and Elon Musk that I believe undermine the integrity of our government, threaten economic stability, and violate constitutional principles.

1. Unauthorized Access to Treasury Department’s Payment Systems

Recent reports indicate that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted access to the U.S. Treasury Department’s payment systems, which handle sensitive personal information and disburse trillions of dollars annually, including Social Security and Medicare benefits. This unprecedented access, traditionally reserved for non-political career officials, raises significant concerns about the security and privacy of citizens’ financial data.

Senator Ron Wyden has already raised concerns that Musk’s team may use this access to withhold or manipulate government payments, a potential abuse of power that must be investigated immediately.
Read more here

2. Conflict of Interest: Musk’s Role at DOGE and Government Contracts

Musk’s appointment to DOGE while his companies, including SpaceX, Tesla, and The Boring Company, hold billions of dollars in government contracts represents a severe conflict of interest. Allowing an individual with extensive financial ties to federal contracts to oversee government efficiency, budget allocations, and payments creates an environment ripe for self-dealing and corruption.

This conflict raises urgent questions:

These concerns demand an immediate ethics review and strong congressional oversight to ensure that federal decision-making remains impartial and free from corporate influence.

3. Suspension and Potential Dismantling of USAID

The administration has frozen foreign aid programs and is reportedly attempting to merge USAID into the State Department, effectively eliminating its autonomy. This move may violate the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which prohibits the executive branch from unilaterally withholding congressionally allocated funds.

This disruption to critical humanitarian aid efforts harms international stability and further erodes congressional authority over budgetary matters.
Read more here

4. Harmful Economic Impact of Tariffs on Everyday Americans

The administration’s new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China will have devastating consequences for middle- and lower-class Americans. These policies will:

Tariffs function as a hidden tax on consumers, with corporations passing increased costs down to everyday Americans. At a time of economic uncertainty, these policies will hurt working families the most while providing little benefit.

What I Urge You to Do

As my elected representative, I ask that you:

Congress must exercise its oversight responsibilities to uphold the rule of law, prevent unethical behavior, and ensure economic policies do not disproportionately harm the most vulnerable citizens.

Thank you for your time and attention to these urgent matters. I look forward to your response and to learning about the actions you will take to address these concerns.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone Number]