John,
Donald Trump is blatantly overstepping constitutional boundaries, stretching executive power beyond any limits, and intentionally threatening the core of democracy.
Despite reports suggesting he lifted the federal funding freeze, the White House has confirmed that while the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo was rescinded, the freeze itself remains firmly in place. This calculated move is designed to confuse and mislead the public while ensuring the far-reaching harms remain intact.
Less than 10 days since his inauguration, the funding freeze is already just one in a series of unconstitutional overreaches:
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Denying the constitutionally defined right to birthright citizenship, he is unlawfully attempting to deny citizenship to children born in America of undocumented immigrants.
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The ICE immigration raids have already begun, violating due process and targeting non-criminal individuals of color, with and without documentation.
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He has unlawfully removed inspectors general to block any kind of independent oversight.
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And illegally fired career civil servants at the Department of Justice as retribution for prosecuting the criminal cases against him and as just the first step in what will likely be a blatant purge of anyone unwilling to comply with the intended weaponization of the department against his enemies.
Immediate action is needed to prevent Trump from entrenching his grip on power. Send a direct message to your governor and your members of Congress to stop these unconstitutional actions by any means possible before it’s too late.
Trump’s intentions are clear. He has nominated Russell Vought -- chief author of Project 2025 -- to lead the Office of Management and Budget. In this central position, Vought will control federal funding, deciding where to allocate resources and what to unlawfully withhold, setting the stage for even more extreme, targeted, and difficult-to-reverse actions.
The plan is to strip critical programs of funding, consolidate power, and retaliate against political opponents, all while pushing the boundaries of executive authority to make future challenges nearly impossible. Each successful breach of legal limits emboldens his administration to go further, eroding both legal and political safeguards. If these abuses are not stopped now, they will escalate, making it increasingly difficult to rein them in.
Congress and state Governors must take immediate action to counter these unlawful maneuvers. Governors have the authority to resist Trump’s unconstitutional directives through legal challenges, refusal to cooperate, and blocking federal overreach -- including deploying the National Guard and mobilizing local law enforcement to shield communities from unlawful immigration raids.
Congress must use every available tool, from oversight powers and subpoenas to emergency legislation, to halt Trump’s lawlessness before it becomes institutionalized. Even without bipartisan support, Democrats can hold hearings and investigate these abuses, exposing them before they become irreversible.
We have never had a president who has so directly attacked the pillars of our democratic system. Send a direct message to Congress and your Governor to protect our constitutional democracy by any means necessary now.
Help our nation survive this fundamental crisis.
- DFA AF Team
