This week, we tragically lost 67 souls in an aircraft collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C. My heart goes out to the loved ones of the victims of this terrible crash, including former Mahtomedi resident Wendy Jo Shaffer. Our nation is grateful for the heroic first responders who remain onsite at Reagan National Airport to complete the recovery mission and investigate the accident.

This was the most devastating aviation incident in the United States since 2009, and we must ensure that it never happens again. I strongly condemn the irresponsible and baseless comments by President Trump exploiting this this accident for political gain. Senior U.S. military and aviation officials must be allowed to complete a thorough investigation to understand what happened and learn from this tragedy.

The Chaos of Trump’s Second Week
President Trump told the American people that he wanted to be a dictator on day one. Now in office, he is behaving like one. He and his administration are taking illegal and unconstitutional actions that directly threaten Americans’ economic, personal, and national security.

Exactly one week into the Trump Administration, the Office of Management and Budget directed all agencies to illegally seize the American taxpayer’s money by freezing federal funding, grants, and financial assistance.

If it was the Trump administration’s intention to sow chaos, confusion, and panic with this action, they are achieving their goal. I’ve heard from seniors concerned about losing their heating assistance, community health centers preparing to lay off doctors and nurses, and families concerned about losing food assistance. I commend Federal District Court Judge AliKhan’s January 28th order to pause the irrational, incompetent, and illegal actions by President Trump. Following this judge’s intervention, the Trump Administration rescinded their unconstitutional memo. However, this only stopped the immediate threat. His original executive orders remain in place, which have a negative impact on all government agencies and contracts, leaving Americans with more confusion, more chaos, and more questions about the impact on services they expect and deserve. 

Make no mistake: President Trump will try again to halt federal funding for key services that the American people rely on.

In addition to introducing this illegal and unconstitutional memo, the Office of Personnel management sent an email titled "fork in the road," offering to buy-out employees who resign. Besides the illegal nature of this email, there are further worries the effect this email has on staffing levels. With federal employees already overworked and agencies underfunded before the move to push people out, this will only harm the “customer service” federal employees provide to our constituents.

Project 2025 is the instruction manual, and the White House is following it step-by-step. While President Trump is unrelenting in single-handedly withholding federal resources passed by Congress for American families, I will work to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the land, which give Congress the lead role in directing federal investments.

What I’m Doing About President Trump’s Illegal and Unconstitutional Actions
On January 28th, I joined 150 of my colleagues in a letter demanding the White House details which infrastructure and energy projects they plan to stall. I am working with my colleagues in Congress and the Appropriations Committee to uncover the impact of the Trump executive orders that were the basis for the illegal funding freeze. My office is in contact with the office of Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan, and my staff are in contact with impacted organizations in Minnesota as well as agencies that will be affected by President Trump’s executive orders. We are reaching out to federal liaisons, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders.

Every elected official has a duty to the American people to uphold and defend the Constitution, and as your representative I am committed to standing up to this lawless theft of taxpayer funds.

Mariner Middle School Visit

On Tuesday, I joined Principal Christine Pierre for a visit to Mariner Middle School in White Bear Lake, where I was able to tour their recently renovated building, visit classrooms, and meet with staff. Good public schools are the foundation of a strong democracy.

 

 

As a former teacher, I believe that good public schools are the foundation of a strong democracy. It was heartening to see the great work being done by Mariner Middle School’s teachers and faculty to prepare these young students for success.

Meeting with East Metro Superintendents and Mayors
On Wednesday, I met with superintendents and Fourth District mayors about their priorities. These public servants deliver on the needs of our communities, and I am committed to working to ensure our federal tax dollars return to Minnesota for our schools and local infrastructure projects.

School administrators and local officials are working to create safe and welcoming spaces for students and all residents, and my office remains ready to support and protect the Constitutional rights of all Minnesotans.

Continuing to Build Minnesota's National Security Ecosystem
This week I addressed the launch event for the Minnesota National Security Ecosystem. Here in the North Star state, we have extraordinary talent and ingenuity spurring job growth and economic vitality. A growing ecosystem of innovators in our higher education and small business community is driving exciting breakthroughs that are contributing to both our national security and our economic security.

 

In Congress I serve as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense with the responsibility to allocate over $800 billion in federal funding for our national security. It is truly exciting to see Minnesotans play a growing role helping to defend our nation, and at the same time, creating jobs and growing our economy here at home.  Our economy and our supply chains are integral to the national security of our country.

Passport Renewal
If you plan to travel internationally this year, remember to check your passport expiration date. Some countries will not allow you to enter if your passport is not valid for six months past your travel date. Learn about your destination’s entry requirements and how to apply or renew your passport by visiting the Department of State website.

 

The IRS announced Jan 27^th as the start of the 2025 tax filing season. Free file is now open! Visit the IRS website to see if you are eligible for other free preparation and filing options.