Congress is currently finalizing their remaining spending bills. It’s necessary that they reassert their “power of the purse” by adding legally binding language to prevent Donald Trump from rescinding or freezing Congressionally approved funds again or gutting key agencies in pending appropriations legislation.

Last year, Donald Trump and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought cancelled or froze more than $410 billion in funding for programs, including $250 million for school-based mental health grants (impacting over 200 programs in 30 states), $500 million from the Emergency Food Assistance Program, $311 million to develop preschool programs, and $70 million from legal services that help unaccompanied children. The administration withheld $6 billion in education and afterschool funding last summer―but after advocates spoke out across the country, a group of Republican Senators demanded the funding get released.

Thanks to our efforts, a nationwide outcry, and legal action, most of the earlier withheld funding was released back to communities, but the threat of impoundment remains―and it is critical that Congress stand up against the administration’s attacks on key programs in the Departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, and beyond.

Congress cannot stand by while executive agencies bypass or disregard bipartisan Congressional spending bills. Instead, Congress must assert its constitutional authority and strengthen safeguards in pending appropriations legislation to stop the administration from gutting vital services.

Click “Start Writing” to send a message to Congress demanding they assert their constitutional authority over the power of the purse.