Not sure which letter this was in response to so posting on its own here:
Dear Rev. Arthur,
Thank you for contacting me regarding federal funding freezes under the Trump administration. I appreciate you taking the time to express your views. Hearing directly from Michiganders like you helps inform me of the issues that matter to our state. I am so grateful for your input.
Our Constitution established three co-equal branches of government with clear checks and balances. Congress determines how government funds should be allocated, the executive branch carries out these allocations according to the law, and the courts ensure the entire process happens according to the Constitution. Unfortunately, these funding freezes are just a few of many recent actions by the Trump Administration that exceed constitutional authorities.
As the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I take my constitutional oversight responsibilities seriously. While I support rigorous oversight of federal spending and eliminating waste and fraud in all federal programs, the current actions go far beyond legitimate executive authority. That is why I have opposed nominees who have shown a willingness to break the law by refusing to disburse funds that Congress passed, including denying disaster assistance to hurricane victims. It is our duty to maintain the separation of powers that has sustained our democracy for over two centuries.
These actions harm Michiganders by freezing funding for emergency preparedness and counterterrorism programs, clean water program, workforce development, and programs to support farmers. I am deeply concerned about what agencies or programs might be next on the chopping block, from disaster relief funding to services that Michigan seniors and families depend on. These actions hurt countless Americans, and it is our job to fight back. I have pushed the Trump Administration for answers on which programs are still frozen and to take steps to undo the illegal funding freezes.
Thank you again for contacting me. Please don’t hesitate to reach out again if there is something else you would like to share with me. I always enjoy hearing directly from Michiganders. For more information, please feel free to visit my website, http://www.peters.senate.gov, or find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @SenGaryPeters.
Sincerely,
Gary C. Peters
United States Senator