Beatty Leads Hill Democrats in Two-Front Fight Against Trump’s Shutdown Tactics
Two Letters Press Trump Administration to Release $32B in Funds and Reverse Federal Firings
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Beatty – in a double-duty effort to condemn the Trump Administration’s abuse of power during the federal government shutdown – led two letters to Trump Cabinet officials demanding the release of critical infrastructure funding and the reversal of unlawful federal employee firings, for the American people.
Joined by 25 Members of Congress, Beatty sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought. The letter condemns the administration’s politically motivated freeze on $32 billion in critical infrastructure projects in Democratic-led states and cities, and demands the immediate release of funds that rightfully belong to the American people.
In a second letter to United States Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and OMB Director Vought, Beatty — Ranking Member of a House Financial Services Subcommittee and a longtime advocate for equitable access to financial services — denounced the Trump Administration’s decision to terminate all employees at the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, urging the reversal of those firings and calling for the Fund to continue its mission of expanding economic opportunity in underserved communities. Joining her in this letter was the Ohio Democratic House Delegation, Reps. Shontel Brown (OH-11), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Greg Landsman (OH-01), and Emilia Sykes (OH-13).
On the freeze of $32 billion in critical infrastructure projects
“These projects are not designed to benefit one party, but to improve our nation’s infrastructure, boost economic growth, and enhance quality of life for all Americans – regardless of political affiliation,” said Members in the letter. “Freezing these projects will only result in unnecessary delays, more congestion, and substantial job losses. President Trump and Director Vought think that these abuses are demonstrations of strength, but they only hurt Americans – many of whom voted for them – and hardens opposition to their lawless administration.”
On the attempted firings of employees of the CDFI Fund and abrupt shuttering of the Fund
“Despite the Fund’s historic bipartisan support and proven effectiveness, President Trump has made several attempts to undermine the Fund and is now using the government shutdown as cover to unlawfully fire all Fund staff, rendering it unable to fulfill its statutory obligations,” said Members in the letter. “…Abruptly shuttering the Fund threatens to undo all the gains achieved by the program in recent years and will only serve to limit access to affordable credit, small business loans, and mortgages for rural families, low-income households, and first-time homebuyers.”
The letter to Secretary Duffy and Director Vought, condemning the freeze in infrastructure funding, can be found HERE.
The letter to Secretary Bessent and Director Vought, advocating for the CDFI fund, can be found HERE.