FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
PRESS CONTACT:
esperanza@focalpointstrategygroup.com
Washington, D.C. — Today, February 25, former U.S. Representative Dan Bishop will appear before the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs for consideration of his nomination by President Trump to serve as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under the leadership of Russell Vought, OMB has illegally and unconstitutionally frozen funding of federal grant programs, causing widespread harm across the country. The last thing OMB needs is another Trump devotee who will disregard the Constitution to push the president’s imperial agenda at the expense of the American people.
Congressional Republicans already ceded their authority over the “power of the purse” with their approval of Russell Vought’s nomination. The American people deserve transparency regarding Bishop’s role in the funding freezes that have affected farmers, child care providers, essential research, and religious organizations across the nation. The Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs has a responsibility to thoroughly assess Bishop’s nomination, especially given the risks it poses to our system of checks and balances by advancing yet another Trump loyalist who prioritizes loyalty to the president over the needs of the American people.
As Dan Bishop goes before the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs today, here are five questions he needs to answer:
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During your time as a U.S. Representative, you claimed that the Administration had violated the Impoundment Control Act with respect to its border wall funding pause. How is it that the previous Administration violated the ICA then, but the current Administration is not violating the ICA now? Does the Administration have any plans to send Congress a special message for its rescission plans in accordance with the Impoundment Control Act?
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There are reports of Senators in the majority party who have bragged about their ability to get grant funding in their states released after making phone calls to the Administration. The Washington Post reports that Members are “begging” for funding to be released. Have you ever received a phone call from a Member of Congress or their staff about releasing funds that your office has frozen? You are under oath.
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What is the protocol for Members of Congress to interact with the Administration to highlight the harms of the federal funding freeze and the importance of releasing these funds that were duly enacted by Congress? I have funds in my state that I would like to see released. Whom do I need to talk to? Or is it only Republicans who can get funding in their states released?
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As a U.S. Representative, you served on the House’s Select Committee on the Weaponization of Government. Do you agree that an Administration that freezes federal funds in Democrats’ districts while allowing funds in Republicans’ districts to flow freely would be the epitome of a weaponized government for partisan political purposes?
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Should a future Democratic Administration be able to pick-and-choose by partisan political interest what federal funding flows to programs in Congressional districts such that Republicans’ federal grants are not funded, but those of Democrats’ grant programs are funded?