Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09) today blasted an announcement by the Trump administration that it is freezing all legal federal grants, a blatantly illegal act that will imperil the lives of countless Americans and violates the separation of powers foundational to the Constitution.
“In the dead of night, the Trump administration announced a gross power grab the likes of which we have never seen in the United States before,” said Congresswoman Pou. “On a practical level, the illegal freezing of spending passed into law will threaten the lives of cancer patients, halt life-saving medical research, block aid to small businesses, and kill disaster relief, among countless immediate negative impacts. The suffering this illegal act will cause Americans will be catastrophic. Far from a measure to lower costs, this action will raise the cost of living for millions of families across the country. More broadly, what the administration is trying to do is nothing less than a complete subversion of Congress and a declaration of war on America’s very constitutional order. This illegal act must be struck down by the courts and opposed by elected officials across our political system, especially House Republicans who helped enact and fund these programs.”
Pou joined her House Democratic colleagues on a letter sent yesterday demanding an itemized list of programs, projects, and activities that have been put on hold because of an earlier executive order unconstitutionally withholding the disbursement of funds included in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
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In a recent article published by Insider NJ, the publication reported on New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell Jr.’s response to President Trump’s recent power grab. Pascrell, who serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has been a vocal critic of the President’s actions and has been working tirelessly to hold him accountable.
The power grab in question refers to President Trump’s recent attempts to circumvent Congress and consolidate power within the executive branch. This includes his decision to declare a national emergency in order to secure funding for his long-promised border wall, as well as his efforts to bypass Congress in order to push through controversial policies.
In response to these actions, Representative Pascrell has been a leading voice in calling out the President’s abuse of power. In a statement to Insider NJ, Pascrell stated that “President Trump’s unprecedented power grab is a clear violation of the Constitution and a threat to our democracy. We cannot allow one man to undermine the will of the people and trample on the checks and balances that are meant to protect our democracy.”
Pascrell has also been working with his colleagues in Congress to push back against the President’s actions. He has co-sponsored legislation to block the President’s national emergency declaration and has called for hearings to investigate the legality of his actions.
In addition to his efforts in Congress, Pascrell has been using his platform to raise awareness about the dangers of unchecked executive power. He has been speaking out in the media and engaging with constituents to educate them about the importance of upholding democratic norms and holding elected officials accountable.
As the debate over President Trump’s power grab continues to unfold, it is clear that Representative Pascrell will continue to be a vocal advocate for transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. His dedication to upholding democratic values serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant in the face of threats to our democracy.
