Irresponsible doesn’t even begin to describe it

One of the primary functions of our government is to ensure the safety of its citizens. It's an idea that's both implicit and explicit in our constitution. After all, it's rather hard to enjoy liberty and pursue happiness without the thing that's normally first on that list: life.

To that end, we've created agencies, like the National Weather Service/NOAA, Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), over the years whose entire purpose is to recognize threats to safety and work to prevent or help people recover from them.

Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has systematically attacked each and every one of these agencies and undermined their ability to keep us safe. The latest of their cuts is the most egregious yet: reassigning FEMA staff to work on ICE deportation work.

At a time when natural disasters are only getting more frequent and severe, Trump is choosing to prioritize a violent and unconstitutional deportation campaign over the recovery of cities and towns that have been hit hardest by storms and earthquakes.

Irresponsible doesn't even begin to describe that decision. Maybe reckless, malicious, or evil get closer.

By diverting crucial staff from FEMA to ICE, the Trump administration has shown that they remain committed to putting Americans in danger to further their agenda.

I find that unacceptable, and I think most people would agree. But Republicans in Congress are content to continue serving as a rubber stamp on the worst of this President's agenda. We need a Congress that is willing to conduct real oversight on the White House.

Yours in the fight,

Jim McGovern