I've been hearing from many of you about the recent federal actions regarding funding and personnel changes. I’ve collected the relevant information available and want to keep you all informed.

First and foremost, I strongly oppose the immoral and illegal actions taken by President Trump. His executive orders and harmful rhetoric have no place in the fabric of our nation. His threatening stance on federal funding, his attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and his crusade against public employees goes far beyond what should be tolerated.

These constant attacks on our democracy and American values will have profound and long-lasting consequences. It’s crucial that we stand united and push back against these harmful actions.

Shortly after taking office, President Trump began signing a series of executive orders ranging from closing the Department of Education and tying federal funding for education to eliminating DEI (Diversity, Education, and Inclusion), to the mass layoff of all "probationary" federal employees. Toss in a heaping tablespoon of unqualified cabinet picks, and a rash of social media posts about ignoring our courts, and now the whole world is standing on a pin as our foreign policy takes a disturbing turn.

On February 18th I had the opportunity to share an email on the House floor from a constituent who was a Weed Scientist at the ASDA-ARS Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis. Someone who was terminated "based on performance" despite receiving high performance reviews.

On February 19th, Dayne Galash protested his firing on FOX 12 Oregon as the District Botanist at the Emigrant Creek Ranger Station, saying “All the federal workers and my former coworkers who are showing up every morning to serve their country at the ranger station are living in fear and they can’t come and talk to you guys about this so somebody’s got to."

These stories are horrific, and there are many more out there. My office has received emails from constituents who are only speaking on condition of anonymity, because they are afraid of what our President and his supporters will do to them. This simply cannot be accepted.

It's difficult to keep track of all the changes that President Trump is mandating, but one that affects me directly is the attack on funding for medical research.

Rutgers University Professor Todd Wolfson, the president of the American Association of University Professors, had this to say in a recent article "They are making America sick again. They will have drastic effects on all of us. This is not hyperbole. This is fact." Wolfson said the spending reductions will have untold implications for generations. Some funding has been put on hold because it mentions "diversity," or "climate change," while other research is interrupted because federal agencies have stopped communicating or have canceled meetings.

Trump Team Dismantles Efforts to Find a Cure for Cancer and Other Deadly Disorders and Diseases

With the cutting of research funding, we will lose new screening methods, treatment advances, and the lives of the people they could save. 

Medical research is not an inefficient use of taxpayer dollars. It saves lives. 

Labeling life-saving science and research as "waste" is short-sighted and could cost patients, like me, a chance at a full life.

What Are We Doing About It?

Many levels of Oregon's government are taking an "all hands on deck" approach to the tsunami of executive orders. From Governor Kotek to Attorney General Rayfield, and from Senator Merkley to Representative Val Hoyle, we are all working to protect Oregonians.

Here a few ways that we are fighting back:

• Oregon and 13 other states sued on February 13th, challenging the unlawful delegation of executive power to Elon Musk. The lawsuit argues that President Trump has exceeded his authority and violated the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution by creating a new federal department without Congressional approval.
• Oregon and 21 other states sued on February 10th to block President Trump's executive order to drastically slash National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding.
• Oregon and 19 other states challenged in court Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) ability to access Treasury Department databases containing citizens’ Social Security numbers and bank information.
• Attorney General Rayfield filed a “friend of the court” or amicus brief as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, to support a lawsuit aiming to block the implementation of President Trump’s executive order banning transgender people from serving in the military.
• Attorney General Rayfield, three physicians and Washington / Minnesota sued the Trump administration over an executive order cutting off federal funding to hospitals that provide gender affirming care.
• Attorney General Rayfield signed on to a multi-state lawsuit challenging Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, which violates the constitutional rights of  all children born in the U.S..
• Watch Governor Kotek's January 28 press briefing on the federal funding pause.
• See official statement from State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner which includes the following: "Oregonians depend on federal funds to ensure public safety, keep early learning programs and schools open, deliver health care, support farms and small businesses, maintain roads, care for seniors and other vulnerable people, fight wildfires and more. These funds support thousands of jobs in Oregon. I am working with other state and congressional leaders to keep programs running and minimize any harms people across the state may experience. I call on the administration to immediately release these congressionally appropriated funds to Oregon and other states."
• Our federal delegation has been busy listening to Oregonians and bringing awareness to the extreme acts from this president. These are just a few of the recent headlines from their efforts.
  • . "Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley addresses Trump policies at packed Clackamas town hall".
  • "Thousands pack Wyden town halls over uncertainty in DC"
  • Val Hoyle says Trump and his supporters are 'trying to set up an imperial presidency'

If Your Job Has Been Affected

The Oregon Employment Department CAN help those who have been affected by the recent federal firings. The links to their resources are below:

• Guidance for federal employees - Federal workers | OED Unemployment Insurance
• How to apply for unemployment insurance benefits - How Do I File? | OED Unemployment Insurance
• Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook - Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook
• Frances Online for claimants - Home - Frances Online for Claimants
• Help for creating Frances Online account – videos, tips, how-to guides, Q&As, Frances Online | OED Unemployment Insurance
• Job seeker services - Job Seeker Services - WorkSource Oregon

Legislative Update

In the legislature we are stepping in to put policies in place to protect Oregon as we are able. We also remain focused on governing. House Democrats are working on the most pressing issues facing Oregonians: making Oregon more affordable, ensuring our government is delivering for people, and keeping our communities safe while protecting basic rights and freedoms.

My Task Force bill on addressing the future of Coffin Butte has been filed and is now House Bill 3794. After spending time lobbying my colleagues on this issue, I'm excited by the amount of interest that both sides of the aisle are showing. Stay tuned for the opportunity to testify on behalf on this important bill.

On February 24th, I testified in support of increasing the methane monitoring at Oregon landfills. Watch my testimony and the hearing here.