Target: Chuck Grassley, President pro tempore of Senate
Goal: Support independence of agencies that provide services and oversight on behalf of the American people.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) – an independent agency serving the people – is preparing for a takeover attempt by the Trump administration. If the takeover happens, the current leaders of the service would be fired. The country’s mail service would fall then under the control of the Department of Commerce and would likely become privatized.
Critics of the move warned of consequences for Americans in a letter to the newly appointed Secretary of Commerce: “Your reported plans for the Postal Service would put at risk the timely, affordable delivery of life-saving medications, mail-in ballots, important financial documents, and letters from loved ones, especially in rural or less-profitable areas that the private sector refuses to service…would raise rates, close post offices and profit from what is property owned by the American people.” During his first term, the president had reportedly mulled ending the post office’s universal service obligation, which requires daily mail delivery for all Americans.
The planned takeover of the USPS is part of a broader effort from this administration to seize control of independently operated agencies. The president recently signed an executive order granting the executive branch control over multiple autonomous agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission. Under the order, agencies granted independence by Congress will be beholden to the “standards and objectives” set forth by one person: the president.
This administration is quickly forgetting that America is a functioning democracy, not a dictatorship. Sign the petition below to demand Congress fulfill its obligation to provide an essential check and balance to overreaching executive power.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Grassley,
American democracy is built on the idea of three separate yet equal branches of government. In just one week’s time, the president has stepped all over this centuries-old balance. A White House representative recently stated, “only the president or the attorney general can speak for the United States when stating an opinion as to what the law is.” This audacious statement occurred right around the time that the executive branch essentially declared itself the boss of America’s independent agencies: an independence granted by Congress.
The slew of likely unconstitutional executive orders did get one critical piece of information right: “For the Federal Government to be truly accountable to the American people, officials who wield vast executive power must be supervised and controlled.” Is this not the job of Congress to provide a crucial check and balance? Will you stand by and let the executive branch trample over the laws you created?
Or will you finally take a stand? Begin by backing and affirming the autonomy of America’s independent agencies that were designed by your predecessors to serve and protect the people, not the president. Nearly two-thirds of Americans already believe this president has overstepped his executive authority.
Don’t let this hard-won democracy dissolve into a dictatorship on your watch.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Ekaterina Belinskaya
2 Signatures