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Hi there,
Thank you to the many of you who joined my Tele-Town Hall earlier this month. It was valuable to hear your concerns and answer your questions.
Now, I'm pleased to invite you to join me in-person on Friday, April 4. Below, you'll find information to pre-register for my upcoming Town Hall event.
I've also included some federal updates and a poll question for you in this email.
As always, you can contact me on my website to share your views or ask questions - or get in touch with my office to open casework if I can be of any assistance to you or your family.
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Sincerely, |
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Zoe Lofgren
Member of Congress |
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I'm hosting a Town Hall event on Friday, April 4, 2025 at 6:00pmPT, and I hope you can join me. I'll be discussing the House Republicans' budget bill (and the related threats to Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare), the recent Continuing Resolution, some of President Trump's Executive Orders, federal funding freezes, Elon Musk and so-called DOGE, tariffs, and more. I'll also be answering your questions live.
WHAT: Town Hall event with legislative updates, Q&A from attendees
WHEN: Friday, April 4 at 6:00pmPT
Do you support the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education?
Note: By participating in this survey, you are agreeing to receive emails.
| DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS UPDATES |
As you may know, I serve on the House Democratic Litigation Task Force. We are working with, coordinating, and/or following cases filed by outside groups and individuals against the Trump Administration. To date, more than 100 cases have been filed against the Administration’s harmful actions. So far, we’ve won most of them. Here are a few updates:
FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE: On Tues., Feb. 25, a federal district judge granted a preliminary injunction against the Administration’s efforts to freeze federal funding. The judge also blocked efforts to reinstate the freeze under a different name or method. On Thurs., Mar. 6, a second federal judge in Rhode Island blocked the Trump Administration’s funding freezes, stating they were unconstitutional. This injunction applies to the 22 states that filed the lawsuit, including California. On Tues., Mar. 18, a federal judge blocked an EPA freeze order on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants.
FIRINGS OF FEDERAL WORKERS: On Thurs., Feb. 27, a federal district judge ruled that OPM did not have authority to fire probationary employees. Following that decision, on Tues., Mar. 4, OPM revised their original unlawful memo but, notably, did not call for the reinstatement of fired employees. On Weds., Mar. 5, the Merit Systems Protection Board ordered the USDA to temporarily reinstate nearly 6,000 employees who had been fired for 45 days while an investigation is conducted. (I am pleased to let you know that this reinstatement included my guest to Trump's Joint Address to Congress. He is now reporting back to his office.) Additionally, on Weds. Mar. 12, a Maryland federal judge suggested he would order that fired federal workers temporarily get their jobs back, and, on Thurs. Mar. 13, a California federal district judge ordered that thousands of fired federal employees be reinstated. On Tues., Mar. 18, the Trump Administration announced it was moving to reinstate 24,000 fired workers. However, many have been placed on administrative leave instead of being fully reinstated.
FOREIGN AID: On Weds., Mar. 5, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Administration’s request to withhold payments for foreign-aid contractors and non-profits for work that had taken place before USAID was dismantled. On Mon., Mar. 10, a federal district judge ruled that the Administration’s USAID funding freeze was unconstitutional and ordered that existing USAID contracts and grants be paid through Feb. 13. On Tues., Mar. 18, a federal judge ruled that actions taken by Musk/DOGE to dismantle USAID were unconstitutional and blocked DOGE from making further cuts.
DOGE ACCESS TO RECORDS: On Mon., Feb. 24, a federal district court judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Administration and so-called DOGE from disclosing personal information within the U.S. Department of Education. On Fri., Mar. 7, a federal district judge declined to block DOGE from accessing Treasury data. On Thurs., Mar. 20, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order barring Musk/DOGE from having access to Social Security Administration data.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: On Mon., Mar. 24, a coalition of educators, school districts, and unions filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump Administration from shuttering the Department of Education and executing mass layoffs.
ALIEN ENEMIES ACT: On Sat., Mar. 15, a federal district judge ordered the planes to be turned around after Trump signed an proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. On Sun., Mar. 16, the U.S. Department of Justice appealed the decision. On Sun., Mar. 23, Trump called for the judge to be disbarred. On Mon., Mar. 24, the judge refused to dissolve his order.
| (DESPICABLE) QUOTE OF THE WEEK |
I implore all Republicans to join Democrats in stopping Trump, Dudek, and Musk from shutting down the Social Security Administration and stopping seniors and people with disabilities from getting their hard-earned benefits.
A s the Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I've been closely following the seemingly unlawful and unprecedented reductions in force at federal science agencies and seeking more information. Click here to review some of my statements and actions this month, including regarding the EPA, NOAA, NASA, DOE, NSF, DOC, and NSB.
The Science Committee is asking federal employees terminated from science-related agencies since January 20, 2025 to fill out a brief form on our website, as we survey the impact of the Trump Administration's actions and work to help public servants unfairly treated.
| COLLECTING CA-18 FUNDING INFO |
I am also still collecting information from nonprofits, organizations, local governments, individuals, and institutions in CA-18 that may be impacted by federal funding freezes.
Please fill out my form to report a pause in federal aid so my office can be in touch and do our best to ensure our communities receive all committed funding appropriated by Congress.
OFFICE LOCATIONS
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