Dear Neighbor, 

We witnessed disturbing developments regarding President Trump's ill-advised illegal War in Iran this week. Trump also announced his budget request, which is another reminder of how little he values the actual needs of the American people– amid ongoing affordability and energy crises of his own making. Next week, Congress will return to DC, and Democrats will fight to hold Trump and his cronies accountable, from the handling of the Epstein files to their actions in Iran. Part of my focus will be on hearings with the Budget and Appropriations Committees as we grill administration officials on the damage they continue to inflict on our nation.

On Tax Day, we'll be hearing from the President's Budget Director, Russell Vought, and I'll be grilling him on his horrendous Project 2025-inspired budget that cuts billions from vital programs working and middle-class Americans rely on while boosting the already inflated Pentagon budget by 42 percent. The next day, I'll be questioning HHS Secretary Kennedy and holding him accountable for the immense damage he has done to institutions meant to keep our nation healthy through his gutting of funding for health care research and grants, reversing policies rooted in decades of health science, and slashing the workforce at the FDA, CDC, and NIH.

In this week's E-Newsletter
1. Trump's Budget
2. Iran Update
3. Hybrid Office Hours

Trump's Budget
This week, Donald Trump released his budget, and it is horrendous.

President Trump officially requested $1.5 trillion in spending for the Pentagon next fiscal year, which would be the largest defense budget in U.S. history. This represents a 42% increase in defense spending over last year and a 137% increase from the time I first came to Congress in 2015. At the same time that the President is boosting taxpayer funding of his Defense Contractor buddies, he's proposing drastic cuts to programs that millions of working Americans benefit from.

Among these cuts is the complete elimination of Community Service Block Grants, which New Jersey uses for emergency housing, nutrition, and health services, senior services, and programs designed to promote self-sufficiency and job placement. They intend to cut billions from the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) which feeds 40-50% of children born in the United States and the complete elimination of the LIHEAP program which helps 5.9 million American households across the country (and 250,000 in New Jersey) heat their homes in the winter and cool them in the summer. The President's budget request also includes a 90% cut to workforce development programs like Job Corps, which prepares 16- to 24-year-olds for careers through career and technical education, enrollment in postsecondary education, and connection to employment opportunities.

Iran Update
On Tuesday, President Trump threatened Iran that "a whole civilization will die" if they refuse to bend to his demands. Between his threatening war crimes on Easter Sunday to threatening genocide 48 hours later, it is clearer than ever that he is panicking and unstable and must be removed from office.

That's why I called on his Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and stated that if the Cabinet won't act, Congress should begin impeachment proceedings. Yesterday, Democrats attempted to push through another vote on a War Powers Resolution to rein in Trump and reassert Congress's constitutional authority to decide if and when the United States can declare war. Unsurprisingly, Republicans blocked the attempt, once again ceding illegal and unprecedented power to the executive branch.

Hybrid Office Hours
Stop by during my Hybrid Office Hours on Thursday, May 7, from 11 am to 2 pm, at the Old Bridge Public Library or online. If you're having issues with a federal agency, my office is happy to assist you.