(202) 224-3121

It's like a telethon, but for Democracy

(202) 224-3121 is the U.S. Capitol switchboard. Want to call Congress? This is the number.

What’s Going On

Over the past three weeks, people have been picking up the phone and calling their representative or senator to voice their discontent about Musk, Trump, and executive orders. The Washington Post reported:

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said the Senate’s phones were receiving 1,600 calls each minute, compared with the usual 40 calls per minute. Many of the calls she’s been receiving are from people concerned about U.S. DOGE Service employees having broad access to government systems and sensitive information. The callers are asking whether their information is compromised and about why there isn’t more transparency about what is happening, she said.

The article details reactions of various Senators to the calls they are receiving, some of them concerned, some of them dismissively blasé, like Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) who said DOGE is operating within the constraints of the constitution and added “We’ll be fine.”

Well as long as you say so!

The cracks are already showing. Politico is reporting that many Republican lawmakers are concerned, even as the party itself is thwarting every effort to bring Congressional accountability over Musk. CNN is reporting the same, discussing members of congress who are trying to advocate for wrongfully fired federal workers in their district.

I got asked by a follower on Instagram: “I want to call, but what should I say?” Well…

Some Disclaimers I’ll Make

I’m not a lawyer, I know as much about the constitution as any history buff and news reader, and I’m not schooled or experienced in activism or campaigning.

And because I’m a lowly denizen of the District of Columbia, I don’t have a voting member in Congress. We have a delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, who sits on committees but doesn’t have a vote. No representative. No senator.

I don’t have anyone to call.

Writing this newsletter and using my platform is a way for me to put my proverbial calls to Congress out into the world. Thank you, reader, for giving me space for this.

Some Advice I’ve Heard

This comes from my social media followers who have chimed in with their stories and experiences.

1 The most effective way to reach out to a member of Congress is to leave them with a question and have them answer it with a call or letter back.

2 If you are nervous about calling or afraid that they will be disrespectful of you, record the call on your phone. You can do this in the phone app on your phone. When the capitol switchboard picks up, start the recording and then ask for the member.

My questions

If I had a voting representative in Congress, this is what I would ask. And truly, I don’t know the answer to any of these questions, but members of Congress should.

Inspectors General

1. On January 24^th, Trump fired 17 inspectors general from federal agencies. Federal law states congress needs one month warning before firing an inspector general and case-specific details. Was this a violation of the law and how do you plan to address it?

2. On February 11th, Trump fired the inspector general of USAID one day after he released a report critiquing the administration’s actions. Federal law states congress needs one month warning before firing an inspector general and case-specific details. Was this a violation of the law and how do you plan to address it?

USAID

1. Trump has ordered a freeze on foreign aid through USAID, even though that aid has been voted on by Congress. Is this a violation of the Impoundment Control Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

2. Trump has ordered a freeze on foreign aid through USAID, even though that aid has been voted on by Congress. Is this a violation of Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

3. Trump has tried to furlough, fire, or place on leave workers at the USAID. Is this a violation of the Civil Service Reform Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

4. Trump has tried to furlough, fire, or place on leave workers at the USAID. Is this a violation of the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

5. Trump has tried to furlough, fire, or place on leave workers at the USAID. Is this a violation of the Administrative Leave Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

6. Trump has tried to furlough, fire, or place on leave workers at the USAID. Is this a violation of their collective bargaining agreement and by extension the National Labor Relations Act? If so how do you plan to address it?

CFPB

1. Trump has issued a “stop work order” for workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Is this a violation of the Civil Service Reform Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

2. Trump has issued a “stop work order” for workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Is this a violation of the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

3. Trump has issued a “stop work order” for workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Is this a violation of the Administrative Leave Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

4. Trump has issued a “stop work order” for workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Is this a violation of the Administrative Leave Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

5. Trump has issued a “stop work order” for workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Is this a violation of their collective bargaining agreement and by extension the National Labor Relations Act? If so how do you plan to address it?

6. Workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were barred from their office. Is there legal authority for this and if not how do you plan to address it?

Funding freezes

1. Trump has ordered a freeze on federal research grants or curtailed their size. Is this a violation of the Impoundment Control Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

Federal workers

1. Many federal workers, including those who work in diversity, equity, and inclusion, have been put on indefinite administrative leave. Is this a violation of the Administrative Leave Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

2. Federal employees have been offered a deferred resignation package that guarantees their pay through the end of the fiscal year. Is this a violation of the Antideficiency Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

3. Federal employees have been offered a deferred resignation package that guarantees their pay through the end of the fiscal year. Is this a violation of the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

4. Federal employees have been offered a deferred resignation package that guarantees their pay through the end of the fiscal year. Is this a violation of the Civil Service Reform Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

5. Federal employees have been told they need to return to the office for in-person work five days a week, even though some of them have flexible arrangements and hybrid work as part of their collective bargaining agreement. Is this a violation of the National Labor Relations Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

6. Federal employees have been told they need to return to the office for in-person work five days a week. Is this a violation of the Telework Enhancement Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

‘Department of Government Efficiency”

1. Trump has created and empowered the Department of Government Efficiency to make changes to federal agencies and civil service. Is this a violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

2. Trump has created and empowered the Department of Government Efficiency to make changes to federal agencies and civil service. Was this approved by Congressional act and are these individuals formally employed by the federal government?

3. Trump has created and empowered the Department of Government Efficiency to make changes to federal agencies and civil service. How many individuals work there and what was their hiring process?

4. Trump has created and empowered the Department of Government Efficiency to make changes to federal agencies and civil service. What type of background checks and clearance procedures were performed for the employees of that office?

5. What are the protocols for conflicts of interest for the staff or individuals associated with this office, have those conflicts of interest been violated, and if so how do you plan to address it?

6. Trump has created and empowered the Department of Government Efficiency to make changes to federal agencies and civil service. Employees of this ‘office’ have access to sensitive data at federal agencies. Is this a violation of the Privacy Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

7. Trump has created and empowered the Department of Government Efficiency to make changes to federal agencies and civil service. Employees of this ‘office’ have access to sensitive data at federal agencies. Is this a violation of the Federal Information Security Modernization Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

8. Trump has created and empowered the Department of Government Efficiency to make changes to federal agencies and civil service. Employees of this ‘office’ have access to sensitive data at federal agencies. Is this a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

9. Trump has created and empowered the Department of Government Efficiency to make changes to federal agencies and civil service. Employees of this ‘office’ have access to sensitive data at federal agencies, including taxpayer information Treasury. Is this a violation of the Internal Revenue Code and if so how do you plan to address it?

10. Trump has created and empowered the Department of Government Efficiency to make changes to federal agencies and civil service. Employees of this ‘office’ have access to sensitive data at federal agencies and have claimed they are already saving money. Is this a violation of the Impoundment Control Act and if so how do you plan to address it?

To be continued, I’m sure. And yes, I can be incredibly fastidious when I want to be.

A Post Script For the Cynics

Maybe your voice means nothing, the only way to guarantee that is to say nothing.

Photo by Andy Feliciotti on Unsplash