1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

Congress must hold the executive branch accountable when it oversteps its constitutional authority. President Trump's decision to unlawfully impound funds appropriated by Congress for foreign aid through USAID represents a grave violation of the separation of powers and Congress's power of the purse. As the judge aptly stated, this "unbridled view of Executive power" usurps Congress's exclusive authority to determine spending and cannot be tolerated. It is imperative that Congress use its oversight powers and legislative tools to reassert its role as a co-equal branch and curb such unconstitutional actions by the executive. Failure to do so undermines the foundational system of checks and balances. Congress must act decisively to rein in executive overreach and safeguard its constitutionally-mandated powers.