1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I write to you today with grave concern for the future of our democracy. The actions of Donald Trump have gone too far, crossing lines that threaten the very foundations of our nation. The judiciary, tasked with ensuring the executive branch operates within the legal framework of this country, has repeatedly found his actions out of line. This is not about policy or mandate—this is about the theft of our democracy, and it must be stopped. We live in a democracy, the great American experiment, and history will remember this moment. It will remember whether this Republican Party stood up for the principles of democracy or caved, allowing the American experiment to fail and authoritarianism and oligarchy to take root. The flight to El Salvador, for example, was illegal, and those prisoners must be returned to face fair trials within our system, as is their right. Moreover, Trump’s efforts to dismantle critical departments of our government pose a direct threat to the institutions that uphold our democracy. Dismantling the Department of Education would ensure unequal access to education across the country, disproportionately harming children who have no voice in this process. The higher education ecosystem, which you seek to hold accountable, cannot function without the data infrastructure necessary to support that accountability. The gutting of the Department of Health has already had deadly consequences, with measles outbreaks claiming lives in multiple states. Social Security, the promised safety net for every American, is now at risk. I fear that the years I’ve paid into this system will be squandered, leaving me and millions of others without the support we were promised. Americans are clear about what they want: over fifty percent support health care reform, stronger gun control legislation, voter’s rights protections, and safe infrastructure. Instead, we are witnessing authoritarianism and the mismanagement of our government. This must end, and you have the power to end it. Your silence in the face of these threats is damning. The role of Congress is to serve as a check on the executive branch and to protect the rights and freedoms of the American people. I urge you to act decisively to uphold the rule of law, protect our democratic institutions, and ensure that this administration is held accountable. The stakes could not be higher. The future of our democracy depends on your courage and action.