Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) released the following statement addressing the dozens of controversial executive actions issued in the first days of the new Trump Administration. 

“Many constituents have reached out with concern in recent days as the new President sought to impose sweeping, dictatorial changes across the federal government. Within hours of his taking the oath of office, the White House began issuing a barrage of executive actions that would politicize the federal workforce, undermine judicial and constitutional norms, and erase decades of progress and protections for American civil rights, public safety, health care, and the environment. 

“Some of the directives are retreads of failed policies from Trump’s first term. Almost two-thirds mirror proposals in the Project 2025 manifesto developed by his closest advisors and cabinet nominees. 

“The sheer volume and often outrageous content of the White House edicts is part of a calculated strategy to overwhelm opposition to individual policies which are deeply unpopular, including cutting medical research and social safety net programs, firing government watchdogs, and implementing family separation and other cruel immigration practices.

“Beyond announcing radical policy changes, many of the directives are specifically designed to stifle government transparency and dissenting views, whether by purging federal employees who don’t pass MAGA loyalty tests, blocking the dissemination of information to the public by agencies, or requiring federal employees to report colleagues who advocate for particular issues, such as a government that includes and serves Americans regardless of faith, race, gender or disability.

“Some of the new White House directives are nothing more than political posturing, such as an order that all federal departments lower consumer prices, as though signing a piece of paper could make it so. Several, including a directive to overturn the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, have already been blocked by the courts. Still others, such as suspending programs that provide medical treatment to veterans and cancer patients or protect our food supply chain, have drawn bipartisan concern.

“Of course, most Americans, including major law enforcement groups, are rightly shocked by the blanket pardon of more than 1500 people who attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, including those charged with using weapons and inflicting grave injuries upon hundreds of law enforcement officers. Far from being remorseful, many of those pardoned have been emboldened, and are taking victory tours of the Capitol with MAGA members of Congress.  

“What is remarkable is that none of these directives do anything meaningful to lower housing costs or grocery prices. In fact, several will make it easier for Big Pharma and billionaires to jack up costs on hardworking American taxpayers.

“My Democratic colleagues and I stand ready to work with anyone to make life more affordable, fair and safe - for all Americans. But that can happen only if the administration and its allies in Congress focus on the needs of the American people, rather than their billionaire friends. And we won’t hesitate to call out discriminatory, dangerous, or unconstitutional moves that betray our fundamental American values.”

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