RELEASE: Friedman & 68 Members of Congress Announce Amendment to Stop Illegal Cuts to Congressionally Approved Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, March 10, 2025, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) and 68 members of Congress announced a new amendment to stop Trump from illegally withholding or diverting funding appropriated in the Republican-led continuing resolution. The measure makes clear that by signing the government funding bill, the President agrees to fully disburse funds as directed by law without loopholes or exceptions.  

“Under our Constitution, the power of the purse belongs to the people’s Representatives — not the President. That’s why no one in Congress should oppose this amendment,” said U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “Republicans put these funding levels in their own bill. Now they have a choice: stand by the Constitution and ensure these funds are spent as directed by law, or enable Trump’s lawlessness and undermine Congress and the Constitution. Any Republican who refuses to support this is complicit in lawbreaking that has been repeatedly rejected by our courts.” 

The amendment is led by Laura Freidman (CA-30) and supported by 68 democratic cosponsors including Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Ami Bera (CA-6), Don Beyer (VA-8), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Janelle Bynum (OR-5), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Luis Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Suzan DelBene (WA-1), Maxine Dexter (OR-3), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-3), Cleo Fields (LA-6), Bill Foster (IL-11), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Maggie Goodlander (NH-1), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Al Green (TX-9), Raul Grijalva (AZ-7), Jared Huffman (CA-2), Jonathan Jackson (IL-1), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), Pablo José Hernández (PR-AL), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-30), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Greg Landsman (OH-1), Summer Lee (PA-12), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Doris Matsui (CA-7), Jennifer McClain Delaney (MD), Morgan McGarvey (KY-3), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Dave Min (CA-47), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Seth Moulton (MA-6), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Johnny Olszewski (MD-2), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Scott Peters (CA-50), Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL), Delia Ramirez (IL-3), Emily Randall (WA-6), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Hillary Scholten (MI-3), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Greg Stanton (AZ-4), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Dina Titus (NV-1), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Derek Tran (CA-45), Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), and George Whitesides (CA-27).

It is the sense of Congress that in signing legislation, the President recognizes, and states that they will uphold, Congress’ constitutional authority to authorize and appropriate funds and will disburse those funds faithfully and in full as directed in such legislation and in accordance with Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution. This may not be superseded by any signing statement, public statement, or other Presidential communication. 

The U.S. Constitution grants Congress authority over federal spending, as outlined in Article I, Section 9, Clause 7, which mandates that no money can be drawn from the Treasury without congressional approval. Yet, Trump has regularly disregarded this authority by withholding congressionally approved investments and redirecting tax-payer dollars to his own agenda. 

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