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Congressional Progressive Caucus Slams Trump Administration’s Devastating Funding Freeze, Calls for Immediate Reversal

January 28, 2025

WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (TX-35) issued the below statement on President Trump’s unlawful executive orders and the memoranda issued by Acting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Matthew J. Vaeth directing agencies to withhold approved federal funding:

“The damage Trump’s illegal actions today will inflict on our communities—red and blue—cannot be overstated. Trump, unconstitutionally, is taking food away from low-income seniors and newborn babies so that he can enrich his corporate backers. Trump, illegally, is freezing infrastructure projects and throwing construction workers off the job so that he can give his billionaire buddies a tax break. Trump is ignoring the Constitution and slashing the funds that pay for firefighter and police salaries, and his excuse is ‘DEI’ and ‘wokeness.’

“Trump wants to push us into an era of lawless corruption, and it’s up to Democrats and all Americans of good conscience to stop him before he goes any further. Trump must immediately reverse his actions, Russell Vought must not be confirmed as OMB Director, and American lives must not be treated like the playthings of extremist billionaires and ideologues.

“Trump’s funding decision today heavily damages Republican-run states. According to the Pew Research Center, nine states receive over 45 percent of their overall budgets from the federal government: Louisiana, Alaska, Arizona, South Dakota, Wyoming, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Mississippi.”

Congressional Progressive Caucus Statement on the Second Inauguration of Donald J. Trump

January 20, 2025

“Trump’s White House is government by the billionaires, for the billionaires.”

WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (TX-35) issued the following statement on the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States.

“Trump may be filling the White House and his cabinet with corrupt billionaires, but the Congressional Progressive Caucus will not stand by as our government is sold to the highest bidder. 

“Progressives will be on the picket lines with American workers while Trump is giving corrupt CEOs a tax break. Progressives will fight for women’s health care while Trump tries to slash Medicare and Medicaid. Progressives will stand up for struggling and vulnerable Americans as Trump villainizes them to distract the country from his own failures and corruption. 

“Trump’s White House is government by the billionaires, for the billionaires. Lobbyists and corporations have donated over $200 million to today's inauguration of Donald Trump—a small price to pay for buying off history's most corrupt Grifter-in-Chief. On Day One, Trump has shown us who he really is—a fighter for the wealthy, not the working class.” 

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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is made up of nearly 100 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests. The CPC champions policies including comprehensive immigration reform, good-paying jobs, fair trade, universal health care, debt-free college, climate action, and a just foreign policy. The caucus is the leading voice calling for bold and sweeping solutions to the urgent crises facing this nation, including ending America’s broken for-profit health care system, raising American wages, eliminating political corruption, supporting the labor movement, and taking action to protect the planet for generations to come.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Statement on Four Years Since January 6th Insurrection

January 6, 2025

WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (TX-35) issued the below statement marking the fourth anniversary of the January 6th attack on the Capitol:

"Four years ago, Americans watched right-wing extremists storm the Capitol live on television. But behind the scenes, Republican officials continue to undermine our citizens' rights every single day. Trump’s election will be certified, and his administration will be filled with more certified liars, grifters, and corrupt billionaires than any other in American history. But when Trump's Republicans try to cut Social Security and Medicare to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy, you can count on progressives to fight back for everyday Americans."

Congressional Progressive Caucus Applauds Historic Death Row Commutations

December 23, 2024

WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) issued the following statement on President Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row.

“This is a historic day in America. We thank President Biden for this extraordinary act to spare the 37 individuals facing the death penalty, a discriminatory and fundamentally inhumane punishment. This is a powerful use of executive action to save lives and deliver justice.

“This moment would not be possible without the tireless organizing and activism of progressives in Congress and on the ground, who have been leading the fight for years to abolish the death penalty and institute a more just legal system. But our work is not done. The Congressional Progressive Caucus was proud to include the abolition of the federal death penalty in our Proposition Agenda earlier this year and we are committed to seeing it enacted into law. Additionally, more must be done to fix the systemic flaws in our justice system - including improving access to legal resources and addressing the disproportionate arrest and conviction rates for communities of color. We thank the President for this significant step and urge him to use his last few days in office to commute the sentences of the thousands of Americans impacted by the War on Drugs and decades of harmful, disparate convictions and sentencing.”

Congressional Progressive Caucus Slams Trump-Musk Shutdown Threat

December 20, 2024

“This is Trump 2.0: a government by billionaires, for billionaires”

WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) issued the following statement as House Republicans move to shut down the government.

“The past 24 hours is the clearest demonstration yet of what Trump 2.0 will entail: the President of the United States allowing his unelected billionaire friends to control the government and enrich themselves at the expense of working people. 

“Let’s be clear: any shutdown is a 100% Republican shutdown, and the effects on working people will be devastating. Shadow President Elon Musk and President-Elect Donald Trump are billionaires who don’t even know what it’s like to worry about where the next rent check comes from or how they will pay for the medications they need or what happens if the FAA shuts down and families can’t go and visit their loved ones for the holidays. And yet they are leading scaredy-cat Republican Members of Congress into chaos, barely 12 hours after Congressional Democrats and Republicans had reached a bipartisan deal to keep the government open, provide critical funding to communities ravaged by natural disasters, support to vulnerable farmers facing bankruptcy, and childcare and Social Security checks to kids and seniors across this country. 

“Derailing a deal to keep the government functioning means a devastating holiday shutdown that would cause millions of essential workers to go without pay, families to be evicted, flights delayed during the busiest travel season, and potential disruptions to Social Security or Medicare services.

“The Progressive Caucus stands with Leader Jeffries and our full Democratic caucus to demand passage of the negotiated deal to fund government, and ensure we protect communities across this country. We cannot succumb to a government by billionaires, for billionaires.”

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Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair-Elect Greg Casar Appoints Members to Complete Executive Board for 119th Congress

December 18, 2024

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair-Elect Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35) announced five additional appointments to the Congressional Progressive Caucus Executive Board for the 119th Congress, including Representatives Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Summer Lee (PA-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). 

“The CPC is the most diverse major caucus in Congress — with leaders that span across all generations, backgrounds, and constituencies. Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Escobar, Deluzio, Lee, and Watson Coleman are powerhouse progressives,” said Chair-Elect Greg Casar. “With this board, the CPC is going to lead the charge in retaking a Democratic majority and building a Democratic Party that working families can believe in.”

These members will join Chairs Emeriti Reps. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), and the members elected to leadership positions by a Caucus-wide vote earlier this month on the Executive Board for the 119th Congress.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Leadership for the 119th Congress now includes: 

  • Representative Greg Casar (TX-35) as Chair
  • Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05) as Deputy Chair
  • Representative Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04) as Whip
  • Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair Emeritus
  • Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), Chair Emeritus
  • Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Chair Emeritus
  • Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) as Vice Chair
  • Representative Maxwell Frost (FL-10) as Vice Chair
  • Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) as Vice Chair
  • Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) as Vice Chair 
  • Representative Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) as Vice Chair
  • Representative Delia Ramirez (IL-03) as Vice Chair
  • Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) as Vice Chair
  • Representative-Elect Lateefah Simon (CA-12) as Vice Chair
  • Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) as Vice Chair
  • Representative Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) as Vice Chair
  • Representative Chris Deluzio (PA-17) - newly appointed
  • Representative Veronica Escobar (TX-16) - newly appointed
  • Representative Summer Lee (PA-12) - newly appointed
  • Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) - newly appointed
  • Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) - newly appointed

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Congressional Progressive Caucus Announces Endorsement of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez for Oversight Ranking Member

December 13, 2024

WASHINGTON — Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Chair-elect Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35) issued the below statement following a Caucus-wide vote to endorse Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee:

“The Progressive Caucus has voted overwhelmingly to endorse progressive champion Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to serve as Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee for the 119th Congress.

“Throughout her tenure on Oversight, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has been a powerful voice for working people. She has wielded her seat on this committee to hold CEOs, Wall Street, and mega-corporations accountable to the American people. Her investigations that pressured Big Pharma to bring down the price of PrEP and other critical medications are just one example of her influential leadership and commitment to everyday people.

“Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s fearless advocacy leading the Oversight Committee will help ensure Democrats retake the House in 2026. The Congressional Progressive Caucus is proud to support Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s candidacy.”

Progressive Caucus Statement on Biden-Harris Administration Clemency Announcement

December 12, 2024

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), issued the following statement on President Biden’s announcement granting clemency for nearly 1,500 individuals on home confinement and pardons for 39 individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes.

“Today’s announcement is a welcome use of executive power to change lives, reunite families, and address the consequences of systemic injustice and racial discrimination in our criminal justice system. Thanks to this historic action by President Biden, 1,500 Americans will be able to once again live and work in their communities without the threat of re-incarceration, and 39 individuals convicted of non-violent crimes will be pardoned.

“We commend the President for this promising first step and strongly urge him to continue using executive power in the remaining 39 days of his presidency to deliver justice by granting further clemency petitions including for the 40 Americans on federal death row, additional individuals convicted for nonviolent drug offenses, and Leonard Peltier, and issuing a pardon for Steven Donziger."

Congressional Progressive Caucus Statement on Rep. Jerry Nadler

December 12, 2024

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), released the following statement after Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-12) announced he will not seek re-election as Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee: 

“Our Caucus is deeply grateful to longtime progressive champion Rep. Jerry Nadler for his principled leadership of the House Judiciary Committee. He has served as one of the fiercest defenders against the Trump Administration and has helped protect millions of Americans from an extremist agenda. As Chairman, he advanced countless transformative bills on every major topic, including: 

  • Fighting back against GOP abuses, protecting democracy and the right to vote;
  • Protecting Americans’ civil liberties and privacy rights, and defending against government surveillance;
  • Protecting LGBTQ+ rights, including passing the Respect of Marriage Act;
  • Strengthening gun laws;
  • Providing citizenship for Dreamers, farmworkers and Temporary Protected Status recipients and standing up to the GOP vilification of immigrants;
  • Reforming our criminal legal system and comprehensively reforming our failed war-on-drugs policies;
  • Strengthening our antitrust laws and ending forced arbitration for workers;
  • Passing laws enshrining marriage equality and ending forced arbitration in cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment. 
  • Passing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which established the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides health monitoring and aid to the first responders, volunteers, and survivors of the September 11 attacks.

“We thank Rep. Nadler for his many years of service, and look forward to continuing to work together to defend our freedoms and deliver for working people.”

Progressive Caucus Opposes Right Wing Defense Authorization Bill, Calls on Congress to Address Pentagon Waste and Abuse

December 11, 2024

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), issued the following statement on H.R. 5009, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, after the CPC voted to formally oppose the NDAA as a caucus.

“It should alarm every American taxpayer that we are nearing a trillion-dollar annual budget for an agency rampant with waste, fraud, and abuse. The Pentagon failed its seventh consecutive audit this year and is the only major federal agency to never have passed one—yet it continues to receive huge boosts to funding every year. Our constituents deserve better.

“By cutting the Pentagon budget, we could reinvest in critical human needs—from health care to housing to child care—without sacrificing our national security or service member wages. It’s past time we stop padding the pockets of price-gouging military contractors who benefit from corporate consolidation and reallocate that money to domestic needs.

“Astronomical funding levels are not the only problem with this legislation. This year’s NDAA would prohibit medical treatment for military dependents under the age of 18 who are diagnosed with ‘gender dysphoria.’ If adopted, this anti-trans language banning gender-affirming care to minors would be the first federal statute targeting LGBTQ people since the 1990s when Congress adopted ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and the Defense of Marriage Act. This dangerous bigotry cannot be tolerated, let alone codified into federal law.

“In addition, this NDAA also authorizes a second Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine at $357 million, despite the Pentagon requesting only one; imposes a hiring freeze on personnel to enhance diversity, equity inclusion in the military; prohibits funding for the working group investigating and screening for white nationalist and other racist and extremist ideologies in the military; and defunds any effort by the Pentagon to minimize the risk of climate-change impacts in major federal procurements.

“The legislation does include a substantive 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members and 4.5 percent pay raise for all other service members, as well as additional investments in housing, health care, childcare, and spousal support. Progressives will always fight to increase pay for our service members and ensure that our veterans are well taken care of; however, this legislation on balance moves our country and our national priorities in the wrong direction.”

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