Actions I'm Taking to Protect San Diego

Since January 20, too many of Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Republicans' actions have only served to break our government and hurt the American people. Many have written and called my office concerned, distraught, and angry about their sweeping unconstitutional actions and reckless policies.

Republican control of government means Democrats have limited legislative power in Washington. That means our power is our voice. I am not a yeller, but I will use my experience and expertise to communicate to all San Diegans, not just Democrats, by explaining the cost of the Administration’s actions to our communities. I will use every tool at my disposal to arm CA50 with accurate, compelling information about actions the Trump Administration is taking that will harm San Diego.

I stand united with House Democrats as we fight back in Congress, in the courts, and in our communities to protect Americans. I will provide regular updates on the work that House Democrats and I are doing to respond to President Trump and Elon Musk's harmful actions.

If you have been fired from your federal job, have stopped receiving federal funds to your organization or business, or have otherwise been affected by changes the Trump Administration has implemented, please share your story here. By sharing your voice, you can help me best represent San Diego in Congress.

Defending San Diego’s Jobs and Critical Government Funding

Led a letter to the NIH calling on the Trump Administration to reverse a disastrous decision that would cut over $800 million in NIH funding for California universities who are leading the world in groundbreaking biomedical research, like finding the cures to cancer and Alzheimers.
Offered an amendment to House Republicans’ budget that would have increased funding levels for NIH, instead of slashing funding for one of America’s best investments.
Led a letter to the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Homeland Security to highlight the grave consequences of pausing federal wildfire mitigation efforts and demand that the Trump Administration unfreeze federal firefighter hiring.
Signed Rep. Pocan’s (WI-02) letter expressing concern about the ramifications of pausing foreign aid funding for global health programs, including the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR is a global health program with historically bipartisan support that fights HIV and AIDS and makes America safer and stronger.
Signed Reps. Chu (CA-28), Huffman (CA-02), and Salinas’ (OR-06) letter urging the White House and USDA to reverse the layoffs at the U.S. Forest Service, which is critical to managing forests to prevent wildfires.
Signed Reps Casten’s (IL-06) letter to Energy Secretary Wright demanding an end to the illegal firing of Department of Energy employees who manage nuclear weapons, ensure reliable and affordable energy, and help us compete with China in the global market for next-generation energy technology.
Signed Rep. Connolly’s (VA-11) letter to the Trump Administration strongly opposing the purge of nonpartisan civil servants from the federal workforce, specifically the recent unlawful mass terminations of employees on probationary status. The letter presses the Administration to reinstate all unlawfully terminated probationary status employees.
Signed Reps. Lofgren (CA-18), Chu (CA-28), and Sherman (CA-32) letter expressing concern about EPA's termination of Region 9 employees, particularly given their role in the LA wildfire recovery and supporting San Diego.
Signed Rep. Bonamici’s (OR-01) letter to Commerce Secretary Lutnick opposing mass layoffs at NOAA and requesting answers to a series of oversight questions, including plans to avoid critical service disruptions.
Signed Rep. Foushee’s (NC-04) letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin demanding clarification on the EPA’s budget and drastic workforce reduction plans.
Signed Rep. Fletcher’s (TX-07) letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Burgum urging the disbursement of funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for orphaned well remediation to protect against environmental and public health risks.
Protested with my Democratic colleagues outside the HHS to oppose the Trump Administration’s funding freeze hurting states and providers receiving funding from Medicaid, HRSA, and other federal agencies.
Members of my staff spoke at a UCSD event against NIH funding cuts and attacks on medical research from the Trump Administration.

Co-sponsored the Veteran Retention and Reporting Act, which allows for the reinstatement of any veteran who was removed or dismissed from federal employment without cause since Trump took office. The bill would create reporting requirements to Congress of any veterans removed from federal positions and the justification for such removal.
Signed Rep. Takano’s (CA-39) letter to VA Secretary Collins stressing the importance of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) and urging the Administration to reinstate any fired VCL employees, protect VCL from reductions in force, and reinstate job offers for VCL.
Signed multiple letters to the Administration highlighting the importance of federal jobs and telework flexibility for active-duty spouses who often have to move around the country with their partner.
Continue to publicly oppose the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate VA firings which are unfair to high-performing employees and will limit access to services and benefits veterans have earned through courage and sacrifice in service to our nation.

Voted against the Republican budget which would cut hundreds of billions in funding to Medicaid, food assistance for families and seniors, and national parks.
Signed Rep. Budzinski’s (IL-13) letter to President Trump opposing his proposal to privatize the USPS.
Joined over 200 House Democrats to file an amicus brief in defense of American consumers and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which protects Americans from unfair, deceptive, and abusive corporate practices.
Signed Rep. Larson’s (CT-01) letter opposing SSA's announcement that they intend to reduce the size of their workforce and close field offices across the country.
Signed Reps. Schneider (IL-10) and Casar (TX-35) letter calling on Speaker Johnson not to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Cosponsored Rep. Jahana Hayes’ (CT-05) Department of Education Protection Act to oppose any efforts to dismantle the agency and to ensure every student receives the free and appropriate public education they deserve.
Led 54 colleagues in sending a letter calling on HUD to finish processing and disbursing funds that enable homeless services providers to provide care for our neediest constituents.

Signed Rep. Stanton’s (AZ-04) letter to President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, the acting Secretary of Commerce, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative highlighting the toll that 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada would have on our economy and communities.
Signed Rep. Costa’s (CA-21) letter urging the Trump Administration to reconsider the proposed 25% tariffs on imported building materials from Canada and Mexico which would lead to higher construction costs and decreased housing development.
Strongly supported Rep. Meeks’ “privileged” bill to force a vote to terminate President Trump’s inflationary tariffs on Canada and Mexico. After Rep. Meeks introduced this bill, Republicans quietly changed the rules to avoid going on record about President Trump’s tariffs raising prices for Americans.
Voted against the Republican budget proposal, adding $4-11 trillion to our national debt, raising prices, and increasing interest rates. I spoke out against this betrayal of the middle class on the House floor and reminded my Republican colleagues that as independently elected Members of Congress, we work for our constituents, not the President. Watch my full remarks here.
Offered an amendment to Republicans’ budget that would use facts and evidence to project the true cost of their proposal, rather than budget gimmicks.
Voted against the Republican Continuing Resolution and urged his colleagues to pass a responsible budget that will keep the government open and will not greenlight President Trump’s inflationary, market-crashing agenda.

Cosponsored the Ending DOGE Conflicts Act to ensure transparency, end conflicts of interest, and establish independent review of government employees like Elon Musk.
Signed Rep. Moulton’s (MA-6) letter to the FAA questioning DOGE’s involvement in FAA, if Elon or DOGE have accessed proprietary FAA information, and if the agency has conducted thorough vetting on potential conflicts of interest with Starlink.
Combined with 1,500 Jan 6th pardons, Eric Adams’ charge dismissal underscores the dangerous message that crimes are okay if they’re committed in support of Donald Trump or if you’re willing to do his bidding. I support the courts rejecting this dismissal due to the severity of the charges against Eric Adams.
Cosponsored Rep. Subramanyam’s (VA-10) LEASH DOGE Act. The bill would require DOGE to report to Congress a list of its’ staff and whether they have security clearances or conflicts of interest, what personal information DOGE accesses, and a public list of all workers fired and programs cut by DOGE.
Vocal advocate to hold the Trump Administration, Elon Musk, and DOGE accountable and demand transparency. I am not a member of the House Oversight Committee, but I strongly support their ongoing efforts to investigate, coordinate litigation strategies, and demand documentation from the Trump Administration.

Signed Rep. Mullin’s (CA-15) letter calling on the Trump administration to reverse the unjust and unlawful policy of withholding passports from American citizens based on their sex.
Signed Rep. Jacobs’ (CA-51) letter demanding that Defense Secretary Hegseth and President Trump rescind his executive order banning transgender individuals from the military and released a statement condemning the hateful and wasteful decision to remove active duty transgender servicemembers from our military.
Co-sponsored Rep. Stevens’ (MI-11) Taxpayer Data Protection Act to protect Americans’ right to privacy and safeguard the sensitive and private information of the American people and our nation’s payment system from reckless and unlawful interference.
Cosponsored Rep. Espaillat’s (NY-13) Protecting Sensitive Location’s Act to prevent ICE from entering schools and churches.
Joined nearly 200 House Democrats and every Democratic Senator in filing an amicus brief supporting Planned Parenthood and urging the Supreme Court to affirm the fourth circuit’s decision to guarantee the right to choose for Medicaid beneficiaries receiving care from qualified providers.
Signed Rep. Casten’s (IL-6) letter calling on the Trump administration to reverse their directive to minimize enforcement of laws that protect the rights of patients to safely access reproductive health services.
Joined every House and Senate Democrat in calling out the Trump Administration’s unprecedented and illegal firing of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Member Gwynne Wilcox. Member Wilcox’s firing revokes the NLRB’s ability to stand up for workers by ensuring that the NLRB does not have enough membership to issue rulings against employers violating workers’ rights.