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. 

Led my colleagues in demanding that the Trump Administration 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 Alzheimer's.  

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 my colleagues in highlighting the grave consequences of the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Homeland Security pausing federal wildfire mitigation efforts and demanding that the Trump Administration unfreeze federal firefighter hiring. 

Joined Rep. Pocan (WI-02) in 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.    

Collaborated with Reps. Chu (CA-28), Huffman (CA-02), and Salinas (OR-06) to urge the White House and USDA to reverse the layoffs at the U.S. Forest Service, which is critical to managing forests to prevent wildfires. 

Joined Rep Casten (IL-06) to demand that Energy Secretary Wright end 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. 

Supported Rep. Connolly (VA-11) in strongly opposing the purge of nonpartisan civil servants from the federal workforce, specifically the recent unlawful mass terminations of employees on probationary status. Requested that the Administration reinstate all unlawfully terminated probationary status employees. 

Worked with Reps. Lofgren (CA-18), Chu (CA-28), and Sherman (CA-32) to express concern about EPA's termination of Region 9 employees, particularly given their role in the LA wildfire recovery and supporting San Diego. (link to letter on website) 

Joined Rep. Bonamici (OR-01) in opposing mass layoffs at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and requesting answers to a series of oversight questions, including plans to avoid critical service disruptions. 

Worked with Rep. Foushee’s (NC-04) to demand Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Zeldin outline the EPA’s proposed budget and drastic workforce reduction plans. (link to letter on website) 

Supported Rep. Fletcher (TX-07) in urging Department of the Interior Secretary Burgum to properly disburse funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for orphaned well remediation to protect against environmental and public health risks.  

Members of my staff spoke at a UCSD event against NIH funding cuts and attacks on medical research from the Trump Administration. 

Worked with Rep. Pingree (ME-01) to request information about the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) cutting funds and already-ratified contracts with Local Food for Schools (LFS) and Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) programs, and how USDA plans to help impacted communities without these programs. 

Collaborated with Rep. Delaney (MD-06) in expressing opposition to the Administration’s immediate cancellation of all in-person first responder training courses at the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA), National Fire Academy (NFA), and Emergency Management Institute (EMI).  

Supported Rep. Nadler (NY-12) in expressing outrage at President Trump illegally dismissing two Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners and urging him to reinstate them. 

Joined Rep. Velazquez’s (NY-07), along with 32 other House Democrats, to demand answers from Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after the shutdown of six of ten Regional Head Start offices that led to 10,000 worker layoffs. 

Worked with Rep. Strickland (WA-10) to request clarification from the Department of Education on how Impact Aid, which reimburses schools for everything from textbooks and other equipment to special enrichment programs, will be affected by President Trump’s Executive Order that dismantles the Department of Education.  

Collaborated with Rep. Chu (CA-28) and 150 House Democrats to demand that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. restore all appropriated funding for Title X providers. This effort followed the freeze on millions of dollars allocated by Congress for family planning services.  

Joined Rep. Chu (CA-28) to oppose President Trump’s cancellations of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) trials and express concern that this decision will lead to cuts for Californians. 

Worked with Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02) to file an amicus brief opposing President Trump’s unlawful attempt to fire duly- appointed, Senate confirmed members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya.

Collaborated with Rep. Scanlon (PA-05) and colleagues to express opposition to the Trump Administration’s announcement to transfer special education-related funding and oversight responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from the Department of Education to the Department of Health & Human Services.   

Joined Sen. Schiff (D-CA) and colleagues to highlight concerns regarding President Trump’s attempt to eliminate IMLS which was created by a Republican-led Congress in 1996 and is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the nation’s libraries and museums. 

Worked with the San Diego Congressional Delegation to request additional information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding grants that were obligated to entities in San Diego County and have been targeted for termination.  

Supported Reps. Guthrie (KY-02) and Bishop (GA-02) in advocating for the Job Corps Program in Appropriations after President Trump’s administration released plans to cancel contracts at 99 Job Corps Centers. As a result, the administration reversed their decision to close the program.  

Led a discussion with Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and healthcare providers to hear about the impacts the One Big Beautiful Bill will have on student loans, the barriers to medical school, and the consequences that will have on the healthcare workforce shortage.  

Supported Rep. Neguse (CO-02) in filing an amicus brief challenging the Trump administration’s cuts to life-saving medical research grants at the National Institute of Health (NIH). 

Worked with Sen. Warren (MA-08) to file an amicus brief supporting the NAACP’s lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the Department of Education.  

Introduced the Homeland Security Continuity and Accountability Act with Rep. Horsford (NV-04) which would ensure that critical national security functions continue operating and federal employees receive pay during the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. $150 billion of the $191 billion given to DHS by the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Donald Trump remains unspent and could be redirected to other DHS functions. The Homeland Security Continuity and Accountability Act would allow the DHS Secretary to use the unspent funds to reopen other essential DHS functions during the shutdowns.  

Collaborated with Reps. Vargas (CA-52), Levin (CA-49), Jacobs (CA-51), and Senators Padilla (D-CA) and Schiff (D-CA) to urge U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer to use the Trump Administration’s upcoming review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to pursue further investments and cross-border cooperation to curb the transboundary sewage crisis in the Tijuana River Valley.