US agency staff told not to speak with Congress, lawmaker says

Source: Reuters

Staff at the U.S. farm, environment and interior agencies have been instructed by the Trump administration not to speak with the U.S. Congress, Representative Chellie Pingree said in a letter sent to the agency administrators on Thursday.

Pingree, a Democrat, said the disruption in communication strayed from longstanding relationships with agency staff that provide information critical to Congressional decision-making.

"These staff have always conducted themselves in a professional way with integrity. Unfortunately, nearly all communication has stopped since President (Donald) Trump took office. My understanding is that these staff have been directed not to communicate with Congress," Pingree wrote in letters sent to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

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The letters expressed "outrage" at the firings of thousands of federal workers across the three agencies and requested information by February 27 on the number of terminations and a breakdown by program office, location and other details.


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-agency-staff-told-not-speak-with-congress-lawmaker-says-2025-02-20/