THE LEVIN LETTER: We Can’t Abandon Checks and Balances
My job as your representative is to serve our entire district, to listen, and to fight for what’s best for our communities. I am proud to represent you—whether you voted for me or not.
Since entering Congress in 2019, I’ve worked across the aisle to get things done. I believe in finding common ground where possible and standing firm on principle where necessary. That approach has led to real results: I’ve passed 34 bipartisan laws—16 signed by President Trump and 18 signed by President Biden. These laws have improved lives in our district and across the country, and I remain committed to working with anyone, regardless of party, to build on that record.
But I also took an oath—to protect and defend the Constitution. And part of that duty is ensuring that no President, of any party, exceeds the limits placed on executive power.
Regardless of political affiliation, we should all be concerned when any President tries to strip Congress of its constitutional authority. The Founders were clear: Congress, not the President, holds the power of the purse. When President Nixon attempted to withhold funding that Congress had approved, Republicans and Democrats stood together to stop him. They passed the Impoundment Control Act, reaffirming that no President has the authority to ignore Congress when it comes to federal spending.
Now, we face a similar challenge. President Trump is trying to control federal spending unilaterally, ignoring that precedent. And the consequences are real—clinical trials are at risk, community health centers are diminishing care, and programs millions of Americans rely on, including in Republican-led states, are being disrupted.
Let me be clear: I am not a defender of bureaucracy for bureaucracy’s sake. Government should work for the people – not the other way around. Reform is good and necessary. But destruction is not.
And we cannot ignore what’s really happening: We are watching an attempted Great Billionaire Takeover of our government.
President Trump has placed at least 12 different billionaires in key positions of power, many of whom are now making decisions that impact every American. Government should serve the people—not just the billionaires.
The so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE, is not making government work better—it is attempting to tear it apart. Run by Elon Musk, DOGE is using inefficiencies as an excuse to dismantle the very programs that help working families, veterans, and small businesses thrive.
Next in DOGE’s crosshairs? The Department of Education. If it’s dismantled, low-income schools right here in the Capistrano Unified School District will lose critical resources, and special education programs and Pell Grants for college students could disappear entirely.
So, where do we go from here? Congress has a duty to act. We must uphold the Constitution and check executive overreach—just as our Founders intended.
Unfortunately, too many of my colleagues are looking the other way, afraid to stand up for the separation of powers because they fear political backlash. But our system of government only works if we all do our jobs, regardless of party. I will not be a part of abandoning that responsibility.
My grandfather didn’t fight in World War II to see our country drift toward unchecked executive power. I will honor his legacy by standing up for our Constitution, our values, and our democracy.
This is not about left versus right. It’s about basic guardrails as required by law. To my Republican friends, ask yourselves: Would you want a future Democratic president to act without checks and balances?
The precedent we set in the months ahead will impact Americans for decades to come. My hope is that we will come out a stronger nation. America is worth the fight.
U.S.Representative Mike Levin represents the 49th Congressional District, which includes the South Orange County cities of Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. He was reelected in 2024 to serve his fourth term. He resides in San Juan Capistrano with his wife and two children.
By: Rep. Mike Levin
Source: San Clemente Times