OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT'S NUMEROUS ABUSES OF POWER

On 2026-09-16, Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10) delivered a floor speech titled "OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT'S NUMEROUS ABUSES OF POWER" in the House.

OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT'S NUMEROUS ABUSES OF POWER

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)] [House] [Page H5964] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT'S NUMEROUS ABUSES OF POWER (Mr. DeSAULNIER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the President's numerous abuses of power. Just 5 days into his second term, the President fired inspectors general across 17 Federal agencies. These officials are tasked with conducting independent oversight to fight waste, fraud, and abuse, and have been respected in a bipartisan way for years. The President also routinely threatened the press, referring to them as ``the enemy of the people'' and suggesting that broadcasting licenses for news networks be stripped. He has attacked Federal judges individually. He has attacked registered voters. Just yesterday, he attacked the U.S. Supreme Court and his own nominees for standing up and defending the integrity of individual Americans' right to cast a vote. The institutions he has attacked are enshrined in law and in the culture and the spirit of the United States, respectively to promote transparency, accountability in government, trust in these institutions, and in a democracy. To undermine them in the way he has is to undermine American democracy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in condemning these grave abuses of power. ____________________