Dear Melvin,

 

Thank you for contacting me regarding President Trump's executive order to establish and implement the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). It is always good to hear from members of our community, and I urge you to continue your efforts to inform policymaking
 in our state. 

 

I understand your concerns and frustration with the recent actions of the Trump Administration. Our government should strive to operate in a manner that is efficient and adequately meets the needs of its constituents. Transparency is certainly a priority of
 mine and the Senate Democratic majority has worked to increase transparency in our state government. The first two pieces of legislation introduced and passed in the Michigan Senate this legislative cycle would apply the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to
 the Executive Office of the Governor or Lieutenant Governor (EOG), the Senate, and the House of Representatives. I was proud to support that legislation when it came before me and I hope that my colleagues in the Michigan House follow our lead in advancing
 this important legislation.

 

While I empathize with the calls for efficiency and transparency within our federal government, I share many of your concerns with the newly created DOGE. One of the glaring issues is its own lack of accountability to elected officials other than its creator,
 President Trump. Additionally, to allow private sector citizens with no background in public administration access to sensitive government information is certainly a security concern that would not have been accepted in any previous administration. Moreover,
 for those with limited experience with government operations, there may be instances where DOGE views something as "wasteful" but, in reality, it benefits thousands of people or ensures efficient operations. Such cuts could inhibit various programs and operations,
 and could even result in spending more federal resources to rectify the damage. They would also have the potential to impact the operations, funding and budgets of state and local governments. Such avoidable consequences would fly in the face of DOGE's stated
 purpose.

 

As your state senator, I am unable to assist with matters at the federal level, but I have been in frequent contact with our federal legislators regarding the concerns that I have had with many of the President's executive orders. I encourage you to contact
 our federal legislators to share your concerns as well. Here is how you may reach their offices: 

 


U.S. Senator Gary Peters 


Email form: 
https://www.peters.senate.gov/contact/email-gary 

Washington D.C. Office: 


724 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 

Phone: (202) 224-6221 

Grand Rapids Office: 


Gerald R. Ford Federal Building 

110 Michigan Street NW, Suite 720, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 

Phone: (616) 233-9150 

Additional office locations/phone numbers: 
https://www.peters.senate.gov/contact/office-locations 

U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin 


Email form: 
Initial Page - Senator Elissa Slotkin 

Washington D.C. Office: 


SH-825B/C Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 

Phone: (202) 224-4822 


Congresswoman Hillary Scholten 


Email form: 
https://scholten.house.gov/contact 

Washington D.C. Office: 


1317 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 

Phone: (202) 225-3831 

Grand Rapids District Office: 


110 Michigan St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 

Phone: (616) 451-8383 



 

Thank you once again for reaching out to share your thoughts on this important matter. I hope you will continue to stay involved in our government process and encourage you to reach out to me should I ever be of service to you in the future. 

 

 

Sincerely, 



Winnie Brinks

Senate Majority Leader

29th District