A State Guide for Responding to the State of the Union
Issue Areas
Over the past year, the Trump administration has attempted to undermine state authority and the rule of law. They’ve taken actions fueled by conspiracy theories about our elections; sent undertrained federal agents into states, who used violent tactics and caused chaos; defied court orders; used federal power for political retaliation; and cut billions of dollars in funding for state programs.
On Feb. 24, President Trump will address the nation in his State of the Union. This guide is a resource for state leaders who have been pivotal in pushing back on the administration’s rule of law violations and its continued attempts to seize power.
- The administration is clearly trying to interfere with how states run elections. It’s a power grab from the president.
- Our elections are free, fair, and secure. Your state and local election officials are working hard to prepare for this year’s midterms.
- Years of election lies are having a negative impact on voter confidence.
- Voters can be confident that every eligible vote—and only every eligible vote—will be counted. States have strong checks and balances in place to ensure our elections are accurate, with layers of safeguards built in by state and federal law.
Resources
- The 2020 election was free, fair, and secure. Tired conspiracy theories about the 2020 election have already been heard by the courts and dismissed.
- People are ready to move on. It’s time to prepare for elections this year and stop wasting the federal government’s resources on this fishing expedition.
- The Constitution is crystal clear: Elections are run by the states. Our election officials are busy preparing for safe and secure elections. The president’s false claims are meant to distract from that important work.
Resources
- Federal agents are using brutal tactics on our people and militarizing our streets. It’s un-American.
- From the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, to arresting children and separating them from their parents, to storming our communities and violating our most fundamental rights, undertrained federal agents are out of control.
- Your state and local law enforcement leaders know our communities best. The administration is putting their own agenda above community safety—it’s dangerous.
Resources
- The president is exploiting his power to punish those who stand in his way. Using threats or pressure to go after political opponents goes against the basic principles of our Constitution.
- The Justice Department is supposed to be the people’s law firm—not the president’s personal attorneys. It is an abuse of power for the president to direct federal law enforcement to target state officials and other people who disagree with him politically.
- Attacks on courts, judges, and lawyers is a clear attempt to dodge responsibility and intimidate the people who work to uphold the laws in this country.
Resources
- The Trump administration cut state funding on its own, without Congress. That means less support for communities and putting more financial pressure on everyday Americans at a time when costs are already going up.
- The federal government is supposed to work in partnership with states to serve the American people and fund essential services, like ensuring people have clean drinking water, children have lunch at school, and damaged roads get fixed. Congress, not the executive branch, allocates federal funding.
- States have won back billions of dollars by challenging the administration’s cuts in court. They’ve stepped up to ensure that people continue to benefit from critical programs.