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Congress failed. Now it’s up to us.

All week, we’ve heard from allies on Capitol Hill that their phones were ringing off the hook – and lawmakers on the fence felt enough heat that many switched their votes our way at the very last minute.

62 senators and 217 representatives just voted to sell our country out to Donald Trump & Elon Musk.

That’s my takeaway from tonight’s government funding vote, which comes after weeks of an unelected billionaire’s attacks on our schools, our hospitals, and our Social Security.

62% of voters wanted guardrails in this bill to block Musk’s illegal actions. But Democrats in Congress just gave away any power they had to demand those protections – without even putting up a fight.

Let’s be clear: anyone who voted to move this bill forward has signed their name to the Trump-Musk agenda of mass firings, cuts to vital services, and tax breaks for the rich. We’re ready to hold every single one of them accountable.

After all, ordinary folks like you have already risen to this moment: with over 13,000 Common Cause members calling their senators in just the past week.

Sadly, our elected leaders aren’t bringing the same energy. They’re sticking to the same passive, by-the-book strategies that empowered people like Trump and Musk in the first place – and abandoning our public services and our values at the altar of political convenience.

As the People’s Lobby, Common Cause and our 1.5 million members are ready to fill the gap. Here’s what to expect in the coming weeks and months from us:

  • Starting next week, we’ll make sure every lawmaker who voted for this – no matter their party – is forced to explain their decision to their constituents.
  • Plus, we’ll keep escalating our #FireMusk campaign so we can make sure every American knows what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking away from them.
  • And looking ahead, we’re gearing up for a summer of grassroots action to demand accountability from this administration and its enablers.

If you called your senators this week, I want to thank you for your commitment – and let you know that even though this vote didn’t go our way, you made a real impact.

All week, we’ve heard from allies on Capitol Hill that their phones were ringing off the hook – and lawmakers on the fence felt enough heat that many switched their votes our way at the very last minute.

That’s the kind of fearless, persistent advocacy it’s going to take to see our nation through this crisis and build a better democracy on the other side – and you are a critical part of making that happen.

-Virginia Kase Solomón, President & CEO

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