U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) recently detailed how lawmakers are using the appropriations process to curb the Biden administration's alleged abuse of federal law enforcement authority.
A series of FBI whistleblowers have come forward in recent months, claiming the FBI's counterterrorism division targeted parents who addressed local school boards over content issues.
The subsequent investigation involved congressional hearings, in which lawmakers grilled the FBI and DOJ leadership. Republican lawmakers repeatedly referred to the FBI's activities as an overreach of federal power.
On a Wednesday episode of "Washington Watch," Aderholt said that members of the House Appropriations Committee are addressing the issue through funding. One of the appropriations bills being considered by the House would slash the necessary funds to prohibit further alleged targeting of American families.
The appropriations bill cut $13 million from the DOJ's national security division, which was opposed by the Biden administration, claiming it would "negatively impact" national security.
An update from @Robert_Aderholt on how House Republicans can use the appropriations process to curb abuses by federal agencies. pic.twitter.com/GJrmTrdXEW
— Tony Perkins (@tperkins) November 16, 2023
"So many parents of school children want to go to the school boards and to discuss a lot of it," Aderholt said. "And as you know, the FBI has really cracked down on just parents voicing their concern. And in this CJS (Commerce, Justice Science bill), we have defunded FBI's guidance targeting school board meetings, and that's just one example of what we're doing."
He continued, "If the Department of Justice doesn't have the money to do these things, then they can't act. So it's one thing to expose them. It's another thing to take away the money. Obviously, the people at the Department of Justice are not going to work for free, and if you don't have any money for any programs over there, then you're able to stop it. And that's what the goal of defunding a lot of these so-called programs that we've seen under the Biden Administration."
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