Internal Audit Finds President Trump and Congressional Republicans Reject Transparent and Accountable Government

WASHINGTON – An informal, internal audit by the Democracy Reform Task Force has found that despite repeated campaign promises to give power back to the American people, President Donald Trump and Republican Congressional leaders have taken steps to weaken Congressional oversight and make the government decision-making process more opaque and less accountable.

The audit found that more than 100 letters sent by House Democrats to the Trump Administration on a wide array of important issues – including immigration, healthy policy, the environment, criminal justice, refugee resettlement and foreign interference in American elections, to name a few – have gone unanswered.

"The Trump Administration's stonewalling shows how desperate they are to keep the American people in the dark about their actions," said Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. "Instead of holding the Administration accountable, the Republican Congress has become an accomplice to hiding President Trump's sprawling conflicts of interest. Democrats will continue to demand answers and honesty from the White House."

"These findings confirm what many feared: The Trump Administration has little regard for transparent government." said Congressman Sarbanes, Chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force. "On ‘Sunshine Week,' House Democrats are demanding that the Trump Administration – and the Republican-controlled Congress – get serious about transparent and accountable government."

"Every day it becomes clearer that Donald Trump's campaign was just a long con on working Americans," said Congressman David Cicilline, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. "Instead of making government more transparent, the Trump administration is doing everything they can to hide the truth and avoid answering questions about their actions. The American people deserve better."

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