Monterey Times

Representative Jimmy Panetta, who has served in the U.S. Congress representing California's 19th district since 2017, shared his concerns regarding presidential powers over congressional funding through a series of tweets on January 29, 2025. The tweets emphasize the constitutional roles and responsibilities concerning financial appropriations.

In a tweet posted on January 29, 2025, Representative Panetta stated: "The Constitution is clear: Congress controls the power of the purse, not the President. These funds, approved through bipartisan legislation, are the law. Blocking them isn’t just reckless; it’s unconstitutional." This highlights his view that blocking congressionally approved funds undermines constitutional principles.

Further emphasizing this point in another tweet from the same day, he wrote: "Congress passed these investments to support the American people. The President has no legal right to block them. My office is working tirelessly to ensure these funds are released immediately." Here, Panetta underscores his commitment to ensuring that allocated funds reach their intended purposes without delay.

On issues potentially affected by funding blocks, he tweeted: "Funding for critical infrastructure, childcare, public safety, combating the fentanyl crisis, mental health support, food inspections, and military readiness could also be jeopardized." This message underscores his concern about how blocked funding could impact various critical sectors across the nation.