Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released a statement marking the start of the 21st Annual Sunshine Week, which serves to remind all Americans about the fundamental importance of having an open, transparent, and accountable government.
Stay tuned this week as Oversight Democrats underscore the importance of transparency and accountability with new legislation, new investigations, and critical updates on Democrats’ fight to safeguard American democracy. Click here for a one pager highlighting Oversight Democrats’ recent work to hold the Trump-Musk Administration accountable.
“Sunshine Week is a critical reminder that government transparency isn’t optional—it’s fundamental to our constitutional system of checks and balances. Without transparency, we cannot have accountability. And without accountability, our democracy is at risk. This year, Sunshine Week takes on heightened significance as the Trump-Musk Administration – empowered by Congressional Republicans who would rather bow to a wannabe king and his billionaire benefactor than stand up for the constituents they were sent here to represent – does everything it can to obfuscate oversight and put corruption and cronyism over accountability.
“Sunlight remains the best disinfectant, and Democrats will continue to shine a light into every corner of the Trump-Musk Administration, regardless of resistance or obstruction. Oversight Democrats will continue to lead the fight against President Trump and Elon Musk’s assault on the federal workforce and watchdog community, rampant corruption and conflicts of interest, and unconstitutional dismantling of the people’s government. We are already forcing the Trump Administration and Musk’s DOGE into retreat on several fronts: from reversing illegal mass firings and unlawful funding freezes, to spurring independent investigations into DOGE tactics and access to Americans’ private data. Oversight Democrats are organizing our broad coalition of stakeholders both in and out of government to investigate, litigate, and terminate the dangerous and unlawful abuses of the Trump-Musk Administration.
“But make no mistake: this Administration’s reflexive secrecy and DOGE’s shadowy operations represent an existential threat to congressional oversight. The American people have the right to know how their tax dollars are being spent, how policy decisions affecting their lives are being made, and whether their government is acting in their best interest. When that right is undermined, so too is the very fabric of our democracy.”
