Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) announced on Dec. 3 that he is running to be the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.
In a letter to colleagues, Connolly said that Democrats on the Oversight Committee “must be an aggressive team focused on defending American democracy from President [Donald] Trump and articulating a Democratic agenda that resonates with our constituents.”
“Our constituents need to know that when it comes to them and their priorities, we are going to fight,” he added.
Connolly represents Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, where many members of the federal workforce reside.
Trump has said he wants to reduce the size of the federal government and “dismantle government bureaucracy.”
This would be partially done through putting federal civil servants under a Schedule F classification that would make it easier to dismiss them. There are strong civil service protections that make it difficult to fire federal employees.
Connolly noted he has introduced legislation to block Schedule F.
“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is a beat I know well, and right now we need an expert who can parry the worst Republican attacks on our institutions and deliver reform where it is necessary and needed,” he said.
Connolly, who has been in Congress since January 2009, touted his credentials such as his 16 years on the committee. He’s currently the committee’s vice ranking member.
If elected as ranking member, Connolly said he would “elevate the talent and diversity of our caucus.”
Additionally, he said he would be “burrowing into issues, empowering our members to their full potential, and managing the broad range of policies and politics that come before our committee.”
Connolly said he considers himself “a committee workhorse committed to the tough and sometimes obscure work of governing.”
