"Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) sent several letters Thursday to various federal agency heads seeking answers regarding directives banning employees from speaking to Congress.
“The Committee on Appropriations has a longstanding relationship with Agency career staff who are integral to providing the data used to inform our decisions,” she wrote in separate letters to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin.
“These staff have always conducted themselves in a professional way with integrity,” the Democratic lawmaker added.
“Unfortunately, nearly all communication has stopped since President Trump took office. My understanding is that these staff have been directed not to communicate with Congress.”"
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