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Office of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia
Formerly the Office of Representative Gerry Connolly
The Washington, D.C., office and the district office of former Representative Connolly will continue to serve the people of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Representative Connolly passed away on May 21, 2025. See Press Release

Ranking Members Connolly, Morelle, Raskin Call on DOJ to Fulfill Duty to Defend Legislative Branch Authority

Washington, April 17, 2025

Today, Reps. Gerald E. Connolly, Joe Morelle, and Jamie Raskin, the top Democrats on the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and Judiciary, respectively, sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting confirmation that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will zealously represent the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—a Legislative Branch agency—in a lawsuit filed by America First Legal Foundation which preposterously alleges that GAO is part of the Executive Branch. 

 “Under well-settled law, GAO is “an independent agency within the Legislative Branch…[and] the Comptroller General, who leads the GAO, is ‘an Officer of the Legislative Branch.’” The Trump Administration acknowledged GAO’s status as a Legislative Branch agency in a 2019 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum,” wrote the lawmakers.

The courts have repeatedly affirmed DOJ’s authority and responsibility to represent GAO in court.

 “It is our expectation that DOJ will fulfil its statutory responsibilities and zealously defend GAO against this seemingly meritless action,” wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers called on DOJ to commit to full, vigorous representation of GAO for the duration of the case no later than April 23, 2025.

Full text of the letter is available here.