Tyler Reporter

Lance Gooden, a U.S. Congressman representing Texas' 5th district, shared a series of tweets on January 29, 2025, addressing issues related to federal funding and immigration policies. Gooden has been serving in Congress since 2019 after succeeding Jeb Hensarling. He is known for his stance on immigration and fiscal responsibility.

In a tweet posted at 01:20 UTC, Gooden highlighted the potential defunding of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Catholic Charities. He stated that ".@PressSec sends a clear message to NGOs like Catholic Charities: Prepare for defunding! Hard-earned taxpayer dollars will no longer be used to aid and abet the invasion of America!"

Later that day at 13:47 UTC, Gooden criticized United Way for allegedly using taxpayer money to provide free food and housing to illegal immigrants. He attributed this situation to the policies of President Biden's administration, claiming they prioritize undocumented immigrants over American citizens. He expressed his demand for transparency by stating "Free food and housing for illegal immigrants funded by your tax dollars—courtesy of @UnitedWay. This was a direct consequence of Biden's policies that prioritize illegals over Americans. I demanded transparency and ALL documents related to this scheme."

In another tweet at the same time, Gooden referenced legislation he introduced in 2023 aimed at preventing federal funds from being used in human trafficking and smuggling activities. He explained the purpose of this legislation by saying "In 2023, I introduced the Protecting Federal Funds from Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act. This crucial legislation ensures that taxpayer dollars are not funneled to organizations complicit in these abhorrent crimes."