Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Wilbur Louis RossTrump admin asks Supreme Court to fast-track excluding people in U.S. illegally from census Trump 'very happy' to allow TikTok to operate in US if security concerns resolved TikTok, WeChat to be banned Sunday from US app stores MORE is refusing to testify before a House subcommittee about President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE’s proposed budget, escalating a feud with congressional Democrats.

Ross sent a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies on Tuesday accusing the panel of turning down testimony from several other department officials who spoke in front of the subcommittee’s Senate counterpart.

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“Unfortunately, the House Subcommittee appears unwilling to receive any of these witnesses to answer its budget and operations questions. Instead, the Subcommittee apparently intends to recognize an ‘empty chair,’ thereby forgoing the opportunity to ask meaningful questions about the Department’s budget and operations priorities,” Ross wrote.

“This development affirms that my appearance at this time would unfortunately distract from the Department’s important business before the Subcommittee,” he added. “You and I both care deeply about the Commerce Department’s mission and budget, and I know our bureau heads can provide all the information your members need to carry out their appropriations duties.”

The House Appropriations Committee fired back at Ross, tweeting Wednesday that “government funding IS the business of the Appropriations Committee.”

JUST IN: @SecretaryRoss is refusing to testify on @CommerceGov’s budget, writing: “My appearance...would unfortunately distract from the Department’s important business before the subcommittee.”



Mr. Secretary, government funding IS the business of the Appropriations Committee. pic.twitter.com/OACWJxdE5w — House Appropriations (@AppropsDems) April 3, 2019

Democrats have pounced on Trump’s budget, which he released in March and includes a conservative wish list of priorities including domestic spending cuts, curtailing food stamps, repealing the Affordable Care Act, reducing environmental protections and boosting funding for a border wall.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare House lawmakers reach deal to avert shutdown Centrist Democrats 'strongly considering' discharge petition on GOP PPP bill MORE (D-Calif.) characterized the budget as a “cruel and shortsighted ... roadmap to a sicker, weaker America.”

Ross is currently fielding a range of requests from other committees on several other issues.

Besides the House Appropriations subcommittee, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies is seeking testimony on the budget and the House Oversight and Reform Committee wants testimony about the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census.

Ross last week declined to appear before the Senate subcommittee, sparking a harsh rebuke from the panel’s ranking member.

“Secretary Ross: You’re not an investment banker anymore,” Sen. Patrick Leahy Patrick Joseph LeahyBattle over timing complicates Democratic shutdown strategy Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (D-Vt.) said in a statement. “You serve the American people, and part of your job is to be accountable to Congress and the American people. What do you have to hide?”

He also last month sought to postpone an appearance before the House Oversight panel that was scheduled for March 14. The committee is still seeking testimony from Ross over the Commerce Department’s intention to add a citizenship question to the decennial population count in 2020.