Get to know Karen Ortiz
Karen Ortiz is a born and bred New Yorker, anti-imperialist attorney, and former U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Administrative Judge. Born in New York District 12, she grew up primarily in Garden City, Long Island but returned to New York City as soon as she graduated from high school. Karen began her legal career while an undergraduate at Columbia University, working as assistant to famed criminal defense attorney Barry Slotnick. She then pivoted to public service upon graduating from Fordham Law School. In addition to the EEOC, Karen has worked for the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, the Social Security Administration, the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission, and MTA NYC Transit. In early 2025, Karen was one of the first federal workers to speak out against the Trump 2.0 regime’s illegal Executive Orders and directives. She was terminated after her whistleblowing and refusal to follow Trump’s anti-trans Executive Orders. Despite veiled threats from the Trump administration, she continues to speak out in support of the LGBTQIA+ community and all marginalized New Yorkers. Karen is a certified yoga instructor, former Girl Scout (Silver Award), and recently participated in the Global Sumud Flotilla as a U.S. Delegate.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives write and vote on federal laws, including the federal budget. Each represents one district and serves a two-year term. Tax bills must start in the House, only the House can impeach federal officials, and members oversee federal agencies through their committees.