Connect with us

Politics

Trump Spending Cuts are About Waste, Not Retribution

Published

7 months ago

on

Trump and Musk, DOGE photo courtesy of El Universal

The media is framing the budgetary cuts implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk as retribution against government departments that previously criticized or investigated President Trump. This is far from the truth, however. These cuts are sweeping across multiple departments that never attacked or investigated President Trump, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Operational Efficiencies, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Budget Cuts, Department of Education Proposed Elimination, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Defense (DoD), among others. Additionally, there is a general reevaluation and reduction in the total number of government employees across all departments.

The media claims that the budget cuts are being made to support tax breaks for the ultra-rich, with common taxpayers ultimately bearing the burden. This view, however, is inconsistent with the facts. President Trump’s recent budget proposal includes several tax cuts designed to benefit everyday Americans. These include the elimination of federal income taxes on tips, overtime earnings, and Social Security benefits, which would increase take-home pay for many workers.

The proposal also seeks to extend key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, maintaining current tax rates and deductions for individuals. Additionally, it introduces a new itemized deduction for auto loan interest, potentially reducing taxable income for car owners, and removes the $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions, which could help taxpayers in high-tax states. These measures are part of a broader plan that includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending reductions over the next decade.

Below is a partial list of departments and actions DOGE has initiated to reduce the federal budget:

National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH imposed a 15% cap on administrative costs for research projects, including expenses like personnel, facility maintenance, and equipment. The policy aimed to save $4 billion annually but has been temporarily blocked by a lawsuit. Additionally, NIH has laid off over 1,100 staff members, according to an internal email obtained by Reuters. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS has been working with DOGE to identify opportunities for more efficient resource use, aligning with President Trump’s goals.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID): The proposed cuts to USAID are driven by concerns over inefficiency and misallocation of resources. Critics argue that the agency has often prioritized administrative overhead, with as much as 20-30% of its budget going toward salaries, contractors, and other expenses rather than direct aid. For example, after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, USAID’s disaster relief efforts were criticized for slow response times and wasteful spending, including duplicate services and excessive contractor fees. Additionally, the agency’s focus on initiatives like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has drawn scrutiny, while there are parts of the world where basic needs such as food, water, and healthcare are not being met.

Infrastructure projects funded by USAID in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq have also been criticized for being poorly planned and unsustainable, often resulting in abandoned or underused facilities. Furthermore, the practice of paying foreign contractors exorbitant salaries, sometimes reaching six figures, has been seen as an inefficient use of taxpayer money when local personnel could fulfill similar roles at much lower costs. These issues have prompted calls for cuts to USAID’s budget as part of a broader push to eliminate waste and redirect resources to more immediate needs, both domestically and internationally.

Department of Education: The administration has proposed eliminating the Department of Education, a longstanding goal among many conservatives, although this proposal faces significant legal and political challenges. The rationale for this policy is rooted in the belief that education should be managed at the local or state level, rather than by a federal agency. Advocates argue that local school boards and state governments are better equipped to address the specific needs of their communities, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach from Washington.

Supporters also see the Department of Education as an example of unnecessary federal overreach, contending that education is a responsibility traditionally handled by states. They believe that eliminating the department would reduce the size of the federal government and restore more power to states. Budgetary concerns also play a role, as the department’s large budget is seen as an area where savings could be achieved to help reduce the federal deficit. Additionally, proponents often push for increased school choice, arguing that reducing federal involvement would foster competition among schools, improve quality, and provide parents with more educational options.

Critics also highlight the bureaucratic nature of the Department of Education, suggesting that eliminating it could direct more funds to schools rather than administrative overhead. Finally, some proponents argue that the U.S. Constitution does not grant the federal government authority over education, with the Tenth Amendment reserving such powers to the states or the people.

Other government departments targeted by DOG include the Department of Defense (DoD), IRS, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and USAID, as well as agencies like NASA, FEMA, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). DOGE has initiated investigations into fraud and waste at the DoD, with layoffs expected for probationary employees. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has already experienced significant cuts, including a 31% reduction in 2018, which resulted in the elimination of over 50 programs and the loss of 3,200 jobs.

Similarly, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) faces proposed cuts that could reduce its budget by 30% and halve its staff, potentially affecting vital services like weather forecasting and climate research. At the IRS, DOGE sought access to sensitive taxpayer data, ultimately agreeing to read-only access to anonymized information. Other departments, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Treasury, are also facing scrutiny, with Musk’s involvement raising concerns about conflicts of interest, particularly regarding SpaceX contracts. Additionally, thousands of probationary workers at agencies like the IRS and FEMA have been laid off as part of these efforts.

The post Trump Spending Cuts are About Waste, Not Retribution appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

Black Lives Matter Activist in Boston Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges – Scammed Donors to Fund Her Lifestyle

Published

18 hours ago

on

September 24, 2025

By

Screencap of YouTube video.

A Black Lives Matter activist in Boston named Monica Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty to federal charges this week, admitting that she scammed donors and used their money to fund her own lavish lifestyle.

Cannon-Grant was previously held up as an admired figure. The city of Boston named her the Bostonian of the year at one point for her ‘social justice activism’ and she was even recognized by the Boston Celtics basketball team for her efforts.

She is now facing a minimum of two years in prison.

The New York Post reports:

BLM-linked activist admits conning donors to fund her lavish lifestyle

A once-celebrated Boston social activist has pleaded guilty to defrauding donors — including Black Lives Matter — out of thousands of dollars that she used as a personal piggy bank.

Monica Cannon-Grant, 44, pleaded guilty Monday to 18 counts of fraud-related crimes that she committed with her late husband while operating their Violence in Boston (VIB) activists group, according to the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.

The activist scammed money — including $3,000 from a BLM group — while claiming it was to help feed children and run protests like one in 2020 over the murder of George Floyd and police violence.

Cannon-Grant also conned her way into getting $100,000 in federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits — which she used to pay off her personal auto loan and car insurance policy.

But she has now confessed to transferring funds to personal bank accounts to pay for rent, shopping sprees, delivery meals, visits to a nail salon — and even a summer vacation to Maryland.

Just amazing.

Here’s a local video report:

She should pay back every penny.

The post Black Lives Matter Activist in Boston Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges – Scammed Donors to Fund Her Lifestyle appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Continue Reading

Politics

Keith Olbermann Backpedals Furiously With Apology for Threatening CNN’s Scott Jennings – Jennings Responds (VIDEO)

Published

18 hours ago

on

September 24, 2025

By

As the Gateway Pundit reported yesterday, former MSNBC host and generally unhinged leftist Keith Olbermann, appeared to threaten CNN’s conservative pundit Scott Jennings on Twitter saying, ‘You’re next motherf**ker.’

Well, Olbermann may have gotten a phone call or a visit from the FBI because today he walked back those comments with a full-throated apology.

RedState has an update:

To quickly recap, Scott Jennings, a Salem Media Network radio host and conservative CNN political commentator, reacted to breaking news on Monday that Kimmel had been reinstated by tweeting, “So basically his employer suspended him for being an insensitive pr**k, and we don’t live in an authoritarian regime? Got it.”

This enraged Olbermann, who proceeded to tweet what many, including Jennings, perceived to be a threat. “You’re next, motherf**ker. But keep mugging to the camera.” Jennings tagged Patel and included a screengrab of the tweets in response.

Though the FBI hasn’t commented as to whether an investigation was launched, Olbermann ostensibly appears to have thought twice about what he tweeted and deleted, apologizing profusely in tweets posted on Tuesday and claiming what he wrote was “misinterpreted”:

See Olbermann’s tweet below:

Scott Jennings, always a class act, offered this hilarious response:

Keith Olbermann really needs help. The guy is just so out of control.

The post Keith Olbermann Backpedals Furiously With Apology for Threatening CNN’s Scott Jennings – Jennings Responds (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Continue Reading

Politics

Where is Lance Twiggs? Kirk Assassin’s Transgender Lover Has Vanished

Published

18 hours ago

on

September 24, 2025

By

Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson and roommate Lance Twiggs

Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson lived with his transgender partner – a male-to-female trans named Lance “Luna” Twiggs.

The FBI used Robinson’s texts with his transgender partner to solidify that Robinson was the assassin. Lance Twiggs has not been charged with any crime; however, federal authorities are still investigating.

Last week, Utah authorities released the text exchange between Tyler Robinson and his transgender lover, Lance Twiggs, sent shortly after Kirk’s assassination.

Utah County District Attorney Jeff Gray announced seven charges against Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson. They will also be seeking the death penalty.

Robinson was charged with:

– Count 1: Aggravated murder (capital offense)
– Count 2: Felony reckless discharge of a firearm causing bodily injury
– Count 3: Felony obstruction of justice for hiding the firearm
– Count 4: Felony obstruction of justice for discarding the clothing he wore during the shooting
– Count 5: Witness tampering for asking roommate to delete incriminating messages
– Count 6: Witness temperating for demanding trans roommate stay silent, and not speak to police
– Count 7: Commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child

Jeff Gray released the chilling texts between Tyler Robinson and his “love” Lance Twiggs.

Read the text exchange here:

Tyler Robinson texts with transgender lover Lance Twiggs / 1
Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson texts with transgender lover Lance Twiggs / 2

Lance Twiggs was reportedly cooperating with the FBI, however, according to the Daily Mail he has seemingly vanished.

“If [Lance Twiggs] ever comes back, it will be in a body bag,” a neighbor said to the Daily Mail. “That’s not a threat – I’m just saying that there are so many people who want a piece of him he’d be mad to show his face in public again. This was a generational event.”

The Daily Mail reported:

The Trans boyfriend of Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin has fled their former lovenest – and locals tell the Daily Mail they never want to see him again.

Lance Twiggs, 22, was led away for questioning when police swooped on the smart three-bed condo he shared with accused gunman Tyler Robinson, 22.

Shaken neighbors say the part time plumber has not been back to the $320,000 property in St. George, Utah – one declaring: ‘Good riddance. I never want to see either of them again.’

His beaten-up Infinity compact is still parked in his space with his work gear tossed across the back seat and a sandwich wrapper and a drink on the front passenger seat.

Upstairs lights have been left on for more than a week and notes and Amazon packages are piling up outside the home owned by Twiggs’s devout Mormon family.

The post Where is Lance Twiggs? Kirk Assassin’s Transgender Lover Has Vanished appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Continue Reading

Trending