Trump’s Budget Proposal: Donald Trump has introduced a new budget plan that proposes cutting $163 billion from non-military government programs. These cuts would reduce spending by 22.6% across a range of areas, including healthcare, education, the environment, and foreign aid. His budget proposal reflects ongoing efforts from his administration, including those backed by billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.
While Musk has played a role in reducing government spending, the budget aims to make these reductions permanent, even though Musk plans to step back from his role in government efforts.
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Although the proposal comes with a strong push from Trump, many of these cuts have already been blocked by courts. Even Republican lawmakers, who traditionally support Trump’s policies, have begun voicing concerns about slashing some of these programs.
Cuts to Federal Agencies and Healthcare
Trump’s budget proposal targets several federal agencies for cuts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are among the agencies set to face reductions.
Some agencies like the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, have already been dismantled during Trump’s administration. Additionally, the President has fired tens of thousands of federal workers, particularly those in agencies like HHS.
Medicaid, a vital healthcare program for millions of low-income Americans, remains a major issue in the debate. The GOP has proposed limiting Medicaid spending, particularly in states that expanded the program. This would require states to cover the difference, potentially leading to significant coverage losses for people who rely on Medicaid. Democrats have warned that such cuts would hurt vulnerable individuals.
Trump’s administration has reassured the public that cuts to Medicaid will not affect the benefits provided to current Medicare and Medicaid recipients. Though some of the cuts target programs like California’s CalAIM, which provides additional services such as food assistance and housing support to Medicaid recipients in an effort to prevent health issues from worsening. These programs have been labeled “wasteful” by the administration, which justifies the cuts as part of its larger fiscal responsibility efforts.
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Big Defense and Homeland Security Spending Increases
While the budget includes cuts to social programs, it also proposes significant increases in defense and homeland security spending. According to USA Today, the Pentagon’s budget is expected to surpass $1 trillion, with a $150 billion increase from the previous year.
The Pentagon’s budget includes $25 billion for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to develop new systems like the “Golden Dome,” inspired by Israel’s “Iron Dome.” There is also $8.5 billion set aside for weapons modernization and another $8.5 billion for support services like childcare and education for service members.
Some people are concerned about the Pentagon’s failure to pass an audit, making it hard to track spending. Taking this in account the administration has allocated $200 million for automation and artificial intelligence to improve the audit process, but it’s unclear if these technologies will detect errors or fraud.
The Department of Homeland Security
Increased spending on homeland security is another focus of the budget. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will see an increase of about $1.8 billion in discretionary spending, bringing its total to $62.4 billion. The House Committee on Homeland Security has proposed $46.5 billion for building the border wall system, including funds for barriers, sensors, cameras, and other detection technology.
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The plan also includes $5 billion for building and improving U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities, as well as hiring and training more border patrol agents. An additional $2 billion would be allocated for bonuses for agents, with funding potentially extending through 2029.
Further, the budget proposes $16 million for CBP’s National Vetting Center, which focuses on screening and vetting foreign nationals, expanding the criminal history database.
Changes to Immigration Laws and Asylum Proposals
As part of the proposed budget, there are also changes to immigration laws under consideration. The GOP has proposed that migrants should pay $1,000 to apply for asylum. Experts warn this could break international refugee laws, which protect the right to seek asylum for those in danger at home. Immigration advocates and legal experts are worried about the potential impact of such proposals.
