American Bridge President Jessica Mackler issued the following statement on Donald Trump’s budget:
“Donald Trump is a lying grifter. Trump’s budget is just the latest proof that he’s completely turned on average Americans by taking away their health care and leading us into a trade war — all to help himself and his biggest donors get rich.”
Here are some ways Trump plans on selling us out:
Ditching Infrastructure Investment
What major infrastructure investment? Trump ran on rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure and creating jobs in the process. First he exempted the Keystone XL pipeline from his “Buy American” requirement. And now, Trump still hasn’t provided the detailed infrastructure plan in his budget. Yet another broken promise and example of Trump selling out American workers.
Weakening America’s Global Influence
Trump’s would cut the State Department’s budget by a huge margin, and similarly gut foreign aid, both of which are vital to the U.S. maintaining influence abroad. It’s clear Trump has every intention of playing into Vladimir Putin’s hands. Foreign aid is essential to maintaining our country’s position of global leadership, and even Republicans like Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senators Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio recognize it would be a massive mistake to alienate close allies.
On top of that, cutting U.S. emergency assistance funds “would be a matter of life and death for a lot of people” around the world, according to former USAID administrator Gayle Smith. There’s a reason that over 120 retired generals are publicly calling on Congress to “fully fund U.S. diplomacy and foreign aid.” And here’s what now Trump Secretary of Defense James Mattis had to say about State Department funding cuts back in 2013: “if you don’t fund the State Department fully then I need to buy more ammunition, ultimately.”
Cutting the Federal Workforce
Forget Trump’s “bring back jobs” promises. Trump’s calls for massive cuts to the federal government — and that means federal workers are going to lose their jobs. Federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs are already understaffed — and eliminating jobs across the government, on top of Trump’s hiring freeze, isn’t going to make things better.
Redirecting Crucial Taxpayer Dollars for his $21.6B Border Wall
A key Trump campaign promises was a border wall paid for by Mexico. But of course Mexico isn’t paying for the wall; American taxpayers are footing the $21.6 billion bill.
To fund the wall, Trump’s proposes redirecting tax dollars from the Coast Guard and TSA — weakening two vital programs and threatening our national security in the process. Even Trump boosters like Rep. Duncan Hunter admit it “makes no sense.” Trump would also massively siphon off FEMA funding to pay for his border wall — taking crucial money from an agency that’s essential to disaster relief and emergency preparedness.
Gutting Housing and Meal Assistance Programs
The Department of Housing and Urban Development, which among other things provides vital support to public housing and for community development programs in low-income areas, would see a massive cut if Trump gets his way.
Trump’s plans would make it harder for Americans struggling to get ahead to find affordable housing, and he wants to cut “services such as meal assistance.”
Endangering Public Health
Trump’s proposal to slash EPA’s budget along with scrapping regulations will let polluters — many of whom are Trump big donors — destroy our environment with impunity. And it isn’t just about protecting our country’s natural resources — there are dire public health concerns as well.
On top of environmental dangers to public health, Trump additionally plans to eliminate the White House’s Office of National Drug Control, “which dispenses grants to reduce drug use and drug trafficking.” So much for Trump’s frequent promises to address the opioid crisis.
Ballooning the National Debt
Trump’s doesn’t prioritize the interests of American working families. But is it any surprise that the self-proclaimed “King of Debt” plans to add millions to the national debt, shouldering the burden on the American people while gifting himself and his mega-donors massive tax breaks?
Published: Mar 15, 2017