This administration’s proposed budget includes a drastic 44 percent increase in military spending, aiming for a $1.5 trillion defense budget by 2027. This escalation is to be funded through significant cuts to essential domestic programs, impacting everything from energy assistance and housing support to worker protections and environmental cleanup. These proposed cuts, justified as addressing “woke” and “wasteful” spending, disproportionately harm struggling Americans while exacerbating the affordability crisis, all to finance a war that has already proven politically damaging and financially ruinous.
Read More
The Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the National Park Service are being widely described as “catastrophic,” and it’s not hard to see why. We’re already facing a monumental maintenance backlog, estimated at a staggering $23 billion. Slashing the operational budget by an additional 15% will inevitably lead to a further decline in the visitor experience. Imagine more visitor centers shuttered, trails left untended and potentially hazardous, and more “enter at your own risk” signs becoming the norm. The idea that we can “Make America Great” by allowing its most treasured natural and historical sites to crumble into disrepair is, frankly, contradictory.… Continue reading
This article highlights the evolving political leanings and actions of prominent tech billionaires. Marc Andreessen, initially a Democrat, shifted his support to a Trump super PAC after perceiving regulatory threats to crypto and AI, while also demonstrating a pattern of contradictory stances on housing and social issues. Larry Ellison, a top-ranked billionaire, is linked to a controversial merger involving a significant payment to ensure regulatory approval and was reportedly involved in discussions to overturn election results. Mark Zuckerberg, once a Silicon Valley idealist, has moved towards supporting Trumpian politics, discouraged employee activism, and faced criticism for Facebook’s data collection practices and business missteps.
Read More
The federal government has outlined significant spending cuts across various sectors, including science, tourism, journalism, and foreign aid, as detailed in hundreds of pages of departmental plans. These adjustments reflect a strategic shift in priorities, with a substantial increase in national defence spending juxtaposed against reductions in health, environment, and regional economic development. Notably, programs such as the International Climate Finance Commitment and a Canadian lunar rover module have been discontinued, contributing to substantial fiscal savings.
Read More
Elon Musk’s government efficiency department, DOGE, claimed to have made over 29,000 cuts to the federal government, but failed to reduce spending as promised. A New York Times analysis revealed that many of the claimed savings were inaccurate, with incorrect figures accounting for a large portion of the cuts. Although DOGE made numerous smaller cuts, the larger claims were found to be riddled with errors, exaggerations, and even double-counting of savings. Ultimately, the investigation suggests DOGE’s focus was not solely on budget cutting, but also potentially on deception.
Read More
In July 2025, House Speaker Mike Johnson voted in favor of a budget bill that would cut approximately $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to around 42 million Americans. This claim emerged online in late October 2025, amid a government shutdown that brought uncertainty regarding continued SNAP benefits. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected these cuts, with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reporting the cuts to be the largest ever for SNAP. Johnson’s office has been contacted for comment.
Read More
Across France, protests and strikes erupted in over 200 cities on Thursday, fueled by political uncertainty and budget disagreements. The demonstrations, spearheaded by major unions, aimed to condemn proposed spending cuts and advocate for increased taxes on the wealthy. In Paris, thousands marched, and the Eiffel Tower was closed due to the strikes. Though the government has yet to unveil its budget plans, the nationwide protests reflect growing social anger over austerity measures and the potential erosion of purchasing power for low-paid and middle-class workers.
Read More
The House-passed “clean” money bill, rejected by the Senate, contained a hidden cut of almost $491 billion in Medicare payments over the next decade, according to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. This cut would be triggered by the “Pay As You Go” budget act, due to the bill’s impact on the national debt. This move, coupled with the expiration of an Affordable Care Act tax subsidy, could significantly raise healthcare costs for millions. The potential Medicare cuts, along with the threat of government shutdown, were not addressed in the House bill, as Congress and the Trump administration face political impasse.
Read More
The USDA, during a period of budget cuts to school and food bank aid, spent over $16,000 on banners featuring former President Donald Trump and Abraham Lincoln. These banners were displayed outside the department’s Washington headquarters in May, coinciding with the USDA’s 163rd anniversary. The display occurred around the same time the USDA slashed $1 billion in funding from “pandemic-era” federal programs. According to a work order, the banners were printed and installed by Timsco Graphics, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins celebrated the display as ushering in a “Golden Age for our farmers.”
Read More
Following budget cuts and staff reductions under the Trump administration, national parks across the US are struggling to maintain operations. Archeologists, ecologists, and superintendents are being forced to perform menial tasks, like cleaning bathrooms, due to the loss of a quarter of the NPS’s permanent staff. Critics warn that this re-prioritization of duties is detrimental to park safety, maintenance, and long-term ecological health. The administration’s focus on seasonal hires and public-facing roles is resulting in a “Potemkin village” effect that puts the long-term sustainability of these national treasures at risk.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood