Responsibly trimming the government

Most would agree the federal government is too large and parts are wasteful and fraudulent.  However, if you have weeds in your garden, you don’t destroy the whole garden to remove them. Let’s downsize (pull the weeds) responsibly. Let’s have a transparent, deliberate, and responsible plan. Instead, Trump and Musk are acting irresponsibly in the following ways:

1. Trump is acting against the Constitution (Art. 1, sections 8-9) in taking over Congress’s power of the purse and federal agencies. Where are our checks and balances? Where is Congress? Why has DOGE and Musk taken over for Congress?
2. As of THIS week, Trump is dismantling DOE and shuffling student loans to the SBA but cutting that department’s staff by 43%. Trump will move IDEA, special needs students, and nutrition programs to Health and Human Services, also with a downsized staff. More work, but less staff? In what world does that scenario work? Is there even a transition plan?
3. Trump states that student performance is poor and the DOE at fault, with no transparent evidence. The states have local control over curriculum and textbooks, not DOE!
4. Trump and Musk dismantled USAID, which the world saw as America’s generous spirit at work against disease, infant and maternal mortality, and hunger. We now appear heartless to the world. Who will fill the void so millions don’t die? China?
5. The duo are laying off and firing federal workers in ways that are cruel and lack compassion. Is it kind to receive a letter from your employer about your subpar work and firing you immediately when other letters in your file tout good job performance? What about sufficient notice so you can clean out your desk, say goodbye to colleagues, and look for another job to pay the mortgage and feed your kids?

I could add many more examples! Congress, please don’t listen to any of Trump’s and Musk’s extortion-like threats to replace you in the next election if you don’t play ball their way! Be brave and stand up to the Duo’s irresponsible weeding of our government and Democracy!