Latest news with #DepartmentofGovernmentEfficiency
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘If a guy like this becomes mayor...': Vivek Ramaswamy's hot take on Zohran Mamdani
Republican leader and ex-DOGE head Vivek Ramaswamy has stepped up his criticism of New York City mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani , warning that the city's identity could be lost under the 'radical left' if Mamdani is elected. Ramaswamy, who is running for governor of Ohio in 2026, claimed that cities like New York are driving away the American spirit — and Ohio could be its next home. "I moved to NYC after I graduated college in 2007 because it was a place that still celebrated success, but that spirit receded in New York & soon could be gone altogether due to Mamdani,' Ramaswamy posted on X. 'We're reviving that American Dream in a new place: Ohio. The revival starts next November.' The 38-year-old former biotech executive, who recently resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency to contest Ohio's gubernatorial race, has leaned into cultural and ideological differences between blue cities and red states as a core campaign message. Earlier this week, Ramaswamy's super PAC, Victors Not Victims, funded a giant billboard in Times Square with the message: 'Worried About Zohran? Ohio Is Waiting For You!' It contrasted Mamdani, labelled a "radical socialist", with Ramaswamy, 'protecting freedom'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo Critics have focused on Mamdani's Ugandan-Indian background, however, Ramaswamy issued a public note urging restraint. 'The real problem with Mamdani isn't his race or religion. It's his anti-capitalist worldview and his policies that risk destroying our nation's largest city,' he wrote in a New York Post op-ed. In the same article, he revealed how he too had been the subject of ethnic slurs online. 'Each time I post a photo, I'm asked to 'GO HOME'. He warned that if Mamdani were to lead New York, more residents would flee for cities that offer 'a better model of American excellence'. Vivek dismissed criminal activity and urged Americans to unite under what he called an ambitious and American spirit. "But that's not who we are. The rule of law unites us as Americans. We don't commit crimes — that's what unites us." 'The beauty of the United States, is that even if people leave, they can still head to my home state Ohio and celebrate an American spirit, " he said in a Fox news interview. Ramaswamy's campaign is widely seen as one of the most well-funded early bids for a 2026 governor's race, with his PAC already having raised $17 million.
13 hours ago
- Politics
Senate to push forward with bill to claw back $9 billion from budget
Senate Republicans are expected to move forward on Wednesday with efforts to codify some of the Department of Government Efficiency cuts to programs such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and public broadcasting. Their process to advance the package, submitted by the White House, began on Tuesday night when Republicans narrowly advanced the $9 billion rescissions package with the assist of the tie-breaking vote of Vice President J.D. Vance. Three Republicans crossed the aisle on Tuesday night to cast votes against the bill after raising concerns about the lack of detail in the White House's rescission plan: Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitch McConnell. "I have several concerns, specific concerns, about this package," Murkowski said on the Senate floor before casting her votes. "First, it's unclear to me how the specific accounts that are targeted for the rescission are going to be impacted. Neither the administration or others have been able to provide that, that very clear, very transparent explanation about the programs and the priorities that are going to be cut as a result of the measure." "We've got big, broad categories, but I haven't been given the comfort, if you will, that we're not impacting maternal and child health, that we're not impacting HIV, AIDS, that we're not impacting nutrition programs and programs related to tuberculosis, malaria, polio, neglected tropical disease, pandemic prevention, family planning," she continued. Collins, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement after her vote that "the rescissions package has a big problem -- nobody really knows what program reductions are in it." Collins added that for senators to carry out their "constitutional responsibility, we should know exactly what programs are affected and the consequences of rescissions." Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Wednesday morning that the trio raised a "fair point" about the need for greater specificity of the package, but said the Senate would still move forward with the bill later in the day. "I don't disagree. I think more specificity would be a good thing, and certainly more detail in terms of how they -- you know -- what exactly it is that they intend to cut as a result of this," Thune said. "But I think for the most part, most of our members believe that there was enough detail there to make a good decision about whether or not we want to move forward on the package." Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought briefed Senate Republicans during their closed-door lunch on Tuesday, after which Thune announced that the Senate version of the bill would exclude cuts to PEPFAR, the popular HIV and AIDS relief program, and also gave assurances that a popular vaccine program, the GAVI Vaccine Alliance, wouldn't be impacted. According to Thune, Vought also gave members details on the planned cuts during that meeting. "Yesterday, what they handed out were all the categories of spending. You know, what there was going to be a balance left, how much they're going to cut out of each category. And clearly in a lot of these programs there could be more detail, but I think most of our members believe that the administration, and looking at these and through the DOGE process, came up with savings that make sense and that help us achieve hopefully some meaningful reductions in spending that will root out some of the waste, fraud and abuse in these programs," Thune said. A "vote-a-rama" -- or marathon voting session -- begins on the legislation Wednesday afternoon, during which both parties can offer unlimited amendments to the bill. Because this is a rescissions bill, however, there are certain restrictions on the amendments that can be offered. Republicans cannot, for example, introduce more cuts than are in this version of the package. The total amount cut can only go down, which is something most Republicans will be looking to avoid. Democrats are expected to offer a number of amendments to challenge the package. But if Republicans stick together, Democrats will be largely powerless to block or modify this bill in any way. Unlike the megabills we often see with vote-a-ramas, this package is only eight pages long. All Democrats are expected to oppose the legislation, making it so Thune can only afford to lose three of his members with Vance's tie-breaking vote once again. It's likely that the three Republicans who opposed the package on Tuesday will maintain their position on Wednesday. Murkowski, at the Capitol on Wednesday, suggested that she wouldn't be swayed by her colleagues or even President Donald Trump about her support for the bill. She raised concerns that this package, which claws back funds already appropriated by Congress, makes it so that lawmakers are not "legislating," but simply affirming White House direction about policy. "My obligation is to my constituents and to the Constitution. So I look at the Constitution and say that it is, it is the legislative branch that has the power of the purse. I take that charge personally, and so I'm going to execute on it. The president can say what he's going to say, but that's fine. I'm going to do what I'm going to do," Murkowski said. "We could have had the votes to keep this from being discharged yesterday, we were one short," Murkowski said about blocking the bill. "And so today we will have a series of amendments, and we'll see how that goes." If the Senate passes this package, it will have to go back to the House for final passage. The House must pass the bill on or before Friday in order to meet the deadline on this package.
Associated Press
19 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Live updates: Congress debates $9 billion cuts on foreign aid and public media
Senate Republicans on Tuesday advanced President Donald Trump's request to cancel some $9 billion in previously approved spending, overcoming concerns from some lawmakers about what the rescissions could mean for impoverished people around the globe and for public radio and television stations in their home states. The Senate vote was 50-50, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. A final vote in the Senate could occur as early as today. The bill would then return to the House for another vote before it would go to Trump's desk for his signature before a Friday deadline. Republicans winnowed down the president's request by taking out his proposed $400 million cut to a program known as PEPFAR. That change increased the prospects for the bill's passage. The politically popular program is credited with saving millions of lives since its creation under then-President George W. Bush to combat HIV/AIDS. The president is also looking to claw back money for foreign aid programs targeted by his Department of Government Efficiency and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Update: Date: 2025-07-16 12:21:59 Title: Some Republicans remain skeptical of the rescissions package Content: Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she was particularly concerned about a lack of specifics from the White House. 'Nobody really knows what program reductions are in it,' Collins said. 'That isn't because we haven't had time to review the bill. Instead, the problem is that OMB has never provided the details that would normally be part of this process.' Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she didn't want the Senate to be going through numerous rounds of rescissions. 'We are lawmakers. We should be legislating,' Murkowski said. 'What we're getting now is a direction from the White House and being told: 'This is the priority and we want you to execute on it. We'll be back with you with another round.' I don't accept that.' Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Collins and Murkowski joined with Democrats in voting against the Senate taking up the measure, but the large majority of Republicans were supportive of Trump's request. Update: Date: 2025-07-16 12:06:00 Title: Ask AP reporters a question Content: Update: Date: 2025-07-16 12:02:10 Title: Catch up on the latest headlines Content: AP Morning Wire curates the most important stories and sends them straight to your inbox. Sign up for the free newsletter here.
Axios
21 hours ago
- Business
- Axios
Hillsborough wants to DOGE dozens of nonprofits
Longtime county support for nearly 100 nonprofits in Hillsborough could soon vanish. Why it matters: On Wednesday, the Board of County Commissioners will decide whether to ax recurring financial support for nonprofits from the general fund, many of which have relied on it for decades. Zoom in: The new guidelines, if approved, would make it harder for nonprofits to obtain funding from Hillsborough County. And year after year, each one will have to prove it still deserves a spot in the budget. Nonprofits must now demonstrate how their services fulfill a "public purpose," whether through health, economic, or social impact, and include "clear performance measures and expected outcomes." Organizations that have received recurring funds before Feb. 7, 2024, will see that support taper until it hits zero in fiscal year 2029. From that point forward, all awards will be one-time. Between the lines: This is the latest in a string of measures Hillsborough Commissioners have taken to rein in government spending, from forming a review panel to axing the county's affordable housing fund. The Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has served as the unifying force for Hillsborough's GOP majority and the motivation to push through sweeping changes. "Under the new fad and mentality of DOGEing everything ... I believe the board should be bold enough to make these meaningful improvements," Boles tells Axios. "Rather than waiting for some outside agency from Tallahassee or internal ad hoc committee." Threat level: The motion targets"legacy" nonprofits that have received funding from the board for nearly 30 years, while also aiming to reduce the number of nonprofits that Hillsborough ultimately supports. There's an exemption for nonprofits that operate out of county-owned facilities or provide services that support county functions; however, it's unclear how many nonprofits fall under those. The nonprofits explicitly listed as exempt are the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, among others. What they're saying: "The loss of this funding would absolutely have an impact on our ability to serve the community," Anna Corman of the Hillsborough Education Foundation told the Tampa Bay Times. The other side: "I fully support nonprofit organizations in Hillsborough County," Boles told Axios. "We need them, many provide vital, often core, services traditionally delivered by government."
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Senate votes to move ahead with Trump's request for $9 billion in spending cuts
Republicans winnowed down the president's request by taking out his proposed $400 million cut to a program known as PEPFAR. That change increased the prospects for the bill's passage. The politically popular program is credited with saving millions of lives since its creation under then-President George W. Bush to combat HIV/AIDS. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The president is also looking to claw back money for foreign aid programs targeted by his Department of Government Efficiency and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Advertisement 'When you've got a $36 trillion debt, we have to do something to get spending under control,' said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. The White House tries to win over skeptics Republicans met with Russ Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, during their weekly conference luncheon as the White House worked to address their concerns. He fielded about 20 questions from senators. The White House campaign to win over potential holdouts had some success. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., tweeted that he would vote to support the measure after working with the administration to 'find Green New Deal money that could be reallocated to continue grants to tribal radio stations without interruption.' Advertisement Some senators worried that the cuts to public media could decimate many of the 1,500 local radio and television stations around the country that rely on some federal funding to operate. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting distributes more than 70% of its funding to those stations. Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she was particularly concerned about a lack of specifics from the White House. 'The rescissions package has a big problem — nobody really knows what program reductions are in it," Collins said. 'That isn't because we haven't had time to review the bill. Instead, the problem is that OMB has never provided the details that would normally be part of this process.' Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she didn't want the Senate to be going through numerous rounds of rescissions. 'We are lawmakers. We should be legislating,' Murkowski said. 'What we're getting now is a direction from the White House and being told: 'This is the priority and we want you to execute on it. We'll be back with you with another round.' I don't accept that.' Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Collins and Murkowski joined with Democrats in voting against the Senate taking up the measure. McConnell said he wanted to make clear he didn't have any problem with reducing spending, but agreed with Collins that lawmakers didn't have enough details from the White House. 'They would like a blank check is what they would like. And I don't think that's appropriate,' McConnell said. Advertisement But the large majority of Republicans were supportive of Trump's request. 'This bill is a first step in a long but necessary fight to put our nation's fiscal house in order,' said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. Democrats warn of the consequences Democrats warned that it's absurd to expect them to work with Republicans on bipartisan spending measures if Republicans turn around a few months later and use their majority to cut the parts they don't like. 'It shreds the appropriations process,' said Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who caucuses with Democrats. 'The Appropriations Committee, and indeed this body, becomes a rubber stamp for whatever the administration wants.' Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that tens of millions of Americans rely on local public radio and television stations for local news, weather alerts and educational programs. He warned that many could lose access to that information because of the rescissions. 'And these cuts couldn't come at a worse time,' Schumer said. 'The floods in Texas remind us that speedy alerts and up-to-the-minute forecasts can mean the difference between life and death.' Democrats also scoffed at the GOP's stated motivation for taking up the bill. The amount of savings pales compared to the $3.4 trillion in projected deficits over the next decade that Republicans put in motion in passing Trump's big tax and spending cut bill two weeks ago. 'Now, Republicans are pretending they are concerned about the debt,' said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. 'So concerned that they need to shut down local radio stations, so concerned they are going to cut off 'Sesame Street.' ... The idea that that is about balancing the debt is laughable.' What's ahead in the Senate With Republicans providing enough votes to take up the bill, it sets up the potential for 10 hours of debate plus votes on scores of potentially thorny amendments in what is known as a vote-a-rama. The House has already shown its support for the president's request with a mostly party line 214-212 vote, but since the Senate is amending the bill, it will have to go back to the House for another vote. Advertisement Republicans who vote against the measure also face the prospect of incurring Trump's wrath. He has issued a warning on his social media site directly aimed at individual Senate Republicans who may be considering voting against the rescissions package. He said it was important that all Republicans adhere to the bill and in particular defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 'Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement,' he said. Congressional correspondent Lisa Mascaro and staff writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Stephen Groves contributed to this report.
