Latest news with #GovernmentEfficiency
France 24
3 days ago
- Business
- France 24
US senators approve $9 billion of Elon Musk's federal cuts
The upper chamber of Congress green-lit the measure in what was seen as the first test of how easily lawmakers could usher into law savings sought by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) -- in the aftermath of the tech mogul's acrimonious exit from the government. Despite the cutbacks' unpopularity in some sections of both parties, the Republican-led Senate passed the measure with 51 votes for and 48 against in a session that went more than two hours past midnight. The version of the text passed in June by the House of Representatives sought to eliminate $400 million in funding allocated to health programs, including the PEPFAR global AIDS relief fund created by then-president George W. Bush. But defunding PEPFAR -- which has saved an estimated 26 million lives -- was seen as a nonstarter among a handful of moderate Republican senators, and the proposal was dropped. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham told AFP the bill was consistent with Trump's promises to cut spending. "I've been a big fan of the foreign aid accounts... I'm a big hawkish guy, but you need foreign aid. You need soft power," he said. "But when you start spending money on a bunch of junk, and liberal programs disconnected from the purpose of the aid package, it makes it difficult on a guy like me." The bill now goes back to the House for final approval, with lawmakers up against the clock. Congress, which had already allocated the money, has to approve the cuts by Friday or the White House must spend the cash as originally intended. Legislation to claw back money already approved by Congress -- known as a "rescissions package" -- is extremely rare, and no such measure has passed in decades. 'Surrendering powers' Around a dozen Republicans had voiced concerns about allowing the White House to dictate spending cuts, placing them in the crosshairs of Trump, who last week threatened to withhold his endorsements from any rebels. The vote was the first in what Republicans have touted as a potential series of packages codifying the spending cuts made by DOGE. Musk was tapped by Trump to lead the task force after the tech billionaire spent $290 million helping him get elected. The SpaceX and Tesla boss boasted that he would be able to save $2 trillion in federal spending -- but left the White House under a cloud in late May as he feuded with Trump over deficits and spending. DOGE acknowledges that it has saved taxpayers just $190 billion -- and fact checkers even see that claim as dubious, given previous inaccuracies in its accounting. The rescissions package slashes around $8 billion in foreign aid, with much of that approved for humanitarian organization USAID, one of DOGE's first targets. Around $1 billion is to be taken back from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps fund National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), as well as more than 1,500 local radio and television stations. Conservatives often accuse PBS and NPR of bias, and Trump signed an executive order in May to cease federal funding for both networks. Democrats say cutting the funding will not meaningfully reduce the deficit, but instead dismantle a trusted source of information for millions of Americans. "It is yet another example of the spirit and ideals of our Constitution being undermined in a terrible way. We are a nation that believes that (Congress) has a real role," New Jersey Senator Cory Booker told AFP. "And this is a bunch of my colleagues in thrall of the president, surrendering the powers of us, and the urgency for us to work together and do it in a bipartisan way to improve budgets." © 2025 AFP
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Hegseth raged at DOGE official who was accused of calling the police to the Pentagon, report says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at a senior Department of Government Efficiency official who allegedly called the Pentagon police on a subordinate after a confrontation, according to a new report. The reprimand allegedly took place after a tense one-on-one meeting on April 4 between Yinon Weiss, Elon Musk's pick to lead DOGE at the Defense Department, and Justin Fulcher, another official at the advisory body, three sources told the Washington Post. It came at a tumultuous time for the defense secretary, who was dealing with the fallout from Signalgate, where top officials gave The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg a front row seat as they discussed impending strikes on Houthi terrorists in Yemen in March. After storming out of the meeting, Fulcher allegedly went to Hegseth's office and complained that he believed Weiss had reported him to the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. Weiss's alleged actions angered the defense secretary, the sources said. It's not clear what caused the argument between Weiss and Fulcher. At times raising his voice, the sources added that an irate Hegseth demanded that Weiss, who departed DOGE last week, explain why he believed he possessed the authority to evict someone from government property. Weiss attempted to explain to Hegseth that he had not contacted the Pentagon police but another government official, two people familiar with their argument said. One source claimed that Weiss contacted the Pentagon transition office that assists newly arriving political appointees. In a text message to The Post, Fulcher said that he believed no police were called, nor did he see any law enforcement officers. 'There was one person who was making claims that he was going to call PFPA (Pentagon Force Protection Agency) – that was clear,' he said. Despite Fulcher's admission, Hegseth did not appear to blame the DOGE employee. After his spat with Weiss, he was provided with a Pentagon office space. After firing senior Pentagon officials in mid-April, Hegseth named Fulcher a senior adviser. While Fulcher remains in his position, sources said he has been relocated from outside Hegseth's main office to a desk down the hall. Fulcher told The Post that the move was temporary, due to maintenance work being conducted. Reflecting on his departure from DOGE on Tuesday, Weiss thanked Hegseth for the 'unprecedented opportunity' he gave the group. '@SecDef carefully and fairly weighed in on every recommendation that was presented to him, and he fully embodied the values he promotes for the Department; reviving the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military, and reasserting deterrence,' he tweeted. The altercation highlights tension between senior Pentagon officials and those assigned to DOGE, whose mission to dismantle federal departments has reportedly clashed with national security priorities.
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
DOGE Head Must Testify in Fight Over Records Access, Court Rules
The Trump administration must disclose certain information about the Department of Government Efficiency to a watchdog advocacy group and make DOGE's administrator Amy Gleason available to testify, a US appeals court in Washington ruled. The Monday order is a setback for the administration, which won an earlier round before the US Supreme Court this year. A majority of justices held in June that a US district judge went too far in ordering the administration to comply with demands for written answers and documents about President Donald Trump's cost-cutting program. The Supreme Court sent the case back with instructions to 'narrow' information DOGE had to give up.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
A Senate vote this week will test the popularity of DOGE spending cuts
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans will test the popularity of Department of Government Efficiency spending cuts this week by aiming to pass President Donald Trump's request to claw back $9.4 billion in public media and foreign aid spending. Senate Democrats are trying to kill the measure but need a few Republicans uncomfortable with the president's effort to join them. Trump's Republican administration is employing a rarely used tool that allows the president to transmit a request to cancel previously approved funding authority. The request triggers a 45-day clock under which the funds are frozen. If Congress fails to act within that period, then the spending stands. That clock expires Friday. The House has already approved Trump's request on a mostly party line 214-212 vote. The Senate has little time to spare to beat the deadline for the president's signature. Another House vote will be needed if senators amend the legislation, adding more uncertainty to the outcome. Here's a closer look at this week's debate. Trump has asked lawmakers to rescind nearly $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting , which represents the full amount it's due to receive during the next two budget years. The White House says the public media system is politically biased and an unnecessary expense. The corporation distributes more than two-thirds of the money to more than 1,500 locally operated public television and radio stations, with much of the remainder assigned to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System to support national programming. The potential fallout from the cuts for local pubic media stations has generated concerns on both sides of the political aisle. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said he's worried about how the rescissions will hit radio stations that broadcast to Native Americans in his state. He said the vast majority of their funding comes from the federal government. 'They're not political in nature,' Rounds said of the stations. 'It's the only way of really communicating in the very rural areas of our state, and a lot of other states as well.' Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Ala., said that for the tribal radio stations in her state, 'almost to a number, they're saying that they will go under if public broadcasting funds are no longer available to them.' To justify the spending cuts, the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers have cited certain activities they disagree with to portray a wide range of a program's funding as wasteful. In recent testimony , Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought criticized programming aimed at fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion . He said NPR aired a 2022 program entitled 'What 'Queer Ducks' can teach teenagers about sexuality in the animal kingdom.' He also cited a special town hall that CNN held in 2020 with 'Sesame Street' about combatting racism. As part of the package, Trump has asked lawmakers to rescind about $8.3 billion in foreign aid programs that aim to fight famine and disease and promote global stability. Among the targets: — $900 million to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and strengthen detections systems to prevent wider epidemics. — $800 million for a program that provides emergency shelter, water and sanitation and family reunification for those forced to flee their own country. — $4.15 billion for two programs designed to boost the economies and democratic institutions in developing and strategically important countries. — $496 million to provide humanitarian assistance such as food, water and health care for countries hit by natural disasters and conflicts. Some of the health cuts are aimed at a program known as PEPFAR, which President George W. Bush, a Republican, began to combat HIV/AIDS in developing countries. The program is credited with saving 26 million lives and has broad bipartisan support. On PEPFAR, Vought told senators 'these cuts are surgical and specifically preserve life-saving assistance.' But many lawmakers are wary, saying they've seen no details about where specifically the administration will cut. The administration also said some cuts, such as eliminating funding for UNICEF, would encourage international organizations to be more efficient and seek contributions from other nations, 'putting American taxpayers first.' U.S. leaders have often argued that aiding other nations through 'soft power' is not just the right thing to do but also the smart thing. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told Vought there is 'plenty of absolute nonsense masquerading as American aid that shouldn't receive another bit of taxpayer funding,' but he called the administration's attempt to root it out 'unnecessarily chaotic.' 'In critical corners of the globe, instead of creating efficiencies, you've created vacuums for adversaries like China to fill,' McConnell told Vought. The president has issued a warning on his social media site directly aimed at individual Senate Republicans who may be considering voting against the cuts. 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. For individual Republicans seeking reelection, the prospect of Trump working to defeat them is reason for pause and could be a sign the package is teetering. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., opted to announce he would not seek reelection recently after the president called for a primary challenger to the senator when he voted not to advance Trump's massive tax and spending cut bill . Spending bills before the 100-member Senate almost always need some bipartisan buy-in to pass. That's because the bills need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and advance. But this week's effort is different. Congress set up a process back when Republican Richard Nixon was president for speedily considering a request to claw back previously approved spending authority. Under those procedures, it takes only a simple Senate majority to advance the president's request to a final vote. It's a rarely employed maneuver. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush, a Republican, had some success with his rescissions request, though the final bill included some cuts requested by the president and many that were not. Trump proposed 38 rescissions in 2018, but the package stalled in the Senate. If senators vote 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. Democrats see the president's request as an effort to erode the Senate filibuster . They warn it's absurd to expect them to work with GOP lawmakers on bipartisan spending measures if Republicans turn around a few months later and use their majority to cut the parts they don't like. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer offered a stern warning in a letter to colleagues: 'How Republicans answer this question on rescissions and other forthcoming issues will have grave implications for the Congress, the very role of the legislative branch, and, more importantly, our country,' Schumer said. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., took note of the warning. 'I was disappointed to see the Democrat leader in his recent Dear Colleague letter implicitly threaten to shut down the government,' Thune said. The Trump administration is likening the first rescissions package to a test case and says more could be on the way if Congress goes along.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Facing Painful Cuts, the V.A. Reported Dubious Savings to DOGE
Starting in 1983, the Rev. Roland Freeman gave communion to the sick and last rites to the dying at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals around Denver. In January, the chaplain died at age 85. Four months later, the V.A. turned his death into a budget cut. After the agency reported the termination of his contract, the Department of Government Efficiency, President Trump's cost-cutting group, posted it on its online 'Wall of Receipts' used to celebrate reductions in wasteful or fraudulent spending. DOGE said the V.A. saved taxpayers $98,700 — the remaining four and a half years of Father Freeman's contract. The savings might be short-lived. The V.A. would not say whether it would replace him. In recent weeks, as DOGE's founder, Elon Musk, formally left Washington and the group's power waned, the V.A. still sent in dozens of similarly dubious claims. The veterans agency claimed credit for canceling contracts that had not been canceled, including those that provided veterans with prosthetic legs and wheelchairs. It also reported ending contracts for reasons unrelated to DOGE. They expired on schedule, or were cut off after a vendor shut down, or in Father Freeman's case, died. DOGE still posted those claims on its website, adding $6 million to V.A.'s savings. Over the past six months, The New York Times has documented how that group's Wall of Receipts, the only public accounting of DOGE's work, has been plagued by errors. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
