[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1001-S1002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this week will mark 1 month since Donald
Trump was sworn in as President. In his first month, Donald Trump has
waged a scorched-earth campaign against the rule of law and against the
very system of checks and balances that kept America together for two-
and-a-half centuries. Why? Why are they doing this? Donald Trump, Elon
Musk, and the Republicans are doing it all for one simple goal: They
are trying to give their billionaire buddies a tax break and have you,
the American people, pay the cost.
This week, Senate Republicans will take the next major step to
achieving Donald Trump's agenda here on the Senate floor. Senate
Democrats will expose Republicans' reconciliation budget bill for
exactly what it is: a sinister front for clearing the way to cut taxes
for Donald Trump's billionaire friends. This is going to be a long,
drawn-out fight. This reconciliation budget bill is only the first
step, albeit an important one.
Democrats are glad to have this debate with the Republicans. We will
show the hollowness of Republicans' arguments on cutting waste. We will
expose Republican attempts to cut healthcare, to cut Medicaid, to cut
housing, to cut NIH, and to empower DOGE so it incinerates basic
services that help tens of millions of people--all so Republicans can
help their billionaire buddies with another tax break.
Of course, Republicans will deny all of this and try to change the
subject just like when Donald Trump tries to change the subject by
talking about the Gulf of Mexico or hotels in Gaza or annexing Canada.
These are all distractions so people don't see the Republicans' real
goal. And what is that goal? It is worth repeating again and again and
again, and we will: Donald Trump and Republicans are trying to give
their billionaires a tax break and have you pay the cost. They can do
it in one bill. They can do it in two bills. They can do it in 50
bills. It doesn't matter. The endgame is exactly the same: tax cuts for
billionaires paid for on the backs of working and middle-class
Americans.
In fact, everything we have seen so far in Donald Trump's Presidency
has been about rigging the game for the billionaire class, from firing
independent government watchdogs to illegally freezing trillions for
veterans' care and Head Start and community health centers, to giving
Elon Musk Americans' Social Security numbers and even, potentially,
private tax and health records, to defying court orders, to demonizing
judges. Everything Donald Trump has done so far is meant to dismantle
the rule of law so that billionaires can run the show in Donald Trump's
America.
If you don't believe me, Elon Musk is already holding court in the
Oval Office and meeting one on one with heads of state all the while
DOGE is taking a meat-ax to healthcare and education and aviation
safety and so many other services without thinking about the
consequences for American families and for America.
DOGE talks on and on about cutting wasteful spending, but look what
is actually happening: FAA workers who keep our skies safe are being
fired in droves even as accidents increase. Apparently, DOGE thinks
that is government waste.
The VA, meanwhile, has fired over 1,000 staffers, including people
who manage the Veterans Crisis Line. Apparently, DOGE thinks that is
government waste.
The FDA, under Robert Kennedy, Jr., is firing staffers who keep our
food safe and review medical devices. Apparently, again, DOGE thinks
that is government waste. No one else does. They do.
Donald Trump and DOGE even tried to fire hundreds of staffers who
safeguard America's nuclear stockpiles. Imagine firing people who guard
our nuclear stockpiles all to help their billionaire buddies with
another tax cut.
Can you believe how dangerous and foolish this is? Donald Trump and
Elon Musk were willing to risk the safety of America all in the name of
tax cuts.
This example shows clear as day that DOGE doesn't actually care about
increasing efficiency. DOGE is simply taking a meat-ax at government in
defiance of the law and without thinking of the consequences--all so
that Donald Trump and Republicans can give their billionaire buddies a
big tax break.
I want to close on a particularly profane example of how Donald Trump
and DOGE are taking a meat-ax to public services--the 9/11 survivors'
health program. I would have thought that some things would have been
out of bounds for Donald Trump and DOGE, like axing services to 9/11
families. Sadly, I was wrong because last week Donald Trump slashed the
workforce for the World Trade Center Health Program, which I helped to
create years ago to support our 9/11 first responders, survivors, and
families. Apparently, serving 9/11 families--those who have been hurt
by 9/11, who have lost loved ones in 9/11--is just more wasteful
spending in the eyes of Donald Trump and DOGE. It is utterly
disgusting.
Because of these barbaric cuts, 9/11 families, including sick first
responders and survivors, will now face longer wait times to receive
often desperately needed care. Families will worry more about whether
or not their loved ones will be able to afford lifesaving treatment.
Donald Trump and DOGE's decision to cut funding for the heroes of 9/
[[Page S1002]]
11 is outrageous; it is un-American; it is insulting to every 9/11
first responder, survivor, and family.
So, today, I sent a letter, with Senator Gillibrand, to Secretary
Kennedy, urging him to immediately reverse the cuts that impacted the
World Trade Center Health Program. Donald Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and
DOGE have betrayed our sacred promise to never, never forget.
And what is the point of these cruel cuts? So Donald Trump and DOGE
can give their billionaire buddies a tax break and have the 9/11
families pay the cost.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic whip.
____________________