KNOWLEDGE: HCR explains cuts and other evil in Budget bill

HCR explains cuts and other evil in Budget bill

June 2, 2025, by Heather Cox Richardson

AI summary: 

This article from June 2, 2025, by Heather Cox Richardson, details the significant and potentially devastating cuts the Trump administration is proposing to various U.S. government programs through a large budget reconciliation bill. The author argues that these cuts are not about efficiency or reducing waste, as Republicans claim, but rather part of an ideologically driven effort to dismantle evidence-based government and concentrate wealth and power.

Here's a detailed summary:

1. Medicaid Cuts and Joni Ernst's Controversial Comments:

• Proposed Cuts: Republicans are pushing for over $700 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade.
• Ernst's Reaction: Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) sparked outrage by flippantly responding to a constituent's concern about people dying from Medicaid cuts with "Well, we are all going to die."¹ Her subsequent "apology" further exacerbated the situation, suggesting an embrace of Jesus Christ for eternal life and blaming "hysteria" from the left.²
• Reality vs. Republican Claims: Linda Qiu of the New York Times refutes Republican claims that these cuts target "waste, fraud, and abuse." Instead, the bill aims to:
  • Cut Medicaid expansion.
  • Limit states' ability to finance Medicaid.³
  • Force states to drop coverage.
  • Restrict access to care.
• Impact on Americans: The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that over 10.3 million Americans will lose health care coverage due to these cuts.⁴
• False Claims on Immigrants: House Speaker Mike Johnson's claim that 1.4 million unauthorized immigrants will lose coverage is false, as federally funded Medicaid is generally not available to them, except in emergencies.⁵ The bill, however, pressures states that currently use their own funds to cover undocumented individuals to cease doing so.⁶

2. Deficit Reduction Claims Debunked:

• Republican Claims: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the bill would lead to $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings and the "largest deficit reduction in nearly 30 years," echoing a long-standing Republican claim that tax cuts stimulate economic growth and increase tax revenues.
• CBO's Assessment: The CBO, a nonpartisan and historically reliable agency, estimates that the bill will actually increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion due to tax cuts and additional spending.⁷
• Attacks on CBO: Republicans like Mike Johnson have attempted to discredit the CBO by falsely claiming it's "run by Democrats," despite its bipartisan leadership and history.⁸

3. Dismantling Evidence-Based Government:

• The article argues that Republican cuts are a deliberate attempt to replace the traditional evidence-based government, which aims to improve the lives of most Americans, with an ideologically driven system that concentrates wealth and power in a few hands.
• Media Coverage Disparity: Fox News Channel's minimal coverage of Medicaid cuts compared to its frequent mentions of former President Joe Biden highlights a deliberate effort to control the narrative.

4. Attacks on Scientific Agencies and Disaster Preparedness:

• NOAA Cuts: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including the National Weather Service (NWS), faces significant cuts.⁹ These cuts threaten its ability to monitor weather, storms, and oceans, impacting farmers, fishermen, and public safety.¹⁰
  • NWS forecasts provide an estimated $31.5 billion in annual benefits.
  • Cuts have already led to fewer weather balloons and data gaps.¹¹
  • 15 NWS offices in hurricane-vulnerable areas are understaffed, with some unable to operate 24/7.
  • Five former NWS leaders have warned of "needless loss of life."¹²
  • Trump's proposed 2026 budget seeks further cuts to NOAA's climate-related programs.¹³
• FEMA Cuts: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is also suffering cuts, with Trump intending to shift disaster recovery responsibility to states.¹⁴
  • The head of FEMA, David Richardson, reportedly did not know the U.S. has a hurricane season, highlighting a lack of experience.¹⁵

5. Draconian Cuts to Health and Science Research:

• NIH Cuts: Trump's proposed 2026 budget calls for a drastic 43% cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including nearly 40% to the National Cancer Institute, and threatens to end most biomedical research at universities.¹⁶
• "Restoring Gold Standard Science" Executive Order: This order, issued by the White House, is seen as a political tool to silence scientific research.¹⁷ It claims the Biden administration misled the public on COVID-19, and it gives political appointees the power to:
  • Discredit research they oppose based on "judgment."
  • Punish scientists whose work is deemed objectionable.
• Historical Warning: Trofim Lysenko: The article draws a parallel to Soviet biologist Trofim Lysenko, who, with Stalin's favor, replaced science-based agriculture with pseudo-scientific ideology, leading to the persecution of scientists and the starvation of millions in the USSR and China.¹⁸ This serves as a stark warning about the dangers of prioritizing ideology over factual evidence.

In summary, the article paints a picture of a Trump administration systematically dismantling government programs, particularly in healthcare, scientific research, and environmental protection, under the guise of fiscal responsibility. The author argues that these actions are driven by an authoritarian ideology, aimed at concentrating power and wealth, and carry severe consequences for the American people and the country's long-term well-being.