President Trump's New Budget Plan Cuts Health, Education, and Clean Energy
President Donald Trump has proposed a new budget for the upcoming year that would cut funding for health, education, and clean energy programs. This proposal was shared on Thursday and includes big changes that could affect many areas of American life.
Major Cuts in Key Areas
The budget suggests reducing funds in several important government departments:
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would see a 26% cut in its budget.
- The Department of Health and Human Services could face a 15% reduction.
- The Department of Education may have its budget lowered by 12%.
Additionally, the plan aims to completely remove some programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E is known for its work in developing new energy technologies. The proposal also wants to cut the funds for global health initiatives significantly, including a 34% cut to the Global Fund which fights AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Why Make These Cuts?
The Trump administration says these cuts are needed to help reduce the federal deficit, which is now over $1 trillion. But, a lot of people, including members from both the Democratic and Republican parties, believe these cuts could hurt public health, education, and efforts to address climate change.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the budget, saying, "These cuts are not about fiscal responsibility; they are about undermining the health, safety, and prosperity of the American people. The President's budget is a stark reminder of his administration's misplaced priorities and failure to invest in our future."
More Money for Military and Border Wall
The budget isn't just about cuts. It also includes increases in spending in certain areas. The military would get more funding, and there is also a plan to allocate $2 billion for building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, which was one of Trump's major promises during his campaign.
The administration argues that these increases are important for the country’s national security.
What's Next for the Budget?
This budget proposal is likely to face a lot of opposition, especially from Democrats in the House who have promised to fight many of Trump's priorities. The next steps involve a lot of discussions and revisions in Congress over the coming months before any final decision is made on the budget.
As it stands, the proposed budget by President Trump has sparked a lot of debates and discussions about the future priorities of the United States.