President Trump has recently proposed a $4.4 trillion budget to Congress for 2019. The proposal includes a numerous amount of cuts to programs such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Medicare and food stamps. Trump’s plan also includes drastically increasing military and border security spending.
The proposed budget would add $7 trillion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years. The New York Times refers to this budget, along with the tax cuts Republicans passed last year, as “one of the greatest transfers of wealth from the poor to the rich in generations.”
The budget reflects the White House’s vision for the future of this country. While the budget proposal written as it is now has a low chance of being passed by Congress, the possible implications the budget proposes are huge.
The proposal would cut funding for the State Department— the agency that controls resolving problems without going to war— by 29 percent. It would cut the Environmental Protection Agency by 25 percent and the Small Business Administration by 25 percent.
The budget plan also calls for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and deep cuts in housing and urban development. It proposes cuts to programs like Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps that benefit millions of lower and middle class families.
“I think it’s crazy for Trump to be making such large cuts to programs like Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services,” Estefany Perez, a junior biology major, said. “The planet and the people are what need the money the most.”
The White House estimated that— compared to last year— taxpayers will save $600 million by cutting these programs.
The White House has already passed a budget deal that included a $300 billion increase on domestic and military spending. Other budget increases include NASA, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs.
President Trump also requested an estimated $1.6 billion to begin construction of the wall separating the United States from Mexico. Homeland Security would also receive an increased budget of $46 billion, in efforts to increase security to withhold illegal immigrants.
“I agree with Trump’s plan to increase military spending,” junior political science major Samuel Critides said. “His plan to use the money for overseas operations and support is definitely needed.”
The plan is said to be able to generate as much as $1.7 trillion over then next 10 years to build new roads, bridges and other major projects, according to President Trump.
“I feel like the government could put all this money to better use,” Liliana Ayllon, a junior education major, said. “This budget proposal is a lot of giving to the rich and taking from the poor.”
