As the new presidential administration gets its bearings, the executive orders are coming fast and furious. They’re coming so fast it’s almost like a theatrical production aimed at spinning heads and drowning out reactions with more noise.
Here’s one fine piece that landed in the inboxes of Vermont journalists this week, purporting to suggest that because President Trump was elected on November 4, that he has the unique and sole power to undo Congressional spending decisions made prior to November 4 and after that date.
That alone is laughable and embarrassing, but check out some of the actual language used in this email missive — which was rife with incorrect use of upper-case letters (editors cringe at random capitalizations meant to conflate importance and relevance).
Here is just one paragraph from the email:
“The American people elected Donald J. Trump to be President of the United States and gave him a mandate to increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar. In Fiscal Year 2024, of the nearly $10 trillion that the Federal Government spent, more than $3 trillion was Federal financial assistance, such as grants and loans. Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities. Financial assistance should be dedicated to advancing Administration priorities, focusing taxpayer dollars to advance a stronger and safer America, eliminating the financial burden of inflation for citizens, unleashing American energy and manufacturing, ending “wokeness” and the weaponization of government, promoting efficiency in government, and Making America Healthy Again. The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.”
A lot to unpack there, right? Presidential prerogative does not begin before being sworn in. Congress has the power of the purse and Vermont’s Congressional delegation is right to call out Trump’s attempted unilateral decision to cease federal spending and the courts agree.
As for the rest of that tripe? “Marxist equity,” “transgenderism,” and “green new deal social engineering policies.” What a load of bunk, fearmongering, and buzzwords.
