Trump Cabinet Faces Tough Questions from Republicans Upset Over Cuts

As the Trump Administration's proposed budget cuts to various agencies and programs start to come into focus, some Congressional Republicans are starting to press members of the administration on the size and scope of the cuts.

VA Job Cuts Questioned

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins testified before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, where he was quizzed on the administration’s plans to cut about 83,000 jobs at the VA, or roughly 15 percent of staff. Secretary Collins said cutting jobs would make the agency more efficient.

“The department’s history shows that adding more employees to the system doesn’t automatically equal better results,” said Secretary Collins, who insisted that workforce cuts would not impact veterans care or benefits. 

However, Committee members including Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS), warned the cuts should not be a set number.

“Any efforts to right-size the workforce must be done carefully in a manner that treats men and women who entered public service to care for veterans with gratitude and respect,” said Senator Moran. 

FEMA Future

Representatives questioned President Trump’s plans to remake the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). At a hearing before a Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the administration’s plan to give states more power to distribute financial aid after a disaster.

“It needs to be reformed. It needs to empower states to build in the structure that they need to best respond to disasters,” said Secretary Noem.

However, Republican Senators, including Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) questioned that view. 

“My experience with FEMA, has it been flawless? Has it been, you know, a smooth road? No,” said Senator Capito. “But I think it’s a vital function, and I am concerned, if we turn it all over to the states, the capacity for the state to really handle this is something that — so I would ask you to tread lightly.”

Secretary Noem also defended a $646 billion decrease in FEMA grant programs, noting they were “wasteful and woke.”

Meanwhile, FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton was fired after testimony before a House subcommittee.

“I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” said Hamilton.

Social Security 

A group of House Republicans warned against changes at the Social Security Administration (SSA). In a letter, 15 Republicans told new SSA Commissioner ​ Frank Bisignano that cutting staff and offices would hurt their constituents. 

In the letter, the group expressed support for cutting a bloated bureaucracy but warned that “we must use caution and consider the impact any changes would have so there are no disruptions in services for our seniors and disabled who depend on the Social Security Administration to receive retirement benefits and supplemental security income.”

FBI Reversal on Budget Cuts

FBI Director Kash Patel reversed course and said he supports President Trump’s skinny budget, a day after testifying the budget would force the FBI to cut 1,300 jobs.

Director Patel faced questions from members of both parties, upset over the proposed $546 billion cut to the FBI budget. 

He told Senators that the FBI will “agree with this budget as it stands and make it work for the operational necessity.”

Science Cuts Questioned

Energy Secretary Chris Wright was asked about proposed cuts of $1 billion to the Office of Science, which leads scientific research on energy.

House Energy-Water Appropriations Chair Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) indicated he would like to see a spending boost instead. 

“I do have some concerns, candidly, with the proposed reduction to the nuclear energy budget,” said Rep. Fleischmann. “We’re at a pivotal moment in the development of our nuclear energy technologies in the United States, the success of which are critical to regaining international dominance in the nuclear market for our own domestic energy security.”

Impoundment Fight

And Republicans are also speaking out against impoundment, or when the President willingly withholds spending money approved by Congress 

The White House has hinted it may freeze the cash, if lawmakers overshoot the president’s budget request. 

“Obviously, we have never taken impoundment off the table, because the president and myself believe that 200 years of the president and Executive Branch had that ability,” said an unnamed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) official to Politico. 

However, some congressional Republicans are not supportive of such a move. 

“That’s like a line-item veto, and I think it’s illegal,” said Representative Mike Simpson (R-ID), chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee.