WASHINGTON – In a notable address to Congress, President Donald Trump took eight minutes to discuss the findings of DOGE, a project led by Elon Musk. Trump pointed out several controversial spending items, claiming they highlight wasteful government expenditures. Some examples included “a billion dollars for free housing and cars for illegal immigrants” and “8 million dollars for making mice transgender.”
During his speech, Trump praised Musk, who was present, for his role in bringing attention to these issues. He listed various expenditures he believed were unnecessary, including:
- $22 billion for housing and cars for illegal immigrants
- $45 million for DEI scholarships in Burma
- $40 million for the inclusion of sedentary migrants
- $8 million for LGBTQI+ promotion in Lesotho
- $60 million for Indigenous and Afro-Colombian support in Central America
- $8 million for researching transgender mice
- $32 million for left-wing propaganda in Moldova
- $10 million for male circumcision programs in Mozambique
- $20 million for an Arab “Sesame Street” program
- $1.9 billion for a decarbonization committee led by Stacey Abrams
- $3.5 million for extravagant fish monitoring
- $1.5 million to increase voter confidence in Liberia
- $14 million for social cohesion in Mali
- $59 million for hotel rooms for illegal immigrants in New York City
- $42 million for behavior change initiatives in Uganda
- $14 million for improving public procurement in Serbia
- $47 million aimed at enhancing learning outcomes in Asia
- $101 million for DEI contracts at the Department of Education
In response, Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan questioned the intentions behind Trump’s initiatives. She expressed concerns about privacy, saying, “Is anyone comfortable with him and his team prying into your tax returns and bank accounts?” She emphasized that change should not compromise safety. “We need a more efficient government,” she added, offering to collaborate on reducing waste without chaos.
On the conservative side, members of Congress are rallying around DOGE. They are urging House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to avoid implementing restrictions related to it in upcoming spending bills, especially with a government shutdown looming.
Trump noted that DOGE is “just getting started.” However, a recent Supreme Court ruling against his administration affected a separate $2 billion funding request for USAID, sending the case back to lower courts for further deliberation.
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