Congratulations to Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency for stopping the insane left-wing advocacy spread through foreign aid. Americans are rightfully appalled when they discover that their government has been spending $2 million on sex changes and transgender advocacy in Guatemala, $25,000 for an LGBT opera in Colombia, and nearly a million dollars to study microaggressions among obese “Latinx” individuals.
For years, I’ve documented crazy boondoggles in my annual Festivus Report. Finally, we have a president with the courage to stop this ridiculous waste. However, to make the cuts permanent, Congress will have to codify the president’s actions.
Fortunately, the law allows the president to send funds that he determines are wasted or unnecessary back to Congress via a special legislative vehicle called rescission. Rescission bills are privileged and must receive a vote where a simple majority prevails. In other words, spending can be cut without needing Democratic votes.
The last time a president attempted to use rescissions was in 2018 when President Donald Trump proposed $15 billion in cuts. The Senate blocked the effort. But failure then is no excuse for inaction now. Our debt crisis is worse, and Washington’s addiction to spending has only grown. It’s time for decisive action.
My annual Festivus report details billions of dollars of waste; the most recent addition hit a record trillion dollars! With Trump on board, my goal of cutting waste can become a reality. The best way to codify Trump’s efforts to end the misuse of taxpayer funds is to send a rescission package to Congress, forcing Congress to confront the spending problem it ignored for too long.
The uniparty refusal to rein in spending proves one thing: Most politicians have no interest in solving the debt crisis. Year after year, they refuse to make tough choices, leaving taxpayers on the hook for wasteful programs. That’s why the executive branch should be applauded for stepping in where Congress has failed. Identifying waste is one thing; cutting it is another. Trump is doing his part. Now, Congress must do the same.
Rescissions aren’t about gutting essential services but about stopping unnecessary spending. Every year, federal agencies rush to exhaust funds before the fiscal year ends to justify bigger budgets. Rescissions would help break this cycle by returning unspent funds instead of letting bureaucrats funnel them into pet projects. If a program runs under cost, the savings should go back to the Treasury, not be repurposed for waste.
This kind of discipline is standard in the private sector. Businesses don’t survive by throwing money at inefficiencies; they cut waste and operate within their means. Yet Congress does the opposite, rewarding incompetence with bigger budgets. It’s no wonder our debt crisis keeps getting worse.
We have an opportunity to turn things around. Finally, the waste I’ve identified over the years can be cut. Trump should take the next step by proposing rescissions targeting the worst spending. Congress must follow his lead, rededicate itself to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars, and begin putting America on the path to fiscal responsibility.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH THE FEDERAL BUDGET AS A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LOOMS
This effort isn’t just about reducing the deficit; it’s about restoring trust in government. Americans deserve to know their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent wisely, not squandered on pet projects or handed out to special interests. By passing rescission packages, we can take a meaningful step toward that goal.
Now is the time to act. Trump should send a rescission package to Congress, and lawmakers should seize this opportunity to show they are serious about fiscal responsibility. Cutting waste isn’t just good policy; it’s a commitment to America’s future.
Dr. Rand Paul represents Kentucky in the Senate.