Elon Musk meets with lawmakers amid budget cuts, job loss concerns
President Trump’s top advisor, Elon Musk, met with Republican lawmakers Wednesday night.
NBC- President Trump’s top advisor, Elon Musk, met with Republican lawmakers Wednesday night in an effort to reassure them as constituents across the nation voiced concern over sweeping job cuts and reduced spending. The meeting comes as both parties grapple with the fallout from Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which is pushing to cut government spending. Musk, speaking to lawmakers, said, “We’re making good progress,” as Republicans largely defended the controversial department. Some are even discussing a potential package to preserve these cuts into law. “We’re uncovering all the spending and letting us know where the waste is,” said Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC).
However, the cuts are facing heavy opposition, particularly from veterans’ advocates. The looming job reductions, which could affect up to 80,000 employees, are causing anxiety among veterans and their supporters. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) reassured his colleagues that there would be no cuts to veterans’ benefits. “We have to make sure there’s no degradation to veteran’s benefits,” he said. “Elon Musk is crystal clear that they, there shall not be.” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins announced plans to cut 15 percent of the department’s workforce but emphasized that healthcare and benefits for veterans would not be impacted. “We’re going to accomplish this without making cuts to healthcare or benefits,” Collins assured.
Democrats, however, remain skeptical, warning that these cuts could have detrimental effects on veterans. “It’s a betrayal to the promise of our service members,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “It’s going to mean longer wait times, fewer appointments.”
Meanwhile, the White House is taking steps to mitigate the impact of President Trump’s new tariffs. The administration has announced a one-month pause on the 25 percent tariffs on cars and auto parts imported from Mexico and Canada, after direct discussions with the “Big Three” automakers. However, the pause is temporary, as Trump plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on a broader range of U.S. trading partners soon. Many American businesses are preparing for the worst. Tammy Malvie, owner of Chadwick Florist, expressed concerns about the upcoming season. “We’re anticipating that spring sales will be down significantly,” she said. Despite the uncertainty, President Trump remains resolute, arguing that short-term pain will lead to long-term economic gains for the U.S.
In a pair of legal setbacks, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to freeze $2 billion in foreign aid payments to U.S. contractors. The funds were for work already completed by USAID. Additionally, a federal civil service board ordered the Department of Agriculture to temporarily reinstate more than 5,000 probationary employees who had been fired.
