The Republicans in Congress responded to the unilateral steps of President Trump to freeze federal expenses, dismantle programs and fire civil servants by collective shrugging, mostly remained quiet and even praised him when he bypassed the legislative branch.
But in the last days, when his slash campaign and burning for the remodeling of the government began to influence their states and districts, some Republicans tried to push through in a gentle way. They were looking for carving and special consideration for agricultural programs, scientific research and others, although encouraging Mr. Trump’s overall attitude.
Their fast and quiet steps to protect their own pieces of the federal expenditure without criticism of Mr. Trump are an early hint of political reality that could represent the obstacles to the President’s pressure. Many programs that focused on cost reduction have rooted constituencies in Congress, which have been built for many years. This is one of the reasons why a reduction in the size of the federal government will be a mammot task, despite the posture of the GOP body maximum respect for Mr. Trump.
Take Sinator Katie Britt of Alabama, successor of Senator Richard C. Shelby, who left in 2022 at the age of 88 as one of them The last big pork cask legends in Congress. Mr. Shelby, former head of Mrs. Britt, was known for his billion -dollar management record in federal expenditure to his state during a 36 -year career.
Mrs. Britt was one of the first Republicans Increase concerns at home Soon after Trump’s administration ordered the National Health Institutes to reduce $ 4 billion at overheads for medical research grants, The movement that has since suspended a federal judge. Mrs. Britt, whose state received more than $ 518 million in NIH grants for projects that are currently active, told the local intelligence outlet to push administrative officials to capture a “smart and targeted approach” , pioneering research in high -reaching institutions ”such as the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
In the house of Republicans from agricultural states and districts LEGISLATION This week, aimed at saving the foreign aid program aimed at extinction by Mr. Trump as part of his efforts to erase the American Agency for International Development.
The bill would transfer supervision of the food program for peace that purchases crops at a market price from American farmers and distributes them to hungry people abroad, from the USAID to the agricultural department. The legislators claimed that their legislation meets the spirit of what Mr. Trump calls his “mandate” to reduce the federal bureaucracy and streamline it.
“Moving food for peace to USDA can continue to equip US producers to serve hungry people and at the same time provide greater transparency and efficiency, as the dollars of taxpayers are right,” Tracey Mann, Republican from Kansas and the head of the house and the main sponsor of the house And Bill’s main sponsor, said on Tuesday.
After Mr. Trump ordered a 90 -day freezing of foreign assistance, Senator Jerry Moran, also from Kansas, among the only Republicans who he urged publicly Foreign Minister Marco Rubio Restore Foreign Directors Foreign Shipments Abroad, so American growers, including farmers in its state, would not lose their excess product on the main market. American growers sold about $ 713 million in the fiscal year 2023.
And in letter last week The reigning director of the Office for Management and Budget by Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, President of the Indian Committee for Affairs, asked Trump’s administration to order federal agencies to use any limitations from the executive order of Mr. Trump aimed at diversity programs aimed at Indian tribes.
Not all Republicans are pushing back to Mr. Trump’s efforts to reduce federal expenditures, even though these cuts have hit programs in their states.
Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio, whose state received more than $ 1 billion in NIH research grants, said it supports a step towards reducing overhead costs and claims that taxpayers’ money should not be used to cover expenditure such as lighting, heating and maintenance buildings.
“If you ask an average American,” we spend a billion dollars to cure childhood cancer, how many billion dollars should go to cure child cancer? “They would probably say a billion,” Mr. Moreno said. “The idea that 60 percent is heading towards indirect costs is crazy.”
Nih said About half of the grant dollars ran to such costs at such costs.
GOP legislators, who are looking for re -re -re -cuts of Mr. Trump, quickly accepted his message that federal expenses were out of control, and at the same time claim that their state or district part of government financing is critical.
Mrs. Britt said in an interview that she recently spoke with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nominee of Mr. Trump as a medical secretary, to impress him to protect the life of the vital medical research in Alabama. ”
“He said he absolutely understood that we had to keep research and innovation alive and well, and you know you need to have the best technology and laboratory equipment to do it,” said Mrs. Britt, talking about Mr. Kennedy. “He committed to continue this conversation and tried to ensure that we find that the real solution moves forward.”
Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina, whose state includes two of the largest recipients of Nih grants at Duke University and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, said he agreed to move Trump’s administration to limit the amount of taxpayers’ money used. However, he admitted that universities would probably need time to adapt to their new financial reality.
“All our institutions are under great research; We have to protect it, ”said Mr. Budd. “I think it wants to protect the White House.”
Nevertheless, the Democrats are trying to earn money on the potential political impact of Mr. Trump’s cuts attacking Republicans in Congress, especially those from competing districts, for swallowing that damage their voters.
The House Majority Pac, the main political action group House Democrats, sent a report called “Vulnerable Republicans House, hanging farmers to dry”, noting how freezing financing hit farmers throughout the country and selects several Republican lawmakers on behalf of David Valadoo of California, Zach nunn from Iowy and Don Bacon of Nebraska.
