The list of potential harm from illegally defunding federal government programs is very long. If successful, this will most impact those Trump and Musk care the least about — the poor and middle class. One example is personal to me. The how and why is pretty simple, I have been living with cancer since December 2012. It almost got me in the beginning, but new treatments then saved the day. When the cancer slowly gained the upper hand after four years, newer and better treatments beat it back again, and when those waned, even better treatments have worked flawlessly since with almost no side effects. I have no doubt that research done with funding managed through the National Institute of Health (NIH) had a great deal to do with this outcome. Because of this process and the fact that science works, my cancer has become an almost non-issue to my daily life. Defunding the NIH will slow progress on fighting all cancers and many other diseases. Ask someone with cancer if defunding is a good idea. Rather than saving money, these cuts could cost a lot more than money.
According to our Constitution, the power to levy taxes and appropriate funds to certain endeavors is squarely in the control of Congress, not the President. Once a funding bill is passed, the executive branch, led by the President, is charged with carrying out that funding and spending. Agencies are also set up by law in the same way to administer funding in the ways congress intended. If the government is doing something he doesn’t like he can petition Congress to change the law, just like you and me. What is going on now is totally unlawful. The rest of the world would label it a coup. I do too.
Tim Wallace
Zim