Trump’s budget request would cut spending by $4.4 trillion over a decade. This would put the federal budget on a path to balance… someday. The president’s budget includes $4.4 trillion in proposed reductions of spending increases. According to the administration, this is the highest amount of spending cuts a president ever has proposed.
To put this in perspective, federal spending is now so unsustainable, even with over $4 trillion in cuts, the budget does not balance in 10 years.
Refocus on the purpose of government
The proposal provides a path toward balancing the budget. It reduces deficits from nearly 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) to less than 1% of GDP by 2030. Congress should do more. The administration projects a surplus by 2035. With the gross national debt already surpassing the size of the economy, there is no time to waste. The Trump administration should balance the budget in less than 10 years not more than 15 years.
The budget proposal request significantly reduces the federal bureaucracy. Over the past century, the size and scope of the federal government has expanded. It is now well beyond the constitutional priorities enumerated by the Founding Fathers. The president’s 2021 budget makes progress in reducing the government’s reach. It also returns power to the people.
The budget proposal includes $1.9 trillion in cuts to nondefense discretionary programs. Much of the $1.9 trillion comes from elimination of waste, duplication and overlap. Another area cut are funds for programs that have no proper federal role. This is a sea change in policy.
In addressing these problems, the president’s budget proposes a 5% cut to nondefense discretionary programs. His federal budget proposal rejects the irresponsible Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019. The budget proposes a 2% annual cut from 2022 to 2030. But, nondefense discretionary reforms alone don’t balance the budget. Importantly, they help to ensure that the federal government focuses on truly national needs.
Defense
The president’s budget proposal prioritizes national defense. The president’s budget proposes $740.5 billion in national defense spending. This is consistent with the level provided by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019. This is a $2.5 billion (0.3%) increase compared to 2020.
The budget realizes over $5 billion in savings within the operations of the Department of Defense. That money the administration reinvests in higher priorities. Those priorities include nuclear modernization, missile defense, and increased readiness.
The security of Americans is the greatest responsibility of the federal government. Providing appropriated national defense funding should remain a top priority. What the proposed Trump budget cuts are things that do not belong in the federal budget constitutionally or are elimination of duplication and waste. It is movement in a positive direction but what the proposed Trump 2021 budget cuts is too little.