Trump Plans to Zero Out 19 Agencies

President Donald Trump is making it clear that it’s time to reduce government spending.

Besides reducing funding for both the Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department, Trump’s plans to eliminate the funding entirely for 19 federal agencies. Without these agencies, this will save the government a total of $3 billion in spending.

“Consistent with the President’s approach to move the nation toward fiscal responsibility, the budget eliminates and reduces hundreds of programs and focuses funding to redefine the proper role of the federal government,” according to Trump’s budget blueprint. 

Here’s a rundown of some the agencies the new administration plans to cut, starting with the ones people (mainly liberals) are up in arms the most about.

The Corporation of Public Broadcasting: This agency is granted $445 million and funds public television and radio studios, 90% of this budget goes to local organizations.

The National Endowment for the Arts: This agency has a current budget of $148 million and its focus has been on funding the fine arts. “Has been a subject of controversy for years after funding went to photographers like Andres Serrano, the person who displayed a photograph depicting a crucifix submerged in urine,” writes Newmax.

National Endowment for the Humanities: This agency has the same budget as the NEA and grants funding to cultural educational programs.  

Institute of Museum and Library Services: An agency introduced by President Bill Clinton and had a budget of $230 million in 2016 and helps fund local museums and libraries. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) has previously argued that these organizations should be funded by the private sector.

Corporation for National and Community Service: With a budget of $1 billion, this agency funds community service programs like AmeriCorps. Yes, this is the same organization created by President Clinton that had the abortion scandal, among other scandals.  

Institute of Peace: Created back in 1984, this agency has a $35 million budget and it aims to mitigate overseas conflicts.  

Then there are regional agencies that you probably haven’t ever heard of like the Delta Regional Authority with a $25 million budget to increase “economic development” in the Mississippi Delta region, which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois; the Northern Border Regional Commission with $8 million to fund economic development in areas of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont; Denali Commission, another economic development agency with $20 million designated soley for Alaska.

Like Trump alluded to previously, he would be cutting foreign aid programs. Some of the international agencies impacted will include the African Development Foundation with a $30 million to fund community groups in sub-Saharan Africa; the Inter-American Foundation which uses a $22 million budget to support nongovernmental organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean; and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, an agency with $11 million to discuss foreign policy ideas.  

Author’s note: While many of these agencies have what seem like productive mission statements, Trump is not someone to keep investing in areas that aren’t proving to be fruitful. I am sure if you dig some digging you would find that many of these agencies have not been performing like as promised. Not to mention, it goes back to the questions we consistently ask like what’s more important our national security or international humanitarian programs? With this budget blueprint, Trump is again proving he is keeping his campaign promises.

Editor’s note:  There are good conservative reasons for most of these cuts. In fact, we called for defunding PBS some weeks ago since their message has a severe liberal bias. No surprises, nothing we can’t do without.