The Daily Show: Ears Edition Jon Stewart Challenges DOGE's Reckless Budget Cuts | Rupa Bhattacharyya
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Feb 25, 2025 Rupa Bhattacharyya, a legal director at Georgetown Law and former Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, joins to discuss the impacts of Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). She explores how reckless budget cuts threaten essential programs like the World Trade Center Health Program, emphasizing the backlash against corporate interests undermining public services. Bhattacharyya highlights the historical non-political nature of federal agencies and advocates for urgent reforms to ensure vital social support remains accessible.
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Rupa's Role in 9-11 Victim Compensation Fund
- Rupa Bhattacharyya served as special master of the 9-11 Victim Compensation Fund, appointed by AG Loretta Lynch.
- She aimed to ensure fair compensation for those injured by the 9-11 attacks, mainly due to toxic dust exposure at Ground Zero.
Bureaucracy and Efficiency
- Government programs are often inefficient due to efforts to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.
- Bureaucracies and processes exist to ensure responsible handling of public funds.
VCF Funding Challenges
- The 9-11 Victim Compensation Fund faced funding challenges, requiring award cuts due to insufficient resources.
- Jon Stewart and others helped secure additional funding, highlighting the struggles of those affected by the attacks.