Trump’s Cabinet Meeting, House Hearing Uncovers ‘Dark Money,’ Illegal Aliens Told to Self-Deport | Feb. 26
Feb 26, 2025
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President Trump's Cabinet meeting emphasizes cutting government waste and fiscal responsibility. A congressional hearing critiques the effectiveness of foreign aid, with bipartisan tensions over taxpayer funding. The Department of Homeland Security urges illegal immigrants to self-deport while preparing for potential federal layoffs. Meanwhile, Rep. Byron Donalds announces his bid for Florida governor in 2026, and President Zelenskyy is set to visit Washington, adding to the day's significant political developments.
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Quick takeaways
The Trump administration's Cabinet meeting underscored a commitment to fiscal responsibility with proposals to reduce the federal budget by $1 trillion within the first year.
The House hearing revealed growing skepticism about U.S. foreign aid effectiveness, with lawmakers questioning funding allocations tied to controversial ideological agendas.
Deep dives
Cutting Government Waste and Fiscal Responsibility
The meeting focused on the Trump administration's efforts to cut government waste, highlighting fiscal responsibility as a priority. Elon Musk presented a plan aimed at reducing the federal budget by $1 trillion within the first year of Trump's presidency, emphasizing the unsustainable nature of current deficits, which are projected to exceed $2 trillion. Musk warned that without significant budget cuts, the country's financial health would be at risk, suggesting that even essential services like the Defense Department could suffer from excessive interest payments on existing debt. This push for expenditure reduction drew support from key cabinet members, underlining a consensus that cuts were necessary for the nation's economic stability without touching safety-net programs like Medicare or Social Security directly.
Concerns Over USAID and Foreign Aid Programs
A hearing was conducted to scrutinize the efficacy of U.S. foreign aid programs, particularly USAID, which have been criticized for misaligning with American interests and funding initiatives perceived as ideologically driven. Lawmakers emphasized that American taxpayers are weary of funding expenditures connected to gender ideology and climate alarmism, questioning the legitimacy of such allocations. Testimonies highlighted connections between USAID funding and organizations with controversial agendas, including financial support tied to the Southern Poverty Law Center and Open Society Foundations. The discussion illustrated a lack of bipartisan agreement on re-evaluating U.S. foreign aid strategies, particularly regarding how these expenditures may impact the country’s global influence.
President Donald Trump holds his first Cabinet meeting.
The House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency held a hearing today. The heating was titled, “America Last: How Foreign Aid Undermined U.S. Interests Around the World.”
Trump’s Department of Homeland Security says it will use “every available tool to compel illegal aliens to self-deport.”
Also on today’s show:
The Trump administration issues a memo directing federal agencies to prepare for large-scale layoffs.
Rep. Byron Donalds has announced his candidacy for Florida governor in 2026.
President Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Washington on Friday.
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