Not a day has gone by in recent weeks without a newspaper, television or online report trumpeting the devastating effects that cutting a specific government program or grant will have.
The scenario is almost always the same. One or two people are interviewed as the face of the cuts or cutbacks, the portrait is painted about what will happen if funding is not restored and the blame is placed squarely on the mean, hateful Trump administration for intentionally hurting people.
We understand that each program and grant has its merits. We want teachers to be trained well. We want first-generation college students to get a good start. We want scientists to continue to pursue breakthroughs. We want crime victims to be supported.
For that reason, we would not single out a specific program or grant that ought to be cut before any other. That’s the job of the federal government.
And we have made it clear numerous times in this space that such cutting should be done with all deliberate speed, and with precision knives and not scythes.