Blue Press Journal

Tag: trump

  • Federal Workforce downsizing is built on a foundation of lies

    Trump shamelessly peddles the outrageous delusion that a mere 6% of federal employees actually show up to work full time in their offices. This is nothing but a blatant falsehood! Let’s not mince words here—it’s an outright LIE!

    According to an August 2024 study by the Office of Management and Budget, a whopping 54% of federal employees were actually required to physically show up at their offices every day. Only 10% were lucky enough to work from home exclusively, while those with hybrid schedules spent an average of 60% of their time in the office.

    PolitiFact took a look at the claim that only 1% of federal workers show up to work daily and promptly labeled it as “pants on fire,” their lowest rating for a statement that is completely off the mark.

    In comparison to the historical population of the United States, the size of the federal workforce has significantly decreased as a percentage. This means that while the absolute number of federal employees has increased, the proportion of the population employed by the federal government has decreased considerably. 

    Trump boldly declared that federal workers should be in the office like the rest of us, insinuating that they were all just lounging around playing tennis or golf. The irony of this statement was not lost on many, considering Trump himself had spent a good chunk of his first month in office on the golf course.

    It’s abundantly clear that Trump and Musk are using this fabricated narrative to justify their reckless approach to slashing the federal workforce. All this talk of downsizing is built on a foundation of lies.

  • This is really getting strange – Saturday’s email to Federal Employees

    Elon Musk, the self-proclaimed king of Twitter, has graciously decided to grace his loyal subjects (aka federal employees) with an email request to know what they actually did last week. How dare they not respond promptly to his royal decree? The nerve! The email, with the oh-so-casual subject line “What did you do last week?” was sent out faster than you can say “I work for a billionaire who thinks he’s a government official.”

    And let’s not forget our dear leader, President Trump, who took time out of his busy schedule of tweeting to praise Musk for his valiant efforts in reducing the size of the federal government. Because who needs a functioning government anyway, right?

    The president even went so far as to sign an executive order for agencies to start firing people left and right. Because nothing says “efficiency” like mass layoffs.

    But fear not, dear citizens, for the Pentagon has announced plans to fire 5,400 employees. Because who needs a strong military when you have a billionaire and a reality TV star calling the shots? The American Federation of Government Employees have promised to fight back against these heartless terminations. Because nothing says “respect for veterans” like firing them from their jobs.

    It’s truly heartwarming to see Musk and Trump working together to make America great again. Who needs checks and balances when you have billionaires and reality TV stars making all the decisions? So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show as America is run by the rich and powerful. What could possibly go wrong? Read POLITICO article here

  • Firing of General Brown wrong for America

    From an entirely American perspective, let’s talk about the absolute disaster that is political interference in military leadership. You know, when generals and admirals get the boot not because they’re incompetent, but because they don’t pledge their undying loyalty to a certain ideology. It’s like a recipe for failure, really.

    I mean, throughout history, we’ve seen how these politically motivated purges can completely screw things up. Just look at Stalin and his little purge party in the Red Army. Thousands of experienced officers gone, and what do you know? The Soviet military was left in shambles and got their butts kicked in WWII. Real smart move, Stalin.

    Sure, sometimes a leadership shake-up is necessary. But when it’s all about political brown-nosing instead of actual merit, you’re just asking for trouble. It’s like playing a game of military Jenga – pull out the wrong piece and the whole thing comes crashing down.

    So, let’s remember one thing: competence should always trump politics when it comes to leading a country’s military. Those four-star generals didn’t get where they are by kissing up to politicians. They earned it through hard work, experience, and a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears.

    But hey, what do I know? Let’s just go ahead and fire General Brown because who needs competent leadership anyway, right? Great decision, America. Just great.

  • Red State’s take hit in GOP and Trump 2025 Budget plan

    The Republican party’s ambitious plan to cut taxes, fund border security and defense spending, and advance President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda hinges on significant cuts to Medicaid. This decision, however, comes with the risk of a substantial political backlash as many constituents, red state MAGA voters, rely on this crucial program.

    Medicaid currently provides health insurance coverage to 72 million Americans, including millions of children, serving as a vital safety net in states where Trump enjoys strong support. States such as Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas are among those with the highest percentage of Medicaid recipients.

    The driving force behind this budget is a bold vision to slash mandatory spending by at least $1.5 trillion over the next decade, energizing the effort to finance an extension of President Donald Trump’s tax cuts. Yet, these tax cuts have alarmingly favored the wealthy, a fact underscored by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which highlights how they have disproportionately enriched those at the top while leaving many behind.

    The debate surrounding the future of Medicaid and other safety net programs has caused turmoil within the GOP as they search for ways to fund the $4.5 trillion in tax cuts demanded by President Trump, primarily benefiting billionaires. Previous attempts to repeal Obamacare, which would have significantly reduced Medicaid coverage and removed protections for individuals with preexisting conditions, resulted in Trump’s lowest approval ratings and contributed to Democratic victories in the 2018 midterm elections.

    Republicans have made it clear that cutting Medicaid is a key strategy for financing their tax cuts for the rich. The House Republican budget plan, endorsed by Trump, proposes slashing up to $880 billion from Medicaid to offset the cost of tax cuts. It is important to note that half of Medicaid spending benefits individuals eligible due to old age or disability.

    The Republican party’s plan to cut taxes and fund key initiatives relies heavily on reducing Medicaid funding, a decision that could have far-reaching consequences for millions of Americans and mostly in red states. 

  • The Supreme Court Stalls Firing Head Of Whistleblower Office

    The Supreme Court made a significant decision on Friday regarding the head of the federal agency responsible for protecting government whistleblowers. This marks the first ruling in a series of legal battles surrounding President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.

    In an unsigned order, the justices granted Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, permission to continue in his role until at least February 26. This decision extends the temporary protection granted to him by a lower court.

    This ruling demonstrates the Court’s recognition of the importance of safeguarding whistleblowers and upholding the rule of law. It sets a precedent for future cases involving government accountability and transparency.

    Overall, this decision highlights the Court’s commitment to ensuring that individuals like Hampton Dellinger can fulfill their duties without fear of retaliation or interference. Story here

  • DOGE’S possible legal violations

    Elon Musk and his team are pushing for budget cuts and layoffs throughout the federal government, yet the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Musk, has seen its funding skyrocket to nearly $40 million. Despite being hailed as “maximally transparent” by Musk, details about the department’s spending and operations remain shrouded in secrecy.

    President Donald Trump has acknowledged that around 100 individuals are employed by DOGE, but his administration has been reluctant to disclose any information regarding the department’s activities. Both Trump and Musk have defended DOGE as a necessary tool for streamlining a bloated bureaucracy, but the consequences of their actions have been devastating. Essential programs that catered to vulnerable populations have been forced to shut down due to the budget cuts.

    Most of DOGE’s funding has been funneled from other federal agencies through the Economy Act, a law dating back nearly a century. Despite being treated as a federal agency by the Trump administration, DOGE has refused to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests, raising concerns about potential violations.

    In the midst of numerous lawsuits related to DOGE, a federal judge has questioned the government’s contradictory stance on the department’s status. While Musk has praised the cuts made by DOGE and criticized targeted agencies, Trump officials now claim that he is not directly overseeing its operations.

    The operating practices of DOGE have raised serious doubts and left many unanswered questions. The department’s ambiguous status and lack of transparency have sparked concerns about potential legal violations.

  • Fact Friday: Undocumented immigrants Tax contributions

    In 2022, undocumented immigrants contributed a substantial $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. The majority of this amount, totaling $59.4 billion, was paid to the federal government, with the remaining $37.3 billion distributed to state and local entities.

    On an individual basis, undocumented immigrants paid an average of $8,889 in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. This translates to a significant $8.9 billion in additional tax revenue for public services for every 1 million undocumented immigrants residing in the country.

    Interestingly, over a third of the tax dollars paid by undocumented immigrants are allocated towards payroll taxes, which fund programs that these individuals are typically unable to access. Specifically, in 2022, undocumented immigrants contributed $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes, $6.4 billion in Medicare taxes, and $1.8 billion in unemployment insurance taxes.

    At the state and local levels, nearly half (46 percent, or $15.1 billion) of the tax payments made by undocumented immigrants are derived from sales and excise taxes on their purchases. The remaining contributions are made through property taxes, such as those imposed on homeowners and renters (31 percent, or $10.4 billion), as well as personal and business income taxes (21 percent, or $7.0 billion).

    Overall, it’s pretty clear that undocumented immigrants are making a huge dent in tax contributions, and it really shows their economic influence and how important they are for keeping public services running across different government levels. Just remember, they don’t get to reap the benefits from the taxes they’re putting in.

  • Trump’s betraral of American values

    President Trump’s audacious assertion that Ukraine instigated the war is a blatant affront to the very ideals that America embodies. This appalling departure from U.S. policy, boldly aligning with Russia against Ukraine in its struggle against the ruthless Russian invasion, has ignited a firestorm of indignation among policymakers and national security experts alike.

    Let’s face the facts: Russia invaded Ukraine not once, but twice, in 2014 and 2022. By echoing Russian propaganda, President Trump has abandoned Ukraine in its darkest hour, betraying our allies and democracy itself.

    Trump’s strong-arm tactics to force peace talks that heavily favor Russia are nothing short of a betrayal. His plan to end Russia’s invasion by offering Ukraine a deal to hand over 50 percent of its resource revenue for essentially nothing is depraved and foolish. This is a blowtorch to our values and principles.

    Team Trump seems to have lost its way in a fog of its own creation. Making ill-advised concessions and prioritizing a rushed end to the war over strategic thinking is dangerous. Negotiating without Ukraine and NATO at the table only serves Putin’s interests, not America’s.

    General George Patton once said, “Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser.” It’s time for Team Trump to remember that America plays to win, and that means standing with our allies, defending NATO, and protecting our national security interests. Let’s not sacrifice our values for a quick fix.

  • Trump and Musk are not exactly making the USA a safer place

    President Trump and Elon Musk made the brilliant decision to fire the National Nuclear Security Administration staff, who were responsible for safeguarding our nuclear weapons and weapon systems. Clearly, they were just a bunch of DOGEY incels who didn’t understand the importance of their job. Now, in a shocking turn of events, they are desperately trying to rehire these knowledgeable individuals, but oops – they deleted their contact information. How convenient. I’m sure this will make  the USA a safer place for all of us. Thanks, guys.

    Oh, and let’s not forget the uproar over Social Security payments to 150-year-olds. Because, you know, Trump and Musk are experts in deciphering software code that was designed to flag dates of persons that they could not verify, all they had to was ask a Social Security employee. But wait they fired them! I’m sure retired citizens in the USA are sleeping soundly at night knowing these two are on the case.

    And who needs FAA employees anyway? Trump has fired over 300. More plane crashes and deaths in the last month than in the past four years? Sounds like a great track record. I’m sure GOP Senator So-and-So is booking a flight for his family as we speak.

    Cutting funding for cancer studies and medical research? Brilliant move. Who needs smart, educated people running colleges and universities anyway? Clearly, Trump and Musk have it all figured out.

    CDC employees being fired and muzzled while epidemics run rampant? Sounds like a recipe for success. 

    And let’s not forget the plan to fire IRS phone staff right before tax season. Because who needs help with taxes, right? I’m sure honest taxpayers will figure it out on their own.

    If Trump decides to fire NOAA staff and destroy the US weather service, well, we can all just rely on our instincts to predict the weather. Who needs accurate forecasts anyway?

    Their record is evidently lacking in reason and detrimental to the interests of America. As they continue their clandestine endeavors, it is possible that the worst may still lie ahead for us.

  • Who’s playing golf … Trump … and its cost the US Taxpayers 10.7 million already!!

    Well, well, well, looks like Trump is really sticking it to the taxpayers by spending $10.7 million on golf trips already. Who knew playing golf could be so expensive? Apparently not the experts at DOGE, who are too busy ransacking the federal budget to notice. And let’s not forget about Elon Musk and his “high-IQ” team, who are too busy labeling things they don’t like as “fraud” to notice Trump’s golfing habits.

    It’s not like Trump has played golf every weekend since taking office… oh wait, he has. And he’s managed to visit his own properties nine times in his first 30 days. But hey, as long as the money ends up in the president’s pocket, it’s not corruption, right?

    In Trump’s world, spending $152 million on golf over his first four years is just business as usual. Who needs to worry about wasteful spending when you can profit off the government’s dime? So much for draining the swamp, more like filling it with sand traps.