USAID cuts a goodstart to cut back spending
Re: “Closing USAID was first a Clinton-era idea” (Web page A7, Feb. 13).
Right now, I learn the letters to the editor in regards to the “terrible demise of USAID.”
A few of USAID’s expenditures do assist poor nations with meals help and medical vaccines, and they need to proceed.
I hope most Individuals can perceive that our federal authorities has overspent, and we now spend almost $900 billion of taxpayer cash, yearly, simply paying the annual curiosity on our $36 trillion debt, and that’s anticipated to rise.
Due to this fact, it’s apparent that many authorities packages have to be reduce with the intention to cease overspending.
Brian McCormickSan Jose
Sweeping modifications atUSAID not a brand new thought
Re: “Trump’s dismantling of USAID immoral” and “Congress cannot allow end of USAID” (Web page A6, Feb. 13) and “Closing USAID was first a Clinton-era idea” (Web page A7, Feb. 13).
Attention-grabbing is the juxtaposition of two letters to the editor and a commentary on the very subsequent web page about dismantling and restructuring USAID by Marc A. Thiessen. It reveals that we widespread folks usually should not have the expertise or firsthand data of many points referring to our federal and state governments.
An ideal instance — Thiessen’s commentary — uncovers the historical past and points concerned in attempting to dismantle and restructure USAID going again to the times of former President Biden (as senator) and former President Clinton.
Now I’m all in for offering crucial help to ravenous and oppressed folks in overseas international locations. What I don’t assist is authorities waste and fraud which everyone knows, or have some sense of, happens every day in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento. The Trump administration seems to be attempting to institute a authorities coverage that has been kicked round for many years.
Dan CasasSaratoga
Financial savings at federalagencies will go to wealthy
Nobody mentions that Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s examination of our authorities’s companies will be accomplished with out closing them down first.
Second, when you suppose the financial savings will probably be used to cut back our debt, suppose once more; they’re simply attempting to justify big tax giveaways to the richest folks on the planet.
If that is OK with you, maintain on for an America that you simply received’t acknowledge or be happy with.
Wealthy LeeSan Jose
Lamar’s message wasbigger than music
Re: “Kendrick Lamar does ‘Not Like Us’ — yet with one major change — at Super Bowl” (Feb. 9).
Hip-hop music is among the most important elements of Black tradition in america, and the highly effective messages that these songs can talk are to not be ignored.
Hip-hop songs are a approach to communicate from the soul to the listener, and Kendrick Lamar used the style as a medium to talk out in regards to the oppression that Black folks proceed to face, and as a name to not overlook the origins of our nation — we might not be the nation we’re at present if not for the contribution of African Individuals through the development of our union.
As Lamar states aptly: That is larger than the music.
Erika BodohSan Jose
To save cash, DOGEshould begin at Pentagon
The Division of Protection Inspector Basic Robert Storch was just lately fired by the Trump administration, together with greater than a dozen different federal company IGs. A yr in the past, IG Storch reported that the army overshot its spare components wants by almost $1 billion. Couple that with the distressing proven fact that the Pentagon just lately failed its seventh audit in a row.
Undaunted, Senate Republicans are proposing to extend the army price range by $150 billion.
OIG oversees and opinions the effectivity, effectiveness, monetary well being and security of the companies they serve to make sure their efficient operation by stopping and detecting fraud, waste and abuse, a task that Elon Musk’s DOGE claims it’s tasked with. If Musk and DOGE had been actually interested by authorities effectivity, they might first begin on the Pentagon.
Warren SeifertGilroy
Conflicts of curiosity atdrive Musk lawlessness
The lawlessness continues with an unelected billionaire accountable for our authorities infrastructure within the curiosity of defending his government-funded initiatives from oversight. Over the past 5 years, Elon Musk has acquired $13 billion in federal authorities contracts; final yr alone, he acquired $3.7 billion. Lots of the Protection and NASA contracts he has acquired are categorised so aren’t public. Donald Trump seems to be too lazy to manipulate, solely displaying up for picture ops.
Let’s not return to a small authorities that serves the wants of the rich few, endangers us by rolling again security rules and leaves the vast majority of Individuals working, paying taxes to profit not all Individuals however the few who have already got a lot and don’t pay taxes to contribute to our prosperity.
Mary BoyleSunnyvale
