Pallone Statement on “Morally Reprehensible” Trump Budget

Washington, DC - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s proposed budget.

“Donald Trump has presented himself as a champion of the “forgotten man,” but his budget wouldn’t just forget those Americans he promised to defend – it would eviscerate the programs and policies that help working families make ends meet.

“This Budget will make the richest richer and leave the vast majority of Americans worse off. In order to finance huge tax cuts for billionaires, Trump’s budget would cut more than $1 trillion in federal programs that help Americans who are struggling – including food and housing assistance, healthcare, and many other priorities. With dramatic cuts to Medicaid, New Jersey stands to lose tens of billions of dollars in funding that provides healthcare to the most vulnerable. Meanwhile, disease prevention and medical research is cut significantly, including a $6 billion cut for the National Institutes of Health.

“It also goes squarely after the middle class and those who aspire to reach it by proposing cuts to education, research and development, the earned pension benefits of federal workers, and veterans’ healthcare. It would gut coastal protection and investments in renewable energy, and it would reduce funding for Superfund and brownfields cleanup, all of which would disproportionally hurt New Jersey.

“This is a morally reprehensible proposal that would only take our country backwards. I will continue to fight against these reckless spending proposals, and will instead support priorities that will grow and support the middle class.”