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President Trump and Musk are gutting the federal government. This is being done for one reason, to reduce taxes for billionaires. They are slashing federal spending and increasing federal revenues to justify new legislation to cut taxes for billionaires. They are using tariffs to increase revenues. Tariffs increase the cost of products purchased by average Americans. Prices for new cars and trucks will increase, which will also drive the price of used vehicles higher, hurting average Americans.

Past and current veterans are paying the price. The arbitrary firing of a thousand nurses, doctors and others in the Veterans Administration cuts treatments in VA hospitals and clinics and delays processing of veteran claims for treatment and assistance. This is devastating for veterans who have put their life on the line to protect us.   

The farm economy is soft. Crop prices are low, and production costs are high. Farmers are bearing the brunt of administration policy. USDA funding was frozen imperiling assistance for many programs. Research into climate tolerant crops, bird flu and others are being eliminated.

The killing of USAID loses a $2.1 billion market for farm products and means a death sentence for starving children worldwide. Funding is still frozen with life-saving food and other products potentially left to rot. This is the real waste.

Tariffs will be devastating for the farm economy. Farm products are always a target for retaliation. On the cost side tariffs on steel, fertilizer and many other imports will increase farm production costs. Tariffs will increase the cost of consumer purchases leaving less for food.

This attack on veterans, farmers and average Americans is completely unnecessary. The only purpose is to temporarily bolster the federal budget to justify tax giveaways to billionaires.

Joe Pacovsky

Hayward, MN