The Billionaires Think We Won't Notice

Numerous actions since Trump’s second term began in 2025 are harming American children, particularly through significant cuts to education and research programs. Here are the key actions and their impacts: Eliminated $900 Million in Research Contracts: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, terminated $900 million in contracts for the Department of Education's research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). These cuts have disrupted long-term studies tracking student learning, teacher effectiveness, and strategies for improving reading and math skills. (Sources: 1 , 5 , 6 ) . Reduced Title I Funding: Trump’s administration has proposed phasing out Title I funding, which provides billions to high-poverty schools. This could severely impact underprivileged students who rely on these resources for basic educational support. (Sources: 3 , 7 ). Cut Teacher Training Programs: $600 million was cut from teacher training programs deemed "unnecessary," which could reduce the quality of education and leave teachers less prepared to address classroom challenges. (Source: 9 ). Defunded Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives: DOGE eliminated 29 DEI training grants worth $101 million, which were aimed at supporting marginalized students, further exacerbating inequities in education. (Sources: 4 , 6 ). Threats to the Nation’s Report Card: Cuts to IES jeopardize the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which tracks student achievement in reading and math. Without this data, it will be harder to identify and address learning gaps. (Sources: 1 , 5 ). Cuts to Special Education Research: Funding for studies evaluating supports for students with disabilities has been slashed, potentially leaving educators without evidence-based tools to help these children succeed. (Sources: 5 , 6 ). Defunded Early Childhood Research: Programs studying early childhood education and school safety have been defunded, undermining efforts to improve outcomes for young learners. (Sources: 1 , 8 ). School Raids by Immigration Officials: Trump rescinded protections barring immigration enforcement at schools, creating fear among immigrant families and disrupting students’ ability to learn in a safe environment. (Source: 2 ). Plans to Abolish the Department of Education: Trump’s push to dismantle the Department of Education could lead to a loss of federal oversight and funding for critical programs that benefit low-income and special-needs students. (Sources: 3 , 7 ). Delayed Federal Assistance to Rural Schools: DOGE’s cost-cutting measures have caused delays in identifying rural school districts eligible for federal aid, leaving some schools without necessary resources. (Sources: 1 , 8 ). These actions are reducing access to quality education, increasing inequities among students, and limiting data collection essential for improving academic outcomes. They collectively harm American children by depriving them of resources needed for their development and success.

American farmers are losing billions of dollars in revenue due to actions by Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Key actions include: Freezing Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Programs: Trump halted funding for Biden-era IRA projects, which had injected $346 billion into rural economies, creating jobs and supporting sustainable farming. The freeze has caused delays, terminations, and financial uncertainty for farmers, especially those relying on renewable energy and climate-resilience projects. (Sources: 1 , 7 ). Ending USAID Food Aid Programs: The termination of USAID's "Food Aid for Peace" program has cost American farmers hundreds of millions in lost income. This program purchased surplus U.S. agricultural products for global food aid, providing a crucial market for farmers. (Sources: 1 , 7 ). Tariff Policies: Trump’s reintroduction of tariffs on key trade partners has reignited trade tensions, threatening export markets for crops like soybeans. For example, a potential 20% tariff increase from China could reduce U.S. soybean exports by 32.4%, costing farmers billions nationwide. (Source: 5 ). Cuts to USDA Programs: The freeze on USDA conservation contracts and other funding has left farmers without expected payments, increasing financial pressure during planting season. (Sources: 1 , 7 ). Deportation of Farmworkers: Mass deportations under Trump’s immigration policies have disrupted the agricultural labor force, raising costs for farmers reliant on immigrant workers. (Source: 3 ). Dismantling Federal Programs via DOGE: Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has aggressively cut funding and dismantled programs across federal agencies, including the USDA and USAID. These cuts have disrupted supply chains and reduced resources available to farmers. (Sources: 2 , 6 ). Privatize or Eliminate Federal Programs Supporting Small Farms: Musk’s influence has led to efforts to privatize or eliminate federal programs supporting small farms, further marginalizing family farmers in favor of corporate agriculture interests. (Source: 6 ). Delays in Payments: DOGE's reviews of government expenditures have caused delays in payments to farmers under conservation and subsidy programs, exacerbating financial distress. (Sources: 7 , 8 ). Economic Harm to Farmers These actions collectively have created significant uncertainty for American farmers, disrupted export markets, reduced access to critical funding and labor, and increased operational costs. The resulting financial strain is expected to cost the agricultural sector billions of dollars in lost income over time.

Actions taken by Donald Trump and Elon Musk since Trump’s second term began in 2025 are reducing national security and defense capabilities. Here are the key actions: $50 Billion Annual Defense Budget Cuts: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered an 8% annual reduction in the Pentagon budget over five years, amounting to $50 billion per year. (Sources: 1 , 3 , 7 ). Workforce Reductions: T he Department of Defense plans to cut 5-8% of its civilian workforce, starting with the dismissal of 5,400 probationary employees. This downsizing can weaken operational capacity and readiness. (Sources: 2 , 4 ). Reducing Critical Readiness Programs: Funds saved from budget cuts are being redirected to projects like the "Iron Dome for America" missile defense system and border security, while critical readiness programs face reductions. (Sources: 1 , 7 ). Downsizing the Pentagon : Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has played a central role in cutting contracts across federal agencies, including the Pentagon. These efforts have led to widespread layoffs and operational disruptions. (Sources: 2 , 6 ). Errors in Budget Management: DOGE has faced criticism for inaccuracies in reported savings from terminated contracts, raising concerns about transparency and efficiency in its cost-cutting measures. (Sources: 6 , 8 ). Reduced Focus on Emerging Threats: By deprioritizing initiatives like cybersecurity and climate resilience, the administration risks leaving the U.S. vulnerable to modern threats. Strained Military Operations: The combination of workforce reductions and budget cuts could hinder the military's ability to maintain readiness for wartime operations. (Sources: 5 , 7 ). Erosion of Trust Among Allies: Calls for NATO allies to increase defense spending while cutting U.S. defense budgets may strain international partnerships critical to collective security. (Source: 5 ). These actions collectively weaken national security by reducing resources for essential programs, undermining military readiness, and creating organizational inefficiencies within the Department of Defense.

Since Donald Trump began his second term in 2025, actions taken by his administration and Elon Musk have resulted in significant job losses across federal and private sectors. Here are the key figures: Federal Workforce Reductions: Nearly 300,000 federal employees have been affected by layoffs or buyouts under the Trump administration's downsizing initiatives, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk. This includes: 220,000 probationary employees targeted for termination. 75,000 workers who accepted buyout offers. (Sources: 1 , 2 , 7 ). Additional Layoffs at Federal Agencies: Thousands of career civil servants and contractors have also been dismissed across agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and USAID. (Sources: 1 , 9 ). Layoffs at X (formerly Twitter): Elon Musk's prior restructuring of Twitter (now X) resulted in an 80% reduction of its workforce, cutting over 6,000 jobs. These cuts set a precedent for similar downsizing efforts in government operations. (Source: 3 ). Ripple Effects on Local Economies: The widespread federal layoffs have indirectly impacted smaller communities reliant on government employment, increasing unemployment rates in those areas. (Source: 4 ). In total, these actions have already cost hundreds of thousands of jobs, with further reductions expected as the administration continues its austerity measures. (Sources: 1 , 7 , 10 ). But even though they're taking jobs away from Americans, they want to raise the national debt for their own benefit.

These actions taken by Donald Trump in 2025 are bad for the American economy: Raising Tariffs on Imports: Trump implemented significant tariffs on goods from China and other trade partners, increasing costs for businesses and consumers. This policy has disrupted supply chains, raised inflation, and created uncertainty for long-term business investments. (Sources: 2 , 4 , 6 ). Cuts to Education Funding: The proposed $11 billion cut to the Department of Education, including reductions in Title I funding and English Language Acquisition programs, risks undermining workforce quality and future economic competitiveness. (Source: 1 ). Tax Cuts Favoring Corporations and the Wealthy: Trump extended tax cuts from his first term and further reduced corporate tax rates to incentivize domestic production. While benefiting select businesses, these measures have exacerbated the federal deficit and contributed to income inequality. (Sources: 4 , 7 ). Withdrawal from the OECD Global Tax Deal: Trump rejected international tax agreements aimed at curbing tax avoidance by multinational corporations, potentially leading to trade tensions and lost revenue for the U.S. (Source: 7 ). Deregulation of Financial and Environmental Protections: Rolling back regulations on financial markets and environmental protections has created short-term gains for specific industries but risks long-term instability and environmental degradation. (Sources: 3 , 5 ). Reduction in Renewable Energy Investments: Cuts to federal funding for renewable energy research and a focus on fossil fuel production have hindered progress in transitioning to sustainable energy sources, potentially leaving the U.S. behind in global energy innovation. (Source: 5 ). Reduced Labor Force Participation: Mass deportations have reduced labor force participation in key sectors like agriculture and construction, negatively impacting economic productivity. (Source: 4 ). Increased Federal Deficit: Tax cuts combined with high spending levels have pushed the federal deficit to unsustainable levels, raising concerns about long-term fiscal health and higher interest rates. (Source: 4 ). Politicization of Economic Institutions: Efforts to centralize control over federal agencies have undermined confidence in U.S. governance, deterring foreign investment and weakening economic stability. (Source: 3 ). Trade Policy Uncertainty: Trump's aggressive trade policies, including threats of additional tariffs, have created uncertainty for businesses, discouraging investment and slowing economic growth. (Sources: 2 , 6 ). These actions collectively contribute to inflationary pressures, reduced economic growth, and increased inequality, raising concerns about their short and long-term impact on the American economy.