President Donald J. Trump has now reportedly pledged to permanently enshrine deep federal spending cuts following the expected passage of what he dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping package of tax reforms and economic measures.
At a press event flanked by entrepreneur Elon Musk, Trump declared his commitment to institutionalizing the recommendations of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a group led by Musk and tasked with identifying waste across federal agencies.
“We are totally committed to making the DOGE cuts permanent and stopping much more of the waste in the months to come,” Trump said, calling the reforms “common sense” and long overdue.
DOGE claims to have uncovered more than $175 billion in potential savings by eliminating outdated programs, unnecessary grants, and duplicative services.
While the initial bill includes a fraction of these proposed reductions, Trump and Republican leaders have promised a follow-up legislative push to codify the broader cuts.
The initiative marks one of the most aggressive attempts in recent years to rein in government spending, with the administration framing the effort as a vital correction to what it views as years of unchecked bureaucratic growth.
Yet the bill has drawn fire from fiscal conservatives, who argue that it falls short of the bold cost-cutting promised during Trump’s campaign.
Critics within the Republican Party have expressed concern that the legislation, while expansive in its tax benefits, will add an estimated $3.1 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade.
Musk, speaking with reporters after the event, offered measured support. “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful,” he said, “but I don’t know if it can be both.”
He noted that while the effort was a step in the right direction, more would be needed to meet the country’s long-term fiscal challenges.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has vowed to introduce a series of appropriations bills and rescission packages aimed at implementing DOGE’s remaining proposals.
These would target unused federal funds and redirect budget priorities in line with the administration’s fiscal goals.
Trump’s push to codify the DOGE cuts signals a renewed emphasis on leaner governance, a theme that has resonated with his base.
It also sets up a potential confrontation in Congress as lawmakers weigh the political risks of slashing federal programs against the mounting pressure to address the national debt.
As the Senate prepares to take up the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” Trump’s allies are working to keep momentum behind the cost-cutting agenda — a central pillar of his campaign to return to the White House.
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