Vivek Ramaswamy wants to start DOGE cuts by eliminating funding for unauthorized programs - including veteran healthcare

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Vivek Ramaswamy, who was picked to lead the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency, proposed defunding federal programs that no longer have congressional authorization - which includes money for veterans’ health care, NASA and early education.

The new office, nicknamed DOGE after co-leader Elon Musk’s favorite meme, will operate “outside of government” and will aim to “cut wasteful expenditures and restructure Federal Agencies.” Two days after being nominated, Ramaswamy suggested deep cuts to federal funding, starting with a list of expired authorizations of appropriations.

Some congressional funding was approved with a set time before authorization expired. However, they continue to receive funding. A recent report by the Congressional Budget Office found more than 1,200 programs at more than $516 billion a year. When an authorization expires, Congress can extend the program through new legislation or by providing new appropriations, according to CBO.

-snip-

Social media users were quick to point out some of the programs that received funding despite lacking current Congressional authorization. One is the Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996, which helps provide funding for veterans’ medical care. The authorization expired in 1998, but still receives about $120 billion in funding.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/vivek-ramaswamy-wants-start-doge-223626905.html

[Deep State Witch]

1. That'll Go Over Well At the VFW

And American Legion. Especially for those old dudes who wouldn't vote for a woman for President.

[oasis]

4. Oh well

[onecaliberal]

22. They're actually discouraging people from serving.

First time in its history.

[Ocelot II]

2. How can an entity claiming to be a "department" but that was created out of whole cloth

and without government authorization operate outside of government to do fuck-all?

[Irish_Dem]

6. It is how a fascist govt works. Family, friends, pals of the dictator run the govt.

[angrychair]

8. It cant

They are only listed as "advisors". Even then the Executive has no control over the purse. They can't cut funding because they don't control it.
This advisory committee will be drowning in lawsuits from the moment it's officially formed.

Plus it appears that Musk is already starting to wear out his welcome. Even money it either never actually happens or it's just some hollow effort to keep those two busy and out of the way.

[Texasgal]

14. Thank you for saying this.

The VA runs on a completely different budget in an entirely different area of government funding. It would be extremely difficult to dismantle.

[chicoescuela]

3. But probably won't change the view of my MAGA vet son in law

I don’t understand

[Irish_Dem]

7. Even if Trump tries to kill them, they will still defend him.

It is a mental illness.

[chicoescuela]

9. We might find out

[Irish_Dem]

10. Yes sadly we will have an opportunity for field research right in front of our eyes.

[chicoescuela]

11. His wife, our daughter, works as a counselor at a public middle school and

is a breast cancer survivor. But tsf is their guy. I still don’t understand

[Irish_Dem]

12. Soon she will be given instructions on what she can say or not say to students.

And her job will be about "Christian values and patriotism."
Or counselors will be fired altogether.

She may lose her insurance.

She may still hang on to Dear Leader.

So sad, I am sorry.

[chicoescuela]

15. And their oldest child is gay

Thanks for your good thoughts

[Irish_Dem]

16. For the love of God.

SMH.

I am so sorry for their child.
I hope you can be a safe haven.

[LakeVermilion]

30. If you listen to Maddow's Podcast: "Ultra," Season Two,

you’ll begin to understand.

Odds are, they are Nazi’s. And it’s not going away.

[Jit423]

5. How does an entity outside of government cut government spending? Does the House have any role in this?

Is there any other agency outside of government that can cut government spending. They are making it sound like this new outside organization will have real authority to actually cut either authorized or appropriated government funding. WTF?

[RockRaven]

13. This "department" is going to be a gold mine of layup questions for the lazy

DC media to ask Congressional GrOPers every day to fill their air time. "Do you support this? Do you support that? Blah, blah, blah."

[Trueblue1968]

17. Some Vet will take him and muskox out .......

[usonian]

18. Merrick Garland has spent vast amounts of DoD time and money defending "him" from Iran's Revolutionary Guard

and protecting billionaires from bitcoin theft, but that's another matter.

[misanthrope]

31. The world should be so lucky

Especially Musk.

[Karasu]

19. Hey, GOP. Take your new, unaccountable Department of Unwanted, Unnecessary Austerity and shove it up your fascist ass.

"Small government." Right.

[Beck23]

20. Please see Steve Spoonamore's letter to warn today

Spoonamore goes way back when it comes to analyzing election results. He is a professional cyber security expert. He is seeing anomalies in the election results in several swing states and is recommending a recount in these states.

[SunSeeker]

23. Got a link to what you're talking about? nt

[usonian]

24. Links

An OP discussing this is here
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219692792

I kicked it with some link updates
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19727971

[LA Blue Bengal]

21. Yeah, go ahead

and cut veterans’ health care funding and see how that goes. I have a feeling tar and feathers would make a big comeback

[dalton99a]

25. Many people are asking: Does this Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy have a family and a fixed abode with a street address?

or does he move around like Elon Musk

[at140]

28. What are you suggesting?

I thought only Mullah's can order a hit.

[Docreed2003]

26. Not surprising but still infuriating

A big fuck you to Vivek and his friends. Their types rah rah the troops when it's convenient but gleefully shit on us when it comes time to pay benefits for our service.

[Solly Mack]

27. Musk wants to cut some funding for NASA? No conflict of interest there. Yeah, Ramaswamy was the one quoted but

let's get real.

I'll be spreading this info around the army post here.

[keithbvadu2]

29. Trump will tell the tale of the senior generals and admirals, with tears in their eyes, saying "Sir, ...

Trump will tell the tale of the senior generals and admirals, with tears in their eyes, saying "Sir, we appreciate you eliminating the weaklings and the woke in our ranks." (Can't forget the "Sir".)

And reducing the wasteful spending on those suckers and losers who sacrificed for our country.

Senior generals and admirals who don't have names.

[soandso]

32. Why in the hell isn't congress doing it's job

and appropriating funding for so many programs? This is their constitutionally mandated job! That's not acceptable and needs to be fixed. It reminds me going to war without declaring it which is also a huge violation.