The Daily Signal - DOGE $$ Cuts, Senate Budget Bill, Trump vs. Maine | Feb. 21, 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 President Donald Trump's administration is methodically eliminating DEI from the federal government. I'm your host Rob Bluey, and this is the Daily Signal Top News in 10 for Friday, February 21st, 2025. Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Scott Turner, is just a few weeks on the job, but he's already saving money for American taxpayers. Following the lead of the Department of Government Efficiency, HUD this week canceled $4 million in diversity, equity, and inclusion. contracts. The agency's newly formed Doge Task Force has already uncovered $260 million in savings. Turner was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 5th and quickly got to work at HUD. He spoke Friday at the conservative political action conference and dropped by the Daily Signal to talk about his work. Already, you seem to be embracing the Department of Government Efficiency and making some cuts at HUD.

Starting point is 00:01:02 Tell us about the early efforts that you're undertaking. Well, absolutely. Thank you for having me. today. You know, we have a tremendous team at HUD, and from day one, we started working. The first thing we did was take down the equal access rule, which was a Biden era rule. And what it does with President Trump's leadership is to restore biological truth to the federal government. And so any HUD-funded facility, including women shelters, will make sure that those that come in are what their sex was at birth, you know, to protect the people to come in those shelters. Also, and you said, you know, We have been working very closely with Doge to find any waste fraud and abuse at HUD.

Starting point is 00:01:41 And so we just counsel $4 million in DEI contracts that were labeled cultural transformation, which was about outward mindset and subscription services. And so DEI now at HUD is dead. Those contracts were a waste of taxpayer dollars. And we have to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. And including that we have $260 million in savings and $1.9 billion working again with HUDs in our task force, doge in our task force, that's American taxpayer dollars. Subscribe to the Daily Signals YouTube channel to watch or listen to the full interview.

Starting point is 00:02:16 It took an all-night voterama, but finally at 4.45 a.m., the U.S. Senate approved a $340 billion budget reconciliation bill. The legislation provides funding to secure the border, rebuild America's defenses, and promote domestic energy production. Because it's a reconciliation bill, doesn't need the 60 votes to overcome a Democrat filibuster. The final vote was 52 to 48 with just one Republican, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, voting against the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune opted to move forward with a two-bill approach, seeking to give President Trump a quick win now

Starting point is 00:02:56 rather than waiting on the House of Representatives to pass one big, beautiful bill. Senate Budget Chairman Lindsey Graham called the bill a complete game changer. He pointed to the $175 billion for border security, which will allow the Trump administration to carry out its deportation plans and end illegal immigration. The bill also earmarks $150 billion for military improvements plus an additional $20 billion for Coast Guard modernization. Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer said Republicans would regret their votes during the hours-long voterama. Schumer said the GOP was cutting taxes for Donald Trump's billionaire friends. Senator Mark Wayne Mullen of Oklahoma offered a different take on the all-night session. All night long, the Democrats kept us on the floor for no other reason but to put this perception out there that they're fighting against President Trump.

Starting point is 00:03:49 It was a waste of time. We still got the budget pushed forward. It's not complete. It's just one step. And that's making sure that we have money for the border, investing in our DOD, and making us information. energy independent. Now, we're not even close from being done. And so this isn't a time to high-five ourselves yet. The Senate budget resolution doesn't dictate how the money will be spent, and it doesn't address the expiring 2017 Trump tax cuts, a key different from the House's one bill approach. The House bill also cuts $1.5 trillion in spending. We'll be closely following this story at the Daily Signal. Be sure to visit our website to subscribe at dailysignal.com slash email. President Trump met with the nation's governors at the White House today,

Starting point is 00:04:39 and he used the occasion to call out one of the Democrats in attendance. Maine governor, Janet Mills, was in the state dining room when Trump singled her out over the issue of male athletes competing against women in sports. Is the Maine here, the governor of Maine? Are you not going to comply with it? I'm complying with the state and federal law. Well, we are the federal law. Well, you better do it.

Starting point is 00:05:03 do it because you're not going to get any federal funding at all if you don't. And by the way, your population, even though it's somewhat liberal, although I did very well there, your population doesn't want men playing in women's sports. So you better comply because otherwise you're not getting any federal funding. Every state, good, I'll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one. And enjoy your life after governor because I don't think you'll be in elected politics. Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order. to keep men from competing in women's sports. Mills is among the elected Democrats who have said they won't comply with Trump's order.

Starting point is 00:05:41 She said Friday that she'll file a lawsuit against Trump. The Heritage Foundation, Sarah Partial Perry, predicted on X that Maine will lose in court. She said Title IX protects biological women, and in order to get the $250 million in federal funding, Maine entered into a contract with the Department of Education. By doing so, it promised to follow Federal. civil rights law. Perry wrote for the Daily Signal earlier this week that the NCAA is also not complying with Trump's order. You can find her commentary at daily signal.com. Today's news flash is up next.

Starting point is 00:06:18 At Desjardin, we speak business. We speak startup funding and comprehensive game plans. We've mastered made-to-measure growth and expansion advice, and we can talk your ear off about transferring your business when the time comes. Because at Desjardin business, we speak the same language you do. Business. So join the more than 400,000 Canadian entrepreneurs who already count on us and contact Desjardin today. We'd love to talk. Business. Senator Josh Hawley reintroduced legislation to assign a special Inspector General to investigate United States funding for Ukraine. George Caldwell reports for the Daily Signal. Holly's legislation comes amid increased Republican criticism of past dealings with the

Starting point is 00:07:03 Eastern European nation. Hawley said American taxpayers shouldn't have to wonder where their billions in aid to Ukraine went and what they're funding there now. They deserve an accounting of every penny Congress shipped over there. The bill calls for a newly appointed Inspector General to submit quarterly reports on United States government aid and payments to Ukraine and on Ukraine's compliance with what he called anti-corruption measures. Hamas handed over the bodies of four deceased Israeli hossi,

Starting point is 00:07:35 Thursday, but one of them was not Sheri Bibas. Israel's military said two of the bodies were her small children, but the other was an anonymous, unidentified body. Israel accused Hamas of a violation of utmost severity of its ceasefire deal with the Palestinian terrorist group. New York City Mayor Eric Adams' upcoming trial date was vacated, but Judge Dale Ho refused to dismiss the federal charges entirely. The Justice Department wants to end the case against.

Starting point is 00:08:06 against Adam, but his decision resulted in resignations of eight federal prosecutors, including the interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Four of Adam's deputy mayors also quit. President Donald Trump will close out the conservative political action conference on Saturday, and the Daily Signal will be here in Oxon Hill, Maryland, to cover his remarks and those of other speakers. Be sure to follow our social media channels for the latest from CPAC. And that'll do it for today's episode. Thank you for listening to Top News. and 10. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button so you never miss out on new episodes each weekday, plus our weekend deep dive interview edition. This Sunday, you'll hear from my colleague,

Starting point is 00:08:47 Tyler O'Neill, on his interviews with Senators Ted Cruz and Rick Scott here at CPAC. Each morning, you'll also get Victor Davis Hanson's latest commentary in your newsfeed as well. At just five minutes, it's a quick way to get his take on current events. Today's episode was produced by John Pop and Tim Kennedy. Thanks again for listening and have a great night. Thank you.

The Daily Signal - DOGE $$ Cuts, Senate Budget Bill, Trump vs. Maine | Feb. 21, 2025

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