Originally published by the Daily Caller
Spending has exploded in Washington, and if this Congress doesn’t seize every opportunity to combat the bloated bureaucracy, future generations will inherit a financial mess. For months, members of Congress have been railing against the absurdity of USAID pet projects, the years of biased reporting of NPR, and other decades-long fiscal failures of the D.C. swamp. Social media has been ablaze with DOGE memes and photo-ops alongside Elon Musk, signaling a groundswell of support for change.
But talk is cheap. Now’s the time to make good on our promises.
The House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a rescissions package that will finally cut off the USAID gravy train and defund woke, weaponized outlets like NPR and PBS. This is a defining moment for Republicans to demonstrate that fiscal responsibility and limited government are not just talking points. They are the foundation of our conservative movement. That means passing this package isn’t just good policy — it’s our moral obligation.
The patriotic efforts of Elon Musk and his DOGE team uncovered over $175 billion in potential savings for the American taxpayers. But these savings could remain unrealized unless Congress acts swiftly to eliminate this waste. Republicans must unite to deliver on this promise — no hesitation, no excuses. We simply cannot afford to fall back into the swamp’s old habits.
The DOGE mission is clear: use common sense to make government efficient and accountable by eliminating waste, fraud, and bureaucratic overreach. When American taxpayers are forced to fund ideologically driven projects that prioritize foreign interests over domestic needs, there’s nothing “America First” about it.
And the same principle applies to taxpayer-funded public broadcasting. NPR and PBS were created to inform the American people in an unbiased manner, not to operate as a left-wing propaganda factory. One of NPR’s own senior editors penned an op-eddisclosing that its D.C. headquarters has zero Republicans and 87 Democrats among its editorial staff. He went on to disclose that they intentionally created stories designed to damage President Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections. NPR’s CEO, Katherine Maher, even said seeking and publishing the truth “might not be the right place to start” when it comes to their mission. That’s outrageous.
Further demonstrating this leftist slant is a 2023 story that claims that male to female transgender athletes, or biological men, do not have any advantages over women in the athletic arena. That’s ideology masquerading as fact, and the American people should not be forced to subsidize this sorry excuse for journalism. The fact is, nothing in the First Amendment requires taxpayers to fund left-wing propaganda. It’s time to cut off the spigot.
Passing this rescissions package is common sense, and Congress has a mandate to act and save the American people billions. Failure to secure these savings now rests squarely on Congress’ shoulders. President Trump and DOGE have laid the groundwork, and the American people expect results. They say talk is cheap, but in this case, it will cost us billions if we fail to act.
And this is just the beginning. After this vote, we must work with the White House to pass the next rescissions package, and then keep going until our deficit is under control. We must use every tool at our disposal to stop this crisis now. Our children and grandchildren are counting on us.
Congressman Mark Harris represents North Carolina’s 8th District and serves on the House Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and Agriculture Committees.