LETTER: Taxpayers deserve answers
I was hoping for enlightenment when I wrote to Congressman Guy Reschenthaler recently regarding DOGE and President Trump’s decision to pause or eliminate many mandated government functions.
Sadly, after reviewing credible sources, I’ve been unable to find substantive evidence supporting savings that the congressman offered in his response.
We are not witnessing a careful evaluation of “efficiency” but rather the reckless dismantling of institutions that may not appear to support Trump’s and Elon Musk’s social agenda.
DOGE and Trump are acting without adhering to enacted laws and without any rational justification. Those leading their effort are neither forensic accountants nor experts in government operations. Running the federal government as if it were a business is a deeply flawed approach – one that disregards the fact that the government furnishes essential services that private industry cannot or will not provide.
Reschenthaler, along with many of his colleagues, has ignored the chaos and disruption caused by these abrupt and uncoordinated actions. Essential government services will cease to function if experienced professionals with institutional knowledge are pushed out. Thousands of government employees have been fired without warning and many others face profound uncertainty while they try to determine if their jobs still exist. Many career personnel wonder if they should accept the vague, unstructured and largely unenforceable “Fork in the Road” offer.
The consequences of this disorder are real and alarming. Recently, 350 employees responsible for safeguarding the U.S. nuclear arsenal were abruptly fired and their government email accounts deactivated. While most were reinstated, this kind of disruption poses serious national security risks. Trump and Musk both know that the Federal Aviation Administration is short-staffed, and its professionals are feverishly trying to upgrade flight safety systems. Nevertheless, DOGE indiscriminately fired 400 FAA employees over the last few days.
On the other hand, does Reschenthaler think it is fiscally responsible to give ICE an additional $4.5 BILLION this year? How much does it cost to deport one person? Why are some deportees being sent to Guantanamo (at a huge, as yet undetermined cost) instead of housing them on US soil or sending them to their home country? Taxpayers deserve answers.
Tim Silbaugh
Canonsburg