Jul 9, 2025 By Dave Ball 4 min read

Editor’s note: This is the second of two parts.

As we observe continuing political fights over taxes and social programs, we must not lose sight of the government’s most basic duty: defending the nation and securing its borders. A secure nation at home and abroad is not optional, it’s the cornerstone of sovereignty.

Republicans understand this. National security and border enforcement protect American citizens and uphold the rule of law. A strong military projects American power and protects American interests around the world. A strong military is a major deterrent to the aggressions of belligerent nations or groups. Without the ability to assure open sea lanes and open skies, this nation could not rely on international trade, the security of its citizens in foreign countries and offshore American interests. Without strong and secure borders, we cease to be a sovereign nation.

Republicans have traditionally supported a strong and dominant military and secure borders. Democrats, however, have sought to degrade our military and treated border security as secondary, promoting open-border policies that undermine both security and law.

Under President Biden, illegal border crossings reached historic highs. Sanctuary policies on multiple levels defied federal law, and enforcement was politicized and deliberately weakened. The result: chaos at the border, overwhelmed systems, the creation of major security and public safety threats and massive costs to taxpayers.

Defense spending under President Biden was also politicized. Rather than focus on warfighting, some Democrats want the Pentagon to pursue social engineering such as diversity mandates, climate agendas and ideological training. These distractions drain resources from the military’s core mission: defending America in an increasingly dangerous world.

Ronald Reagan famously said, “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” If government can’t secure our borders or defend us from foreign threats, what purpose does it serve? A budget that neglects these prime duties is not just misguided, it’s a dereliction of duty.

Thankfully, under President Trump’s policies, illegal border crossings have plummeted. This is proof that firm enforcement works. Contrast that with the Biden era’s lax approach, which encouraged mass crossings, allowed many millions of illegal immigrants into our country and strained resources nationwide.

Also under Trump’s policies, the military is being revitalized; military personnel are again dedicated to being the finest warfighters on earth, morale is high and recruitment is exceeding goals. Long-neglected weapons systems are being upgraded to meet the challenges of today’s international environment. The nation is again being protected.

At their cores, the immigration and military preparedness debates reflect a stark philosophical divide. Republicans believe government’s primary obligation is to protect its citizens; providing a secure nation, protecting borders, enforcing law, and preserving public resources. Democrats often act as if America need not defend itself against increasingly lethal foes and has unlimited capacity to absorb the world’s disaffected. These are dangerous illusions.

Immigration policy is fiscal policy. A porous border compromises security and drains resources from citizens who deserve protection and opportunity. A strong military means little if a nation’s borders are open to all comers regardless of malicious intent.

This is why Trump’s tax and budget bill matters. It aligns with a vision of limited government, economic freedom, and strong national security. It avoids sudden tax hikes, supports growth, and limits the state’s reach.

Critics complain the bill doesn’t solve every problem, like deficits or long-term entitlement costs. They’re right. But no single bill can fix decades of overspending and functional neglect. What matters is setting the right direction and priorities: keep taxes low, focus government on core functions and protect the nation.

Ultimately, this isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s about whether we believe government’s first duty is to defend its people and secure its borders or whether we want it to be a global problem-solver at the expense of our own citizens. History warns that when government tries to do everything, it fails at the few things it truly must do.

Dave Ball is the former chairman of the Washington County Republican Party.