MADISON, Wis. – In a new interview with Newsmax, Congressman Derrick Van Orden today defended President Trump’s decision to immediately cut federal grants and loans, even as he admits the plan is affecting programs and families in the Third Congressional District.
In the interview, Van Orden admits that his constituents are being hurt as a result of these funding cuts, saying “I personally have people in my district that depend on these. . .This is real money. These are real programs. These are real people.” Van Orden goes on to say that he supports these cuts and the blame “lies solely on the shoulders of the Democrat Party and the deep state” and that they should continue until they comply with President Trump’s demands.
Van Orden gave the interview from House Republicans’ retreat in Doral, Florida—where he and his colleagues are discussing making cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to pay for their plan to give more tax handouts to corporations and billionaires.
“Congressman Van Orden had an opportunity to speak out against these cuts that are hurting his constituents and the chaos that President Trump has unleashed, but he defended them instead. Rather than listening to his constituents, he’s spent his week at a luxury resort in Florida plotting more harmful program cuts that will hurt Wisconsinities all to pay for tax breaks for corporations and billionaires,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “While so many community organizations and preschools are being forced to close their doors or stop providing services that families depend on, Van Orden doesn’t seem concerned. Whether it’s supporting family farmers, ensuring students have access to school lunches, or programs to support homeless veterans, it’s time for Van Orden to realize that the well-being of his constituents shouldn’t be used as a bargaining chip.”
Transcript: “Here’s the problem: the executive branch and the deep state, which is real. Think that they are running the government, and they’re not. They’re unelected bureaucrats that better damn well get on board with the plan of the elected president and the elected Congress, or they need to find something else to do. They’re going to be held accountable because they are not in charge, constitutionally or lawfully. They simply are not. So if the deep state, Democrat permanent party would actually do their damn job for the American public, the President would not have to do this. So I personally have people in my district that depend on these. And Don Bacon spoke very eloquently about it earlier. This is real money. These are real programs. These are real people. And as soon as the Democrat Deep State gets off their ass and starts working lawfully and follows the executive orders and the laws that Congress have put out. This money goes straight back. This is not a permanent thing. This is a temporary thing, and it lies solely on the shoulders of the Democrat Party and the deep state that’s been working against the American public for an extended period of time. It’s their fault, and President Trump is just bringing this around to make sure that they comply with the law.”
