U.S. House GOP Spending Cuts Signal Start of Project 2025, Warns Top Democrat Appropriator

Proposed budget cuts in a new U.S. House Republican bill hint at the possible impacts on federal agencies under a second Trump term, said a top House Democrat on Tuesday.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, addressed reporters about the significant effects of the Republicans’ fiscal year 2025 proposal, which aims to fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

The bill seeks to reduce the Labor Department budget by 22%, the HHS budget by 6%, and the Education Department by 14%.

DeLauro linked the proposed cuts to Project 2025, a conservative plan for a potential second Trump administration. She emphasized that Republicans are already trying to implement these policies through current spending bills.

At a press conference, DeLauro criticized the Republican approach, citing recent difficulties in passing spending bills and the narrowly avoided government shutdown last month. “This is chaos,” she declared.

Rep. Robert Aderholt of Alabama, chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, defended the proposed cuts as “common sense reforms” designed to “save taxpayer dollars.” House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole echoed this stance, stating the bill aims to counter policies promoted by President Joe Biden, which are largely opposed by congressional Republicans.

The bill proposes significant reductions in funding for labor programs, including a $3 billion cut to the Department of Labor’s budget. This would eliminate $900 million for youth job training programs. Fred Redmond, the secretary-treasurer of AFL-CIO, criticized this move, calling out Republicans for their contradictory pro-worker rhetoric at the recent Republican National Convention.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would face a nearly 12% budget cut, equating to $75 million less than its current funding.

Speakers at DeLauro’s event also highlighted the negative impacts of the bill on healthcare, especially reproductive health. Kimberly Diaz Scott, vice president of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, referred to the proposed changes as attempts to restrict Americans’ access to reproductive health care services.

The legislation would decrease funding for the Department of Health and Human Services by over 6%, or $7.5 billion. It would notably cut $280 million from Title X Family Planning, a program aiding those with low incomes in accessing essential reproductive health services.

Scott stressed that these cuts would disproportionately affect communities with limited access to these services. “These attacks are part of a larger agenda to roll back progress toward gender equality,” she said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would face a $1.8 billion funding cut, impacting research aimed at preventing suicide, firearm injuries, and opioid overdoses.

Education would also see substantial reductions under the Republican bill. The Department of Education could experience a 14% budget cut, totaling $8.6 billion. Title I grants, crucial for schools serving low-income students, would drop by $4.7 billion.

Michael J. Barnes, superintendent of the Mayfield City School District in Ohio, underscored the importance of federal funding for public schools, especially those serving disadvantaged students. “These funds translate into real opportunities,” he said.

Additionally, the bill proposes a $124 million decrease in mental health services in schools. This is particularly concerning given the youth mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic, noted by the U.S. Surgeon General in a 2021 advisory.

Barnes emphasized that funding for public school programs is an investment in the nation’s future, contributing to economic growth, social mobility, and public health and safety. “It is not just an expenditure,” he insisted. “It is an investment in our future.”