My congressman responds to a call for stopping DOGE 3-14-25. #Oregon #Congress #DOGE #MUSK #USA #DebtDickery #DeathSpiral #Republican #Democrat #Trump #Monday #Congress +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 24, 2025

Dear Ms. Carlton-Martin,

Thank you for contacting my office about the actions taken in the first few weeks of President Donald Trump’s presidency. Your thoughts and comments are important to me.

On January 20th, 2025, President Trump began his second term in office, fulfilling many promises that he made to the American people throughout the past two years. Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump promised the American people on day one that he would issue a series of executive orders and institute positive and needed changes to our system.

As to President Trump’s efforts (and our efforts in the House) to slow spending, I am reminded of President Reagan’s observation that: “The closest thing to eternal life on earth is a Government Program.” He knew that slowing government spending by discontinuing any program is really, really, difficult. Why? The first reason is because most of these agencies are doing some sort of good thing. Why would anyone want that to stop? The second reason is because every government agency has its own life support system made up of members of the Democrat Party, government employees, unions, lobbyists, subcontractors, NGO’s, and of course, those people the program is supposed to help. When an Agency faces budget cuts in Congress, or by the executive branch, these support groups immediately swing into action doing all they can to keep Congress from reducing their agency’s budget. Mass loud and aggressive meetings with Republican Congressmen, organizing phone calls to Congress from constituents, veiled and not so veiled threats of finding others to run against the member, letters to the editor, editorials, emails, tweets, and every other means of persuasion imaginable are brought into play. Liberal groups attack by saying that Republicans are unfeeling cretins interested only in reducing taxes. Fact based assertions are rare, but passionate pleas against cuts and for increases abound. Totally ignored is the fact that we are spending, each year, 30% more than we take in. This amounts to annual additional borrowing of about 2.4 trillion. Obviously, as has been said, “when something can no longer go on it will stop” and this is exactly what will happen, very abruptly and with great damage, if the President and we fail to reduce spending.

In addition to the executive orders, The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) also operates within the bounds of the law. Government departments must be created or discontinued by law, executive order, or other official means. On Friday, February 14, 2025, A federal judge in Washington delivered a ruling favoring DOGE by rejecting a request to temporarily block its access to data from three federal agencies. U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled that the government was likely correct in classifying DOGE as an official agency, thereby granting it the authority to detail its staff to other government departments and continue its efficiency efforts.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me. It is an honor to represent you in the United States Congress.

Sincerely,

Cliff Bentz
Member of Congress