{"id":2409685,"date":"2025-03-04T19:11:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T00:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-democrats-focus-on-doge-cuts-in-early-rebuttal-to-trump-joint-address-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-03-04T19:15:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T00:15:18","slug":"senate-democrats-focus-on-doge-cuts-in-early-rebuttal-to-trump-joint-address-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-democrats-focus-on-doge-cuts-in-early-rebuttal-to-trump-joint-address-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Democrats focus on DOGE cuts in early rebuttal to Trump joint address &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-democrats-focus-on-doge-cuts-in-early-rebuttal-to-trump-joint-address-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2409685&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In\u2063 a recent press conference, Senate Democrats prepared their response to President Trump&#8217;s joint address to Congress, focusing \u2064on \u200chow his\u2062 administration&#8217;s policies are negatively impacting\u2064 constituents. They invited guests, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-lawmakers-ban-personal-use-of-campaign-funds\/\" title=\"Virginia lawmakers ban personal use of campaign funds\">fired federal workers<\/a> and individuals affected by budget cuts, to\u2063 share their \u2062stories, illustrating the human\u200c cost of recent policy changes.<\/p>\n<p>Senate \u2064Minority Leader Chuck Schumer\u200c criticized \u200dTrump, stating, &#8220;I don\u2019t think\u200b we\u2019ve ever seen a \u2064president do as much damage to a\u2063 country in 30 days&#8221; \u200band highlighted examples of individuals like 12-year-old Emma Larson, whose life-saving treatment has been jeopardized by funding cuts. Schumer and \u2062other Democrats\u200d emphasized the \u2063importance of National Institutes of Health grants for\u2063 such treatments.<\/p>\n<p>The Democrats also targeted Trump&#8217;s \u200dtariffs and budget cuts, arguing they would disproportionately affect\u200c working families and farmers. Throughout their \u2063rebuttal, they held up images of constituents harmed \u2062by trump\u2019s initiatives\u200b to visually represent the impacts of his policies.<\/p>\n<p>While Senator Elissa Slotkin is\u2062 set to deliver the official party response after Trump\u2019s speech, Democratic leaders are \u2064encouraging members to actively \u200cengage\u200d in discussions about budget cuts and their implications, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-barron-trump-has-taken-on-an-important-campaign-role-is-helping-father-reach-key-demographic\/\" title=\"Report: Barron Trump Has Taken on an Important Campaign Role, Is Helping Father Reach Key Demographic\">leveraging social\u2062 media<\/a> to \u2063spread their message.\u2063 The party aims to position Trump&#8217;s record on these issues as a\u2062 political vulnerability, especially \u200din \u2063the context of upcoming budget negotiations\u200d and potential cuts to safety-net programs.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Senate Democrats focus on DOGE cuts in early rebuttal to Trump joint address<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2028086\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate-democrats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Senate Democrats\">Senate Democrats<\/a> are previewing their message in response to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"President Donald Trump\">President Donald Trump<\/a>&rsquo;s joint <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3336323\/trump-joint-address-to-congress-2025-what-to-know\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"address \">address <\/a>to Congress, focusing their energy on how the administration&rsquo;s overhaul of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-government\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"federal government\">federal government<\/a> is hurting their constituents.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In a series of news conferences throughout the day on Tuesday, Senate Democrats highlighted the human cost of the administration&rsquo;s sweeping policy changes by inviting fired federal workers as guests and giving them a platform to tell their stories. They also invited guests who could be affected by federal budget cuts to Medicaid, the recent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, and other programs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3336785\/videos-democratic-senators-anti-trump-script-viral\/\">Videos showing dozens of Democratic senators reading same anti-Trump script go viral<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3336458\/jd-vance-elbridge-colby-senate-hearing\/\">Vance introduces &#8216;friend&#8217; Elbridge Colby at Senate hearing, backs him for key Pentagon position<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3336409\/senate-democrats-rekindle-filibuster-support-under-trump\/\">Senate Democrats rekindle their love for the filibuster under Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;ve ever seen a president do as much damage to a country in 30 days that Donald Trump has done,&rdquo; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said during a news conference on Tuesday. &ldquo;He promised a golden age. One month later, that promise seems like ancient history.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenSchumer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SenSchumer<\/a> standing alongside Dems holding pics of their constituents: &ldquo;I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ve ever seen a president do as much damage to a country in 30 days that Donald Trump has done on day one, he promised a golden age. One month later, that seems like ancient history.&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/JipHyCRfvz\">pic.twitter.com\/JipHyCRfvz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SamanthaJoRoth\/status\/1896978503045984373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Schumer and other Senate Democrats stood on the steps of the Capitol, holding posters with photos of their constituents who they argue are being hurt by the Trump administration&rsquo;s policies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The New York senator held up a picture of 12-year-old Emma Larson, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy and has received a lifesaving treatment due to a National Institutes of Health grant. Larson was receiving treatment as part of a Phase 3 clinical trial that cost $16 million that has been cut by Trump and billionaire Elon Musk&rsquo;s Department of Government Efficiency.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;[Emma is] thriving because there was an NIH grant, the nerve, the nerve of Donald Trump, taking away those grants that gave Emma her life and her happiness, to make some millionaire to pay even less taxes,&rdquo; Schumer said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Later in the day, Senate Democrats held a separate press conference, featuring first-hand accounts from their guests about how the Trump administration&rsquo;s policies have affected their everyday lives.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are here to put a face on how important NIH funding is,&rdquo; said Dianne Larson, Emma&rsquo;s mother.  <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We understand that some spending has to give somewhere. But when you have a result, especially something like this, a miracle drug that&rsquo;s actually saving lives, that&rsquo;s something to reconsider,&rdquo; Larson said, standing alongside her daughter.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Dianne Larson and daughter Emma are guests of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenSchumer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SenSchumer<\/a>. Emma Larson was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and is receiving life saving treatment as a result of a grant, that has been cut. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re here to put a face on how important NIH funding is,&rdquo; she said. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pYwMvAbbLZ\">pic.twitter.com\/pYwMvAbbLZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SamanthaJoRoth\/status\/1897038381370237057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What the Trump administration is doing is not improving lives. It&rsquo;s hurting them, and we will stand up for the people of this country and our guests who are pictured up here,&rdquo; Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said.<\/p>\n<p>Klobuchar&rsquo;s guest, Gary Wertisy, a third-generation farmer from Minnesota and president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, spoke out about how Trump&rsquo;s tariffs could affect farmers like himself.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are facing so much uncertainty now. The farmers have to deal with weather; that&rsquo;s always a big uncertainty. We don&rsquo;t need the uncertainty coming from the United States government,&rdquo; Wertisy said during a press conference. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s also destroying our relationship with our trading partners around the globe.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>While freshman Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3332535\/democrats-elissa-slotkin-rebuttal-trump-joint-address\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">will deliver<\/a> the official party response on Tuesday night after Trump&rsquo;s speech, Democratic leadership on both sides of the Capitol have been encouraging their members to&nbsp; &ldquo;flood the zone&rdquo; and to speak out before and after Trump&rsquo;s speech.&nbsp;Many of the senators <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3336785\/videos-democratic-senators-anti-trump-script-viral\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">were featured in a social media campaign<\/a>, as dozens of them simultaneously posted videos of themselves seemingly using the same script.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats argue that cuts to government and safety-net programs will be used to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy in the looming budget battle. Republicans have not voted to cut Medicaid, but House Republicans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/3334050\/whats-next-gop-tax-plan-house-budget-approval\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">passed a budget blueprint <\/a>last week that provides for $2 trillion in spending cuts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Now, they are attempting to use Trump&rsquo;s record against him in an attempt to seize some political momentum, with many viewing the government cuts as a political opportunity. House Majority Forward, a Democratic Super PAC, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.housemajorityforward.org\/news\/house-majority-forward-announces-new-ad-on-medicaid-cuts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">began airing TV and digital ads<\/a> on Monday, attacking vulnerable House Republicans who voted for the budget resolution.<\/p>\n<p>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/p1lUHQyk_44?si=aYF4cQSUI-NIBA0K\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>    <\/p>\n<p>While some Democratic strategists are commending congressional Democrats for getting out in front and discussing the impacts of the looming budget battle even though it hasn&rsquo;t come to pass just yet, others are reminding them to get very specific about how Trump&rsquo;s decisions are affecting the nation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The way that you phrase it is &ndash; Democrats are <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">bringing recently fired veterans<\/a>. Democrats are bringing fired experts on bird flu, Democrats are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-split-on-how-to-handle-trumps-joint-address-to-congress-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"... split on how to handle Trump&#039;s ... to ... - Washington Examiner\">bringing dismissed scientists<\/a> who are researching cancer cures,&rdquo; said Jon Reinish, a veteran Democratic strategist. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s how you phrase it, it&rsquo;s not Democrats are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-vows-to-revitalize-dc-while-warring-with-washington-workforce-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Trump vows to revitalize DC while warring with Washington workforce - Washington Examiner\">bringing federal workers<\/a>, then you lose people. People are not that interested in federal workers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Reinish pointed out that Democrats need to tread carefully with their arguments about government cuts.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Most Americans, no matter what their party affiliation is, do consider the federal government to be bloated, wasteful, inefficient,&rdquo; He said. &ldquo;While many do not approve of how Trump and an unelected billionaire are going about this, many do like the idea of trimming down obscure agencies that no one has ever really heard about like USAID,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The public is divided on the government cuts, according to recent polling. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/trump-elon-musk-government-workforce-cuts-opinion-poll-2025-03-02\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">A CBS News\/YouGov poll<\/a> conducted at the end of February found 51% approved of Trump&rsquo;s efforts to cut staff at government agencies and 49% disapproved. While a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/03\/03\/nx-s1-5312033\/trump-poll-doge-economy-favorability\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> NPR\/PBS News\/Marist poll<\/a> found 55% of respondents said the cuts were doing more harm than good, and 39% of respondents had a favorable view of Elon Musk.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3335775\/guests-lawmakers-trump-joint-address-congress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"FIRED FEDERAL WORKERS AND MEDICAID RECIPIENTS: CONGRESS'S INVITE LIST FOR TRUMP'S ADDRESS \">FIRED FEDERAL WORKERS AND MEDICAID RECIPIENTS: CONGRESS&rsquo;S INVITE LIST FOR TRUMP&rsquo;S ADDRESS <\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the first days of Trump&rsquo;s return to office, Democrats were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3303054\/trump-administration-leaves-democrats-scrambling-respond\/\">caught flat-footed <\/a>and struggled to respond to the sheer volume of executive orders, personnel changes, and policy shifts of the new administration. Now, over 30 days into Trump&rsquo;s second term, Democratic leadership is still working to determine the best way to mount resistance to the administration after a string of losses in November cost them control of the White House and the Senate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2028086\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2028086\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate Democrats highlight the impact of Trump&#8217;s policies on constituents in response to his joint address<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2409686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AP25063664718880-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[51332,51533,33619,51532,32076],"class_list":["post-2409685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-doge-cuts","tag-political-rebuttal","tag-senate-democrats","tag-trump-joint-address","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AP25063664718880-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2409685"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2409689,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409685\/revisions\/2409689"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2409686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2409685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2409685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2409685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}