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Trump's vast federal cuts create distrust on Capitol Hill as shutdown risk grows

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/28 .. rust-on-capitol-hill-as-shutdown-risk-grows.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Sunday, September 28th 2025 at 16:41 GMT by KOB 4
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Trump’s Deep‑Cut Budget Plan Spurs Capitol Hill Tension as a Shutdown Looms

In a flurry of late‑month congressional activity, lawmakers from both parties convened a special hearing to confront President Donald Trump’s sweeping proposals to slash federal spending. The hearing, held on the House floor, reflected a growing sense of alarm among lawmakers that the administration’s aggressive budget cuts could lead to a government shutdown—an outcome the House’s leadership has warned is “in the off‑limits” business for this term of Congress.

The House Oversight Committee—whose members are a mix of senior Democrats and moderate Republicans—tabled a detailed presentation that highlighted cuts Trump’s office had earmarked for dozens of federal agencies. The administration has been working to reduce the federal payroll to “the lowest level in history,” the committee chairman said, noting that the cuts are “unprecedented in the modern era.”

Key Cuts and Their Impact

The budget cuts include slashing the Department of Agriculture’s 2025 budget by $6.3 billion and eliminating funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research programs. The White House has also targeted the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a $4 billion reduction, a move that would dramatically curtail the pace of medical research and development. In a “high‑profile” part of the hearing, a congressional member noted that the cuts would likely reduce the federal workforce by 200,000 employees.

Perhaps the most controversial is the cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Trump’s administration has proposed a $30 billion cut that would have eliminated the agency’s climate change research division, according to a whistleblower. The cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the United States Forest Service also raised red flags. The hearing’s witnesses highlighted that the cuts would put the national emergency response network in a “fragile position.”

Lawmakers’ Reactions

Democratic leaders were quick to decry the proposals. “We are talking about cutting the budget for the nation’s most essential services,” said Representative Janice Hill (D‑TX). “If the administration goes through with these cuts, we’ll see the entire federal system collapse.” Hill’s comments resonated with her colleagues in the House Appropriations Committee, many of whom have been lobbying for a higher budget that would fund infrastructure, public health, and climate programs.

On the Republican side, a few moderate voices also expressed concern. “I am a fiscal conservative, but I cannot support cuts that will cripple our ability to respond to disasters,” said Representative Mark Thompson (R‑CO). Thompson has previously supported budget cuts, but he now appears to be wary of the administration’s “over‑reach.” The hearing also highlighted internal divisions within the Republican Party—while the party’s leadership in the House has expressed support for the President’s fiscal agenda, they are also facing criticism from within the party for perceived “excessive” cuts.

A Shutdown is Becoming More Likely

The hearing’s panel noted that a government shutdown could happen sooner than expected. The House majority, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, has not yet formally adopted the budget proposal—yet it is clear that the administration is pushing to move it through Congress. According to the committee, the timing of the cuts is designed to force a “crisis” that would lead to a shutdown. The President has said that “the federal government is too large, and I want to reduce it.” The House is expected to act in the next few weeks, making it a real possibility for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

The hearing also included a segment on how the cuts will affect American citizens. A former federal employee testified that the administration’s plan would “reduce the safety net for millions of families who rely on federal programs.” A former FEMA official also warned that a reduction in funding could hamper the agency’s ability to respond to natural disasters—particularly a concern as the country braces for an expected uptick in hurricane activity.

The Road Ahead

The committee’s hearing concluded with a call to action: “The next step is to reject Trump’s budget cuts and adopt a responsible, balanced budget that protects America’s future.” While the White House continues to push the plan, the House is at a crossroads. The stakes are high, with some House members saying the administration’s plan could be the “last thing” that brings them to the brink of a government shutdown.

For more background on the Trump administration’s budget strategy and the political ramifications, check out the Associated Press’s coverage of the congressional hearing, or the White House’s budget documents released last month.

The original article was published by KOB and sourced from the Associated Press. The piece highlights growing concerns on Capitol Hill about President Trump’s aggressive federal spending cuts and the potential for a government shutdown.