Despite aggressive cost-cutting by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, federal spending has reportedly climbed by $154 billion since Donald Trump returned to office.

Government spending is significantly higher under Trump’s second term compared to the same period in 2024 under Joe Biden, according to the analysis by the Wall Street Journal, citing the Treasury Department’s daily financial statements.

The increase—$154 billion—comes even as DOGE, led by Elon Musk, touts $150 billion in cost savings through job cuts, contract terminations, and the rollback of diversity and aid programs.

  • @nomy@lemmy.zip
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    72 days ago

    I can’t help but wonder who the fall guy is gonna be when the guillotines finally come out. When the rich (enough) have felt enough pain for it to trickle-up to their betters. fElon? Trump? Big Balls?

    Who’s going to be the albatross around the neck keeping America from being Great Again?

    • @Ledericas@lemm.ee
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      12 days ago

      its going to be DOGE/elon, + any billionaires/cabinet members he will throw under the bus, its exactly like whats putin does, minus the Defenestration.

    • @schema@lemmy.world
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      82 days ago

      Don’t think it’s going to be Trump. Their power hinges on him and his cult. Plus, he is very easy to manipulate, so the perfect marionette.

      Elon seems to be a better candidate to take the fall. His cult is somewhat fading.

      But honestly they might just prop up one of their goons.

      • Cethin
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        22 days ago

        I think that’s exactly why it’s going to be Trump. His cult has too much power, which they want direct control over, and also he’s old and will have served his purpose. If they can get his cult to ditch him for something more stable and under their control (The State or The Party probably), then that’s what they’ll want.

        • @Sanctus@lemmy.world
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          52 days ago

          That has never happened in history. When Trump dies, MAGA falls. Thats the crux of cults of personalities. They fall apart without The Guy.

          • Cethin
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            11 day ago

            Sure, maybe, but he’s old and frail already. They’re going to try to shift it to The Party or something if they can. They aren’t going to sit back and lose everything they’ve got when he dies, which won’t be far off even if no one tries to kill him.

            • @Sanctus@lemmy.world
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              21 day ago

              Theres not a single thing they can do. I can feel Donald’s death from here. Now if I were an opposition party I would be studying the fall of other regimes built around specific people, what happened when those people died? What are the differences between them? What is most like our situation? Theres an unprecedented chance approaching fast. Will they catch it?

          • @Ledericas@lemm.ee
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            02 days ago

            agreed, what will MSM even talk about, if they cant do it 24/7 about trump this goes for resistance grifters too(thier survival hinges as much as right wing grifters do), not the coke fiend don jr, or the psychopath barron. they will have to steer it back to anti-trans for the moment.