The Trump administration’s attack on federal agencies to “end wasteful spending” is transparent. Think about it … nearly every business with more than a handful of employees deals with some amount of wasteful spending. Federal agencies are no different. But if there’s a horse overeating in the barn, you don’t burn down the barn. It’s short-sighted and financially foolish. Gutting democratic institutions weakens democracy, making it easier to consolidate power in very few hands.

In March Trump signed an executive order to shut down the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The IMLS provides grants to museums and libraries, and represents 0.0046 percent of the federal budget. Museums generate $50 billion a year, and it’s estimated that every dollar spent on libraries represents five dollars in services to the community. A nonsensical cut. However, one of the most important tools in the autocrat’s toolbox is undermining libraries, a vital cornerstone of democracy.

Libraries are free and provide the same level of information access to every single person. Libraries also enjoy a high level of trust among U.S. citizens. This kind of trust cannot be tolerated by someone who must sow distrust in order to succeed. We also learned this week that the section of the IRS that collects taxes from the wealthiest Americans has been gutted, which could result in a tax shortfall of a half trillion dollars. Again, financially foolish. The money being stolen from U.S. by the 1% vastly overshadows government overspending.

Denise Pavao

Ashfield