Van Hollen Statement on Trump Budget Proposal

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, came out in strong opposition to President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget request. After passing a tax plan that gives an average tax break of $70,000 to households making over $1 million per year, this budget makes huge cuts to programs that help provide a basic standard of living for working-class families. It goes against President Trump’s promise not to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid – breaking faith with senior citizens, people with disabilities, and working-class families.

“President Trump’s new budget would make children, seniors, and people with disabilities pay for his massive tax giveaways to billionaires and big corporations. As he slashes funding to help working families, he includes billions of dollars more for his wall – on the heels of blowing up our deficit with the Republican tax law. This budget makes it clearer than ever where his priorities lie – in protecting millionaires and billionaires while cutting investments in health care, education, and the environment,” said Senator Van Hollen.

The budget pays mere lip service to investing in our infrastructure, schools, environment, and workforce, while forcing deep cuts to the programs that actually support those vital sectors of our economy. Instead of making our nation more secure, it neglects American diplomacy and throws the military budget into uncertainty by relying on a gimmick that has been condemned by the President’s own Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney.

Van Hollen added, “Families in Maryland and across the country deserve better. From making real investments in modernizing our infrastructure, to securing the healthcare and Social Security of millions of Americans, to improving our education system and protecting our environment — I have worked across the aisle on legislation to address these issues. I will keep working in the Senate to ensure a bright future for generations of Marylanders to come."

###