By Zicpraiz 
President Donald Trump’s administration is making the government worse at performing its core functions, according to Lisa Needham, a Daily Kos contributor. Trump’s vision for the government involves reducing the federal workforce and overhauling various agencies.
Recently, a deadly mid-air collision occurred near Ronald Reagan National Airport, where only one air traffic controller was working, despite the job typically requiring two people. Trump blamed the crash on diversity and former presidents, rather than acknowledging the impact of his administration’s policies.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) preliminary findings indicate that the air traffic controller was working alone due to staffing shortages. This incident highlights the consequences of understaffing critical government agencies.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has also rescinded over 200 job offers, exacerbating existing personnel shortages. This decision may compromise the FDIC’s ability to monitor banks and prevent failures.
In March 2023, Signature Bank collapsed, and a review found that the FDIC had been unable to sufficiently staff the team overseeing the bank due to turnover and personnel shortages. This incident demonstrates the importance of adequate staffing in preventing bank failures.
Additionally, Trump has suggested eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), arguing that states should handle their own disaster relief efforts. However, this approach is problematic, as evidenced by the experiences of Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, which have received significant FEMA aid in recent years.
In 2021, Louisiana was hit by two hurricanes and two sets of severe storms, receiving over $3.9 billion in FEMA aid and over $2.1 billion in disaster-recovery grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This highlights the importance of federal support in disaster relief efforts.
Instead of focusing on its core responsibilities, the Trump administration is redirecting resources toward attacking individuals and organizations it dislikes. For instance, Trump has demanded that the attorney general investigate K-12 teachers who support transgender students, despite the lack of federal laws governing this issue.
This shift in priorities is unsustainable and requires constant surveillance efforts. The administration’s approach is also cruel and stupid, as it targets vulnerable individuals and undermines the principles of local control.
Ultimately, Trump’s vision for the government is one that celebrates harming individuals rather than achieving meaningful accomplishments, such as preventing bank collapses, ensuring air traffic safety, and supporting disaster relief efforts.