— February 24, 2025 —
Politics in America has turned into a dangerous game of blind allegiance.
The best leaders, those who truly serve the people, are critical thinkers who challenge authority, ask hard questions, and demand transparency. Yet today, too many politicians are content to follow orders, prioritize party loyalty over their constituents, and avoid making the tough decisions that leadership requires.
President Trump has arbitrarily slashed federal funding with little explanation, leaving Montanans to suffer the consequences. We are told these cuts are a "temporary discomfort," but that justification falls flat.
What is the timeline? How were these decisions made? Why are hardworking Montanans being laid off without warning or cause? If this is truly temporary, what is the endgame?
The truth is, whatever plan Trump brought to office does not answer those questions. We need a thoughtful audit of the federal government aimed at reducing waste strategically and exposing corruption. We need to retain the best federal employees under trusted leadership and protect the livelihoods of Montanans and Americans.
Reckless decisions have serious consequences. Federal employees who manage our nuclear defenses and food safety were laid off only to be reinstated after the mistake was realized. The Milk River Project, critical to Montana agriculture, lost federal funding.
Agricultural producers across the state were missing critical deadlines for seasonal planning. A wave of resistance formed to counter these funding freezes and Montanans across the state, in unity, spoke up to their representatives and in their communities.
Montanans demanded action, demanded federal allocations be released to pay contractors for continuing infrastructure investments like the Milk River Project and projects across the state directly affecting public safety.
Our tax dollars should go to supporting vital resources with the knowledge and experience necessary to maintain our position as a secure state and a stable world power.
As far as the Milk River Project, even with some of the funding unfrozen, mass and indiscriminate federal layoffs and the next wave of staffing cuts at the Bureau of Reclamation continue to jeopardize the entire project. These are not the types of mistakes a competent administration should be making.
Senator Steve Daines remains silent, sending clueless form letters to worried constituents and avoiding public appearances.
With over a decade in office, one would think he’d have the backbone to stand up for Montanans. Instead, he’s more concerned with maintaining his status in the Trump club, ensuring he stays off the MAGA blacklist, even at the cost of Montanans’ well-being.
We haven’t heard from Daines because he supports what is happening.
His silence is an endorsement of the chaos in Washington, a sign that he is more interested in party politics than in serving the people who elected him. Montanans are tired of swamp-like behavior. If you want to drain the swamp, go right ahead, just be prepared to find Daines, Sheehy, Zinke, and Downing swirling down the drain alongside Trump and Vance.
Montanans deserve leaders who won’t blindly follow a party or a politician. Great leaders speak up for their constituents, check authority, and, most importantly, check themselves to ensure their decisions improve the lives of the people they serve.
It’s time for strong Montana-based leadership in Washington, D.C.
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