Time to Listen, Learn, and Adjust DOGE and Deportations

The best leaders are able to adjust to changing realities. President Trump has often proved his ability to adjust positions during the process of negotiations in his diplomatic initiatives. It may be time for him to do so on two of his most important domestic initiatives—DOGE and deportations. He started with strong support, and national polls indicate that his support continues for now. But when the implementation in both these areas has played out, strong resistance is likely to grow that could impact mid-term election results.

Securing our Southern border was a campaign promise, and both the flow of fentanyl and illegal aliens have been clearly curtailed. That is a campaign promise delivered. But progress in deportations has run into judicial roadblocks and cracks in voter support. A recent column by John Stossel, The Good, the Bad, the Undocumented, argues that contrary to the undocumented being a problem, they are and can be a massive benefit to America.

Stossel clearly supports the efforts to capture and deport illegal immigrant criminals. That is a safety issue a majority of Americans support, but what will happen when ICE begins breaking up families and deporting people who have jobs and children and are valued members of local communities? There will be an outcry that the liberal media will use to attack Trump and disrupt other essential administration priorities.

Yes, Trump’s team must continue to find and deport the undocumented criminals. But an aggressive effort to remove all illegal immigrants may not even be wise. Why? Crimes by the undocumented are overrated. On a per capita basis, Stossel notes that existing citizens commit more crimes than the undocumented. They take some jobs, but many employers complain about finding available employees for critical jobs. Even Trump has said we need more people to sustain economic growth.

Illegal immigrants do not qualify for most benefits available to citizens, and they still pay into Social Security and Medicare. In short, they pay more into the system than they get back, and they still help expand our nation’s economy. If they have not found jobs and secured lodging, let them register with the app Homeland Security has provided and leave with the possibility of returning legally in the future if they qualify. But if undocumented have found a place in our country and are contributing, let them find a way to register and keep working. Any chance of citizenship would have to take years and involve extensive background checks and status verification.

Secondly, Elon Musk and his DOGE team are providing an invaluable service in initiating the large-scale cuts Trump promised. Voters may want to decrease the size of the government, but they don’t want it to impact their necessary services and valuable local NGOs. Yes, the goal of cutting spending is critical to the future of America; the goal of reducing national debt by cutting a trillion dollars in government spending is inspiring and essential. But there is value in listening to the voters and taking more time to review specific grants and expenditures. DOGE promised that there would be a 90-day review. That implies some spending will be cut and some essential services will be continued.

Trump and Musk have plans to initiate zero-based budgeting and achieve a balanced budget for the first time in decades. So why impose large scale top-down cuts when you can challenge the remaining departments and NGOs to target of a 20% reduction in spending and deliver a zero-based budget that justifies their expenditures. Make it clear that there will be no more automatic budget raises and no need to spend money at the end of the budget cycle to keep that money train going. You get what you can justify is providing necessary services effectively.

If you want NGOs to depend more on private donations, gradually decrease available grants, but don’t cut all the funds from non-profits providing valuable support in local communities. If you want charities to be there to make a difference, it will take time to raise the funds they need to continue. Right now, many quality non-profits are struggling to survive and still serve their vital missions. Many are panicking, feeling totally cut off from vital support that they currently depend upon. Don’t throw out critical local NGOs to get to the truly fraudulent expenditures that must be cut.

For decades we have done nothing but increase spending every year. But now, let local government agencies and NGOs help make smaller government work and continue to make a difference where it counts most. Empower the responsible and cut the irresponsible. That’s the difference Americans voted for last November.

Terry Paulson is PhD psychologist, professional speaker, and author of The Optimism Advantage and his new political novel, The Summit. Contact him at terry@terrypaulson.com.