WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) blasted House Republicans for advancing a bill that harms families and veterans while giving Donald Trump and Elon Musk unprecedented and dangerous leeway to shutdown essential services.

“House Republicans are turning their backs on veterans exposed to toxins, our neighbors who need housing that is affordable, and robust health research at institutions like Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida.  This is a new low for House Republicans as they roll back investments in law enforcement, nutrition assistance and efforts to reduce pollution. I also am concerned that tax cheats will get away free as Republicans take the cops off the beat, and that cuts to community health centers will hurt my neighbors.

“Meanwhile, the Trump/Musk economic squeeze continues - whether it’s illegally firing public servants or passing along new taxes or sabotaging retirement savings.  It’s getting more difficult to afford their policies, while they set the stage for a massive tax cut for billionaires at the expense of hard-working Americans.  In fact, yesterday Elon Musk stated that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid should be on the chopping block.

“I remain ready to work on meaningful bipartisan legislation that protects Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Veterans, if and when Republicans decide to put the American people over their billionaire donors.”