You may agree with the incoming anti-DEI policies, but don't let that obscure what's happening here.

Previously, federal funding was controlled by congress, and subject to its collective politics, via long-playing out machinations/compromises/horse-trading, etc, and then to the collective politics of the various enforcement bodies.

It now appears that federal funding is generally subject to the personal politics of the current president. That may seem nice for the specific policies you agree with. But... there are likely to be many policies you don't agree with. Especially since there will be a new president after not too long.

Also, since political purity tests have to be subjectively enforced, they are inevitably subverted to corruption. You can pass the test with the right amount of money delivered to the right people in the right way. That's nice for the people receiving the money, but the corruption quickly becomes horrifically inefficient and costly.

The question isn't whether the previous system was perfect -- it wasn't. The question is whether the new system is worse, and how much worse.

I'm pretty surprised how unaware people seem to be about the power/money grab that is happening. People never seem to learn that you have to look at what people do, not what they say.

Really level headed and well-informed response.

I do agree that this is a totally new paradigm, but I would call it more of a popular revolution than a "power/money grab".

I'd also characterize the last system (which you described perfectly btw) as corrupt and ineffective. The most non-political evidence I can offer is the observation that spending decisions only ever went one direction: more spending. This probably seems fair at the "dem vs gop" level but too the taxpayer it was more theft every year.

So this newly emerging system does appear more susceptible to corruption, so I totally agree with you there, but as a taxpayer I am very happy that someone is slowing down spending.

Like I said, watch what they do. The narratives people promote are self-serving and often counter-factual.

Federal spending went up during our current president's last administration (and down the following administration). It's almost certainly going up again this time. The deficit doubly so.

100% agree. We'll see if this is yet another plutocratic shakedown of the American people or is possibly the start of something new (good bad or otherwise).