Republicans Privately Beg Trump to Spare Their States While Publicly Backing Federal Cuts, Reports Say

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Alex Jane
February 13, 2025
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8 minutes read

Photo Credit: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Republican lawmakers are publicly supporting President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk as they slash federal grants and overhaul the civil service. However, behind the scenes, many are privately pleading with the White House to spare funding for their own states, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

A few weeks into Trump’s presidency, the aggressive push to cut government spending has begun affecting states and districts represented by GOP lawmakers. Some are now attempting to secure exemptions for critical programs, even as they continue to back Trump’s overall approach.

Maya Miller and Katie Edmondson of The Times highlighted this contradiction, writing, “As their slash-and-burn campaign to remake the government has begun to affect their states and districts, some Republicans have tried to push back in subtle ways.” They noted that certain lawmakers are seeking “carve-outs and special consideration for agriculture programs, scientific research, and more, even as they cheered on Mr. Trump’s overall approach.”

One example is Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), whose state benefits from more than $518 million in active National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. While publicly supporting Trump’s spending cuts, she told a local news outlet that she would urge administration officials to take a “smart, targeted approach” to avoid harming “lifesaving, groundbreaking research” at institutions like the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Similarly, House Republicans representing rural areas introduced a bill to shift the Food for Peace program from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Department of Agriculture. Meanwhile, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) privately asked Trump to resume food aid shipments currently blocked at U.S. ports.

Trump and Melania Jimmy Carter funeral — Donald Trump and his wife Melania attended the state funeral held in Washington, D.C., for former President Jimmy Carter. (Photo by Ricky Carioti – Pool/Getty Images)

USAID has been a primary target of Trump and Musk, who intend to eliminate the agency entirely. However, a federal judge has attempted to slow down their efforts. While some Republicans are pushing back quietly, others remain steadfast in supporting deep cuts—even when they impact their own states. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), whose state received over $1 billion in NIH grants, dismissed concerns over the funding reduction.

“The idea that 60 percent goes toward indirect costs, overhead, is insane,” Moreno claimed, though NIH data indicates the actual figure is 26 percent. Democrats are seizing on the internal GOP conflict, using the cuts to drive a wedge between Republicans and their constituents.

They have begun targeting vulnerable House Republicans, particularly in agricultural-heavy districts, with messaging such as “Vulnerable House Republicans Hang Farmers Out to Dry.” Those in the crosshairs include Reps. David Valadao (R-CA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), and Don Bacon (R-NE), all of whom represent districts where agriculture is vital.

As the budget battle intensifies, the divide within the Republican Party is becoming more apparent, with lawmakers forced to choose between party loyalty and the economic well-being of their own states.