Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) has defended the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s decision to cut funding previously approved by Congress. Speaking on CBS News’s Face the Nation, Curtis argued that the ongoing legal battles over these funding cuts highlight how the U.S. Constitution is functioning as it should.
Government Cuts Spark Legal Battles
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established under the Trump administration, has been targeting government contracts, leases, and grants that it considers wasteful. These cuts have led to legal challenges from various groups, but according to DOGE, the initiative has already saved $55 billion. Additionally, President Trump signed an executive order pausing federal grants, which has intensified debates over executive power.
Curtis commented on the situation, saying:
“What we’re seeing play out is the wrestle between the three branches of government. This is the beauty of the system.”
When asked directly by CBS host Margaret Brennan if he had a personal opinion on the matter, Curtis emphasized his faith in the Constitution.
“People have said, ‘Oh, this is a constitutional crisis,’ and I say exactly the opposite. It’s proving to work. We have the courts playing their role, and Congress will too,” he said.
Legal Challenges and Court Rulings
So far, Trump’s opponents have launched numerous lawsuits to stop the cuts and block executive orders, with mixed results:
- Birthright Citizenship: A lawsuit challenging Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship has temporarily succeeded, with a restraining order in place to stop enforcement for now.
- Labor Department Data Access: A lawsuit aimed at preventing DOGE from accessing data from the Labor Department was dismissed.
- State Attorneys General Lawsuit: A case brought by 13 Democratic attorneys general was also dismissed.
- U.S. Treasury Access: One significant win for Trump’s opponents came when a U.S. district judge ruled against DOGE’s attempt to access data from the U.S. Treasury.
Curtis remained firm that these legal back-and-forths are proof of the constitutional system working as intended, allowing each branch of government to exercise its authority and check the others’ power.
Congress’s Role in the Funding Debate
Curtis also called on Congress to take more responsibility for resolving these issues, suggesting that some of the current problems stem from legislative inaction:
“When Congress doesn’t do their job, the White House steps in to try to solve it. Let’s let this play out by the Constitution, and then Congress, let’s step up,” Curtis said.
Who Is Sen. John Curtis?
John Curtis is currently serving his first term in the U.S. Senate after being elected in 2020. Before his Senate role, he served in the House of Representatives starting in 2017, winning a special election to represent Utah’s 3rd congressional district.
