Leave it to President Donald Trump to already be saving Americans money!
After putting the heat on Panama and calling them out on their unfair charges of United States ships through the Panama Canal, they will now be allowing U.S. Navy ships to pass through the canal for free, which will save our country MILLIONS of dollars every year.
This all came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio went to Panama to speak with President José Raúl Mulino. The country also vowed to take a step back and distance themselves from China.
The State Department announced, “U.S. government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the U.S. government millions of dollars a year.”
REPORT: Panama will now allow United States Navy ships free passage through the Panama Canal, saving the United States millions of dollars a year.
The development comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip to Panama.
“U.S. government vessels can now transit the Panama… pic.twitter.com/jACxs1sK6o
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 6, 2025
That may not seem huge, but it really trickles down. Especially paired with other findings through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
As reported by Newsweek, here’s where DOGE is already saving us BILLIONS of dollars:
DOGE has focused on several departments, particularly those deemed redundant, like the Department of Education and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
By making substantial cuts to these departments or getting rid of them altogether, Trump and Musk said they hope to get rid of inefficiencies and redirect the funds back to the federal government for more effective use.
DOGE has recommended USAID be dismantled and its services move under the State Department.
Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration could also see significant budget and staffing reductions, which could threaten critical weather forecasting, experts say.
The Department of Education will likely face a dramatic downsizing or even outright elimination.
DOGE has so far claimed to average about $1 billion a day in savings based on budget cuts, and many of the most talked-about cuts were made to jobs and contracts centered around DEI initiatives in several federal agencies.
This includes recommending canceling 12 contracts in the Government Services Administration and the Department of Education, saving roughly $30 million. DOGE also recommended ending 12 underutilized leases, saving about $3 million.
On Monday, the Musk-led department said it wanted to axe 36 contracts, which would save $165 million across six agencies.
Last month, DOGE announced it wants to cancel 85 DEI contracts at more than 10 federal agencies, amounting to about $1 billion. A $45 million scholarship program for students in Burma would also be axed.
Likely also a part of DOGE’s attempt to reduce government spending, Trump mandated that all federal workers must return to the office and implemented a federal worker hiring freeze this month.
This could save money in terms of salaries, but it also could reduce capacity for the agencies to do their jobs, leading to delays in tax refunds or even problems with Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid benefit processes, experts say.
Talk about lowering the deficit!
