Feb. 9, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: Based on my 26 years of teaching, plus 10 years of prior professional experience, I often say that numbers matter. Thus, the following list shows costs estimates for some of the promises and proposals stated by the current presidential administration: $300 million – Supplemental Shutdown Support for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program; $400 million - Remodel White House Rose Garden, Ballroom and East Wing; $700 million (plus $300 million/ month ongoing) – attack and embargo Venezuela; $1.6 billion – Increase longterm federal child-care support; $2.5 billion – Pay “warrior dividend”; $10 billion – Create sovereign wealth fund; $12 billion – Pay tariff relief for U.S. farm and agriculture; $20 billion - Support Argentina; $20 billion - Support Ukraine; $33 billion - Support Israel against Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen, and Iran; $88 billion (annually) – Change immigration, deportation, detainment and border programs; $200 billion - Purchase mortgage bonds to lower interest rates; $280 billion - Pay “tariff dividend” to low-and middle-income Americans; $600 billion - Build “dream military”; $2.5 trillion - Replace federal income tax.
These numbers, totaling almost $3.75 trillion, come from Fortune Magazine, the U.S. Treasury Department, and the CATO Institute (a libertarian but non-partisan organization).
How to see the size of 3.75 trillion? Well, since 365 days equals one year, then one billion days equals about 2.74 million years, and 3.75 trillion days are almost 2.47 billion years. Obviously, $3.75 trillion is a number that matters.
From this list, there are several possible conclusions that reflect on the current presidential administration. First, the list is only a part of the evidence that shows they consistently over-promise. Second, it is very clear that they are not frugal. Indeed, they may truly enjoy spending other people’s money, or they just don’t care, or both. DENNY GARVIS Lexington
