We were promised safety, security, and the cost of living would improve if Trump was elected. We should have known better when the very unpopular “Project 2025” playbook was released a year ago. So, now we have a reckless administration that is following that playbook almost to the letter, despite Trumps denials about “Project 2025” during his campaign.

Cost of living: Our economy has not improved — costs for everything have been going up under the trump administration. Tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico, as well as other countries, are increasing grocery prices, housing costs, automobile prices, etc.

Safety: Our US healthcare, environment, workplace oversight, FAA aviation management, etc. are all seeing severe staff reductions, chaotic management from the Trump-Musk administration, as well as false or misleading information on government websites – at least those that are still functioning. All of this is worrisome.

Social security: Seniors and the disabled are finding it more difficult to sign-up, submit claims, or seek assistance because of Social Security staffing reductions and threatened office closures. With a 1% overhead (better than most businesses), the Social Security Administration was already one of our most efficient US agencies. Unfortunately, Trump’s billionaire class neither comprehends the need for an accessible social safety-net that working people have paid into for years nor do they seem to understand why many of our seniors and disabled rely on Social Security for their survival.

National security: In the forefront of the News now, the Secretary of Defense and other high-ranking government officials disclosed sensitive military information in real time about US air strikes on Houthi rebel sites in Yemen using an encrypted but unsecure app. These officials all know that sensitive military information is supposed to be handled via a secure government communication system and/or in a secure facility. Carelessly using a commercial app that could be intercepted by bad actors put our military pilots in terrible danger. If our Allies aren’t already wary about sharing intelligence with the US because of Trump’s coziness with Putin, they undoubtedly are more so now that they see such cavalier recklessness by those in charge of our US Intelligence agencies.

The Trump administration scorecard: “Project 2025” at 100%; but improvements to American public safety, security, & cost of living are all dismal failures so far.

Donna JK Smith

Enumclaw