Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said that while he supports the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government, it won’t be enough to curb the inflation.
“This is not a smear against DOGE. I love what DOGE is attempting to do, but the waste, fraud, and abuse is not going to be $1 trillion. It’s just not going to be,” Bannon said during a Friday episode of his War Room podcast.
STEVE BANNON: I love what DOGE is trying to do. But the waste, fraud, and abuse is not going to be $1 Trillion. It's just not – and the Democrats are going to use that against President Trump. pic.twitter.com/4GaoD1MlaH
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) March 7, 2025
Bannon noted that the Republicans’ proposed CR to continue funding the government through September may cancel out any cuts DOGE actually makes.
“We’ve got to cut federal spending. It’s driving inflation, it’s driving everything, and I think the numbers are going to rapidly deteriorate, going to rapidly deteriorate and the Democrats are going to use that against President Trump,” Bannon told viewers.
“Is it $25 billion? $50 billion, is it $100 billion? Is it $10 billion? I really don’t care what the number is right now,” he added. “What is the absolute number? Let’s drive a stake in the ground.”
Ultimately, Bannon said, America won’t be able drastically reduce the $2 trillion deficit “without tears.”
“You’re not going to do this without tears. You’re not going to get $6.5 trillion managed, you’re not going to close a $2 trillion per year deficit, you’re not going to stop the madness…without tears,” he said.
STEVE BANNON: You're not going to do this without tears. You're not going to get $6.5 trillion managed, you're not going to close a $2 trillion per year deficit, you're not going to stop the madness…without tears. Go after waste, fraud and abuse with shock troops. -… pic.twitter.com/bUqhlc0tBd
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) March 7, 2025
The proposed CR would modestly reduce spending below fiscal year 2024 levels, but would maintain funding for USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, agencies that Trump and DOGE have moved to dismantle.
From the Daily Caller News Foundation:
The CR reduces spending below fiscal year 2024 levels and does not include additional emergency funding, disaster declarations or policy riders that have tanked prior stopgap funding bills. The CR text includes an additional $6 billion for veterans healthcare and provides modest increases for defense spending and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding to patch an operating shortfall that started under the Biden administration.
Nondefense spending is notably reduced $13 billion below FY24 levels and the CR also includes a request to rescind $20 billion in IRS enforcement funding.
The CR will continue to fund government agencies Trump and his DOGE have moved to dismantle, including USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. However, House Republicans are intent on implementing DOGE cuts in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process.
Fiscal hawks Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) pledged to vote against the CR, noting that it essentially maintains Biden-era spending levels.
The latest consumer price index report released last month showed that inflation ticked back up to 3%, up from 2.9% in January.
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