Letter to the Editor: DOGE cuts are nothing like the Wyoming way

Dear editor:

Here in Wyoming, we take pride in our farmers and ranchers. We know we need them and they deserve our support. 

Recently, a local rancher shared a story about how government program cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had directly impacted them. The rancher said they joined a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Relief program to help eradicate Russian olive trees on their land; when they joined, they were told to front the cost of the tree removal and would be reimbursed when the job was done. But now USDA grant programs like this — and others that reimburse ranchers and farmers for grazing, cattle, water, and crop loss — are being cut by DOGE, leaving our farm and ranch community high and dry.

In the 1930s, in the midst of the Dust Bowl, the first ever USDA Farm Relief programs were passed to help our ag community when they were most in need. We have directly benefitted from these programs for almost 90 years because our government recognized then that our farmers and ranchers play the most important role in keeping our country fed, and that they must be taken care of so they can take care of us.

We are concerned citizens who are deeply afraid of the harm these program cuts will have on our friends, neighbors, and beloved communities here in our home state and around the country.

We are further alarmed by the pardoning of the January 6th insurrectionists by Donald Trump — those pardoned ransacked our Capitol building, and injured and killed security guards and police officers. While some might say, “Biden pardoned his son,” we do not believe this is comparable. Biden was thinking with his heart, not his head, while Trump is putting the safety and security of police, security, Congress, and everyday people at-risk.

After rewarding those who attempted to overthrow our government and undo the will of the people, Donald Trump is now going after all those who oppose him: FBI employees who were simply doing their jobs by investigating him and his administration; judges who oversaw his many court cases; and anyone who speaks out against his administration. Publicly attacking these people puts these folks and their families in danger — they do not have Secret Service protection, they are ordinary people just like us. We do not believe this is conduct befitting the highest office in our land.

As Wyomingites, we take pride in helping our neighbors, keeping our word, and doing the right thing — we encourage our representatives in our state house and at the federal level to do the same. 

Sincerely,

Wendy Henderson

Victoria O’Brien

Cari Waterworth

Lyn Foley

Jean Petty

Hazel Vanlandingham

Cindy Schlattmann

Joan Robertson Whipps

Annie Mueller

Carla Mowell

Colleen O’Brien

Sandra Menke