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Ant Thornton, Senator for New Mexico | Facebook

Sen. Thornton on recession bill: 'No time to delay—cut waste, fraud, & abuse'

Ant Thornton, Senator of New Mexico, has urged Senate leaders to act swiftly in making recession bill cuts permanent and focus on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending. This statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Leader John Thune Make recession bill cuts permanent NOW," said Anthony L. Thornton, New Mexico State Senator from 198th District (R). "Lean on Sen. Susan Collins to support or remove her from Appropriations. No time to delay—cut waste, fraud, & abuse! Fiscal Responsibility America First."

Congress is currently debating President Trump's proposed $9.4 billion rescission bills, which aim to cancel previously approved spending, primarily targeting foreign aid and public broadcasting. According to Reuters, this plan has revealed divisions among Senate Republicans. Some moderates warn that it could undermine bipartisan budget agreements and set a precedent for future executive-driven cuts. However, Trump allies argue that the cuts are necessary for fiscal discipline.

Global Policy Watch reports that Trump's rescission bills would retract $9.4 billion in Biden-era appropriations using the Impoundment Control Act. The proposal targets 22 federal programs such as USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief). This initiative represents the largest presidentially initiated rescission in decades and employs a fast-track process requiring only a simple majority in the Senate, carrying significant implications for current federal programs.

Federal audits by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have found that annual government waste, fraud, and improper payments range from $233 billion to $521 billion in recent years. A 2024 report confirmed that between $4.4 billion and $7.3 billion in fraud is identified by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) each year. These figures bolster support among advocates of spending cuts who highlight persistent inefficiencies in federal spending.

According to Ballotpedia, Ant Thornton is a Republican New Mexico state senator representing District 19 since January 2025 following a career as an engineer. He is recognized for his advocacy of fiscal responsibility, support for tax relief, and criticism of what he perceives as inefficient federal spending programs. Thornton serves on the Senate Judiciary and Finance Committees.

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