Members of the White House cabinet took turns praising President Trump at a gathering on Monday, adopting the commander in chief’s evaluations of himself. Their mimicry was not limited to a day of flattery; several have also adopted Mr. Trump’s rhetorical style of doubling down on false claims and pushing so-called alternative facts.
At least four Trump administration cabinet secretaries have defended austere budget cuts and policy shifts at their departments with misleading statements in congressional testimony and other official settings. Here’s an assessment.
Tom Price, the secretary of health and human services, falsely claimed there were no cuts to the Medicaid program under the Republican health care bill.
Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary, misleadingly suggested that “the president’s budget funds key activities that prepare for the 2020 decennial census.”
Ben Carson, the secretary of housing and urban development, misleadingly said that the budget “continues to provide rental assistance for 4.6 million households.”
Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has said toxic waste cleanup is a top priority, contradicting the budget.
