
President Donald Trump laid out his budget plan last week, and it's all about cutting what he views as government waste. Numerous agencies and programs, including the Department of Education and Meals on Wheels, stand to see funding cuts or total shutdowns. Yet the President has spent a lot of money thus far on personal travel.
Since his inauguration on January 20, Trump has spent five weekends at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Each trip costs around $3 million in security and other costs, according to estimates from multiple news outlets.
That would mean that, in the last two months, Trump has spent approximately $15 million of taxpayer money just on his weekends in Florida.
For $15 million, Trump could:
Fund the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (which his budget cuts entirely) for more than three years.
Or a year of the National Wildlife Refuge fund, which costs just $13.2 million.
Or more than a year of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, which investigates chemical accidents, for just $11 million.
Or a year of small business grant programs that his budget slashed, which costs just $12 million a year.
Additionally, it's costing taxpayers roughly $500,000 per day for Melania and Barron Trump's security while living in New York, according to police officials, since the first lady and Trump's youngest son have not yet moved to Washington, D.C. Trump has been in office for 60 days—that's $30 million.
For $30 million, Trump could:
Fund two months of the National Endowment for the Arts, a longtime target of Republicans for cuts. The NEA helps fund arts organizations, many of which count children and military veterans among their members.
Or two months of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which typically funds cultural institutions, such as museums, libraries, and universities.
Or an entire year of the African Development Fund, a foreign aid agency focused on Africa, for just $26 million.
Or nearly six months of the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund, which lets the president "provide humanitarian assistance for unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs worldwide."
RELATED STORIES
If Melania and Barron stay in New York through the end of his school year, that would be at least another $30 million in expenses. When you include security for Donald, Jr., Eric, and Tiffany, who all live in New York, the estimate doubles to nearly $1 million a day. It's hard to estimate the total long-term costs of their protection, particularly because Donald, Jr. and Eric travel abroad for work so often. On a recent business trip, security for Eric cost more than $100,000, in case you were wondering where your tax dollars were going.
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
-
The Best Face Masks for Every Skin Type and Concern
Oily skin? Need a glow? Want hydration? We have you covered.
By Samantha Holender
-
Is the Humble Bar of Soap the Future of Beauty?
Bars, powders, and concentrates are the beauty world’s latest obsession. Here's why everyone's going "waterless."
By Deanna Pai
-
Laptop Backpacks That Provide Both Fashion and Function
Stylish, take-anywhere backpacks that fit your laptop (and everything else, too).
By Julia Marzovilla
-
The Supreme Court's Mississippi Abortion Rights Case: What to Know
The case could threaten Roe v. Wade.
By Megan DiTrolio
-
Sex Trafficking Victims Are Being Punished. A New Law Could Change That.
Victims of sexual abuse are quietly criminalized. Sara's Law protects kids that fight back.
By Dr. Devin J. Buckley and Erin Regan
-
My Family and I Live in Navajo Nation. We Don't Have Access to Clean Running Water
"They say that the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Why are citizens still living with no access to clean water?"
By Amanda L. As Told To Rachel Epstein
-
30 Ways Women Still Aren't Equal to Men
If anyone tries to tell you otherwise, show them these statistics.
By Megan Friedman
-
Cory Booker and Rosario Dawson's Relationship Is No More
After three years of dating, the power couple have decided they're better off as friends.
By Marie Claire Editors
-
Education for Women and Girls Is Crucial for Climate Justice
In an excerpt from her new book, 'A Bigger Picture,' Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate discusses the impact educated African women and girls can have on solving the climate crisis.
By Vanessa Nakate
-
It’s Time to End Equal Pay Days and Pass the Equal Rights Amendment
The passage of the ERA is a chance for our country to prove it truly values women.
By Hala Ayala
-
In Conversation: Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Emily Tisch Sussman
“It’s ridiculous that we’re the only advanced nation on the planet that doesn’t help families with childcare.”
By Emily Tisch Sussman