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Miller Says Cutting $186 B Payments Balances Budget—Experts Decry False Claim

5/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Stephen Miller claimed the U.S. federal budget could be balanced by cutting payments to individuals deemed ineligible.
The Office of Management and Budget estimated potentially erroneous individual payments would total $186 billion in 2025, about ten percent of the nearly $2 trillion deficit.
David French called the assertion wildly false and warned it fosters dangerous public ignorance.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick described the claim as contemptuous and insulting to Americans.

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Story summary

Stephen Miller claimed the U.S. federal budget could be balanced by cutting payments to individuals deemed ineligible.
The Office of Management and Budget estimated potentially erroneous individual payments would total $186 billion in 2025, about ten percent of the nearly $2 trillion deficit.
David French called the assertion wildly false and warned it fosters dangerous public ignorance.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick described the claim as contemptuous and insulting to Americans.