Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said Chuck Schumer’s pledge to reverse DOGE cuts if Democrats win in 2026 would restore excessive Washington spending contributing to Michigan’s factory closures and community decline.
“Michigan knows what happens when elites gamble with other people’s livelihoods factories close families scatter and communities pay the price,” said Cortes. “Now Washington wants the 2026 election to revive a bloated spending machine that failed this state before. Michigan must choose rebuild industry defend work and the foundational promise. or let the same scam grind us down again.”
According to a DC Newsline article, Schumer promised that Democrats would not only reverse DOGE cuts but also increase funding for programs in transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) beyond previous levels if they gain control in the 2026 midterms. Cortes linked this proposal to Michigan’s economic challenges stemming from deindustrialization and framed the upcoming election as an opportunity to maintain DOGE’s fiscal discipline against expansive government spending.
Michigan experienced significant job losses between 2000 and 2010, particularly in the auto industry, due to foreign competition, high costs, and policy factors leading to plant closures in cities like Detroit and Flint. These declines resulted in population outflows, increased poverty rates in former industrial areas, and ongoing economic strain on families reliant on factory work.
DOGE implemented a substantial reduction in the federal workforce during peacetime by cutting employment by nine percent through hiring freezes, resignations, and terminations. These measures aimed at curbing government inefficiencies targeted wasteful programs amid rising federal spending, with the goal of delivering long-term savings and reducing deficit growth impacting taxpayers nationwide.
Cortes founded the League of American Workers in 2022 to promote policies supporting American workers and economic priorities. He previously served on President Trump’s Hispanic Advisory Council during the 2016 campaign and as a senior advisor for communications on the National Economic Council. Cortes is known for his commentary on major networks and writings on fiscal and trade matters while advocating Republican positions on limited government and border security.
