Trump’s America First Agenda Delivers Wins for Working Families and National Strength Americans know that strong families, safe communities, and real economic security come from lower costs, good jobs, secure borders, and government that works for citizens instead of wasting money or helping outsiders. For years, bad policies let illegal immigrants take benefits, drove up housing and drug prices, and let fraud and foreign cheating hurt everyday people. Since returning to office, President Donald J. Trump has taken decisive action with pro-growth policies, deregulation, and strong enforcement. These steps are cutting waste, protecting American workers, and delivering victory after victory that put citizens first. Food Stamp Rolls Shrink as Requirements Return More than 4.3 million fewer Americans are now on food stamps since Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Illegal aliens have been removed from the program, and work requirements have been restored for able-bodied adults without young children. This change safeguards limited benefits for American citizens who truly need help while encouraging more people to find jobs and support their families. The result is lower taxpayer costs and stronger communities where aid goes to those who follow the rules. Foreign Student Numbers Drop Giving American Students More Opportunities New data shows a 20 percent drop in foreign student enrollment last spring after the Trump Administration tightened international student visas. This multi-year decline is freeing up thousands of spots at colleges and universities for American students. It reduces competition for limited campus resources and helps keep education costs and housing demand lower for U.S. families. The policy prioritizes American learners while still allowing legitimate academic exchanges under stricter rules. Health Insurers Cut Red Tape Saving Patients Time and Hassle UnitedHealthcare has eliminated prior authorization requirements for 30 percent of medical procedures. This follows commitments secured by the Trump Administration, with overall prior authorizations at major insurers dropping 11 percent from last year. The change spares about 6.5 million procedures from bureaucratic delays each year. Patients and doctors now face less paperwork, faster approvals, and quicker access to needed care without unnecessary government-style hurdles. Economy Adds Jobs While Manufacturing and Construction Boom The U.S. economy added 172,000 jobs in May, beating expectations. Manufacturing and construction are growing fast, government jobs have fallen for 17 straight months, and small business hiring is up for the third month. Manufacturing expanded for the fifth straight month at the fastest pace in four years, services have grown every month since Trump returned, new home construction is surging, and home prices are falling in over half the country. Income growth is outpacing rents, making housing more affordable again for working families. Strong Immigration Enforcement Lowers Housing Costs for Americans Aggressive actions against illegal immigration and abuse of H-1B visas are reducing housing demand, especially in high-immigration tech areas. This brings real relief where costs had risen the most and helps make homes more affordable for American families. By controlling borders and visas, the policies ease pressure on local resources, schools, and infrastructure while protecting wages and opportunities for citizens. Drug Prices Fall Under Trump’s Most Favored Nation Approach Trump is the first president to actually lower overall prescription drug prices. His Most Favored Nation (MFN) initiative is projected to save Americans $500 billion over the next decade while still protecting new medicine development. TrumpRx is rapidly adding discounted generics, already saving people hundreds of millions. These steps end the old system where Americans paid the highest prices so foreigners could pay less. Trade Gap Narrows While Debt Stabilization Needs Tough Choices The Joint Economic Committee reports the U.S. trade deficit tightened in April to $55.88 billion, down from March and 7 percent below the 12-month average. Goods deficits fell while services stayed strong, with solid exports of aircraft and pharmaceuticals. Import duties also dropped. At the same time, the committee warns that the rising federal debt-to-GDP ratio is unsustainable long-term and requires early policy changes like Medicare reforms, border adjustment taxes, and skills-based immigration to attract high-skill workers. Trump’s pro-growth tax cuts and deregulation are helping boost growth, but stabilizing debt will need focused action to avoid future economic risks and keep America strong. Commercial Fishing Restored in Pacific Waters Boosting Jobs and Supply Trump signed a proclamation restoring commercial fishing access to nearly half a million square miles in Pacific monuments like Papahānaumokuākea, Mariana Trench, and Rose Atoll. This removes unnecessary bans, supports American fishermen, processors, and related jobs, and increases domestic seafood to lower prices and reduce reliance on foreign imports. It builds on earlier executive actions and uses science-based management to protect the environment while growing the industry. No Aid for Ghost Students Act Cracks Down on Billions in Fraud The House passed H.R. 7892, the No Aid for Ghost Students Act, praised by Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (Republican from Michigan). Introduced by Representative Burgess Owens (Republican from Utah) with provisions from Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (Republican from Pennsylvania), the bill requires upfront identity checks, flags risky applications, and verifies identities before sending federal student aid. It stops criminals using fake identities from stealing taxpayer money meant for real students. Veterans Gain Faster Care Through New Scheduling Technology Representative Tom Barrett (Republican from Michigan), Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, held a field hearing highlighting the External Provider Scheduling (EPS) system. This tool lets VA schedulers directly see community doctor availability and book appointments quickly instead of repeated phone calls. It passed the House unanimously in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act. The change reduces wait times and improves access for veterans in places like Michigan. These decisive steps under President Trump’s administration and Republican-led Congress highlight a focused effort to cut costs, secure borders, reduce fraud, grow the economy, and deliver results that protect families and strengthen the nation. By combining strong leadership with practical action, the work puts American patients, workers, veterans, and taxpayers first while building a more secure and prosperous future. Real progress comes from smart, targeted policies that respect essential responsibilities and reward those who play by the rules. Thanks for reading Dr. Cotto's Digest. If you like this newsletter, please give it a heart, retweet—and follow me! Full access to Dr. Cotto's Digest is only $3.00/month. Subscribe to this account for the plain truth about business and economic news that shapes your life: x.com/JosephFordCotto/creato…

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