According to the most recent Harvard/Harris poll, a whopping 83% of voters support cutting government spending to reduce the deficit, with 70% believing that government spending is “rife” with waste to the point that $1 trillion in wasteful spending could be cut. Yet despite this support, CBS News found that only 51% support President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut staff at government agencies. There seems to be a disconnect between what voters want and what Trump is delivering. The president prudently addressed that disconnect this week in the Oval Office.

“It’s very important that we cut levels down to where they should be, but it’s also important to keep the best and most productive people,” Trump said. “As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go. We say use the ‘scalpel’ rather than the ‘hatchet.’”