TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) on Tuesday refuted TPP Legislator Huang Kuo-chang’s (黃國昌) attempt to downplay the impact of the approved budget cuts on government operations.

Kuo accused Huang of misleading the public by saying the government still had NT$2.9 trillion (US$88.41 billion) available. The budget saw a record-high NT$207.5 billion in reductions and NT$269.8 billion in frozen funds, she said.

The cuts targeted operational expenses vital to daily government functions, such as utilities, office supplies, and administrative costs, Kuo said. She pointed out that 70% of these budgets have been frozen and required legislative approval to access them.

The spokesperson argued that freezing such a large portion of operational budgets effectively paralyzes government functions.

The DPP said, “The budget has been cut crudely without logic, only paying attention to political disputes and not people's livelihood.” 

DPP caucus leader Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) suggested the Cabinet could seek a constitutional interpretation to challenge the cuts.