James Deyermond serves as chairman of the Maine Republican Party.

President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address offered a snapshot of where the country is headed — and a reminder that policy choices matter. When leaders focus on lowering costs, rewarding work and protecting taxpayer dollars, families feel the difference. When they don’t, the consequences are hard to ignore.

That lesson applies directly to Maine.

Over the past year, Americans have begun to see progress on issues that shape everyday life. Inflation has eased. Gas prices have come down from record highs, offering relief to working families and seniors alike. Wages are stretching further, and tax policy is once again focused on letting people keep more of what they earn.

These improvements did not happen by accident. They are the result of a shift toward policies that emphasize growth, accountability and fiscal responsibility.

Yet in Maine, that progress is too often undercut by failures closer to home.

During the State of the Union, the president highlighted a national effort to crack down on fraud in government programs — a priority that resonates here. Recent federal audits have confirmed that Maine made tens of millions of dollars in improper Medicaid payments, including funds intended to support services for children with autism. Those dollars were meant to help vulnerable families. Instead, weak oversight by Democrats in power allowed them to be misdirected.

That is not just a paperwork problem. It is a breakdown in stewardship.

Maine taxpayers work hard for every dollar they earn. They expect those dollars to be managed carefully, especially when they are meant to support children, seniors and people with disabilities. When fraud or misuse goes unchecked, it undermines trust and puts vital programs at risk.

What is most troubling is not that auditors found problems — it is that warning signs were visible long before corrective action was taken. Spending increased rapidly without adequate safeguards, and accountability came only after federal authorities stepped in. That pattern has become too familiar under Gov. Janet Mills.

Cracking down on fraud should not be controversial. It should be a shared goal across party lines. Every dollar lost to waste or abuse is a dollar that cannot go toward lowering costs, improving care, or easing the tax burden on Maine families.

That commitment is being backed up at the federal level, with President Trump announcing that Vice President JD Vance will lead a “war on fraud” to root out waste, fraud and abuse across government programs.

At the same time, the State of the Union underscored what is possible when leaders get the basics right. Nationally, policies focused on affordability and growth are beginning to give families breathing room. Mortgage rates have hit their lowest level since 2022. Household budgets are no longer being eroded month after month by runaway inflation. People are starting to plan again, not just get by.

Maine should be positioned to benefit from that progress. We have a strong workforce, natural resources and communities that take pride in self-reliance. But those strengths are diminished when state leadership fails to manage taxpayer dollars responsibly or refuses to engage transparently with oversight efforts.

That’s why we need to send leaders to Washington who will partner with this administration, reinforce its reforms and fight to ensure Maine benefits from the work already underway.

Federal officials have signaled that accountability will be a priority going forward. That should be welcomed. Cooperation with audits, openness with data and proactive reform are the only ways to protect programs like Medicaid and ensure they serve the people they are meant to help.

The president’s remarks did not create Maine’s problems. They highlighted a choice.

Maine can continue defending a status quo that allows mismanagement to persist — or it can embrace the same principles that are helping families nationwide: fiscal discipline, honest oversight and policies that respect taxpayers.

Mainers deserve a government that protects their hard-earned dollars, supports vulnerable families and takes responsibility when things go wrong. Accountability is not a threat. It is the foundation of trust — and Maine deserves nothing less.