Congressional Republicans are pushing to curb Elon Musk’s authority over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after abrupt agency closures and 200,000 contested job cuts sparked legal challenges and constituent complaints, Newsweek reports.
An article in Newsweek states that Republicans in Congress are attempting to regain control of the Department of Government Efficiency due to their anxiety at the dizzying pace at which Elon Musk has been transforming the federal government.
There has been a great deal of confusion as a result of DOGE’s recommendations to slash over 200,000 jobs and the subsequent arbitrary reinstatement of some of those positions. Members of the Republican Party have voiced their displeasure with the current state of affairs, and the courts have begun to consider whether or not some budget cuts are constitutional.
“For the first time since the initiative began, congressional Republicans are pushing to impose checks and balances on Musk and exert more control over DOGE’s cuts,” writes Newsweek’s Martha McHardy.
This action shows that Republicans are making strides to restore congressional control over government spending, The Raw Story shares.
This week, Republican senators and representatives met privately with Musk to “urge” him to get clearance from Congress before rerouting DOGE’s cuts, as reported.
The cuts should be handled as “rescission packages,” according to Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who allegedly talked with Musk for more than an hour. There have been reports that Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) is also in favor of the proposal.
“A rescission package rescinds previously approved funding and requires only a simple majority vote in both the GOP-controlled Senate and House,” adds McHardy.
According to what McHardy wrote, when asked if he favored rescission packages, Musk responded positively. In addition, McHardy mentioned that someone asked him if Congress should vote on DOGE’s cuts, and he said, “Well, they do have a vote on it.”
There is still a clear chasm between DOGE and Congress at this time. As reported by McHardy, during a discussion with House Republicans, Musk attempted to deflect attention away from the extensive firings at the federal level by placing the blame on department heads.
Also, Musk informed Congress that the previously declared intention to eliminate over 70,000 jobs at the VA “wasn’t a DOGE decision.”
As Musk seeks to slash almost $2 trillion from the federal budget, Republican lawmakers are demanding closer cooperation between DOGE and Congress in an effort to increase transparency and decrease interference.
Luis Gochoco is a seasoned managing editor and writer with over a decade of experience covering politics, technology, gaming, and entertainment news. With a keen eye for breaking stories and in-depth analysis, he has established himself as a trusted voice in digital journalism. Luis is one of the key forces behind the success of GameNGuide, contributing to 12 million views through engaging and high-traffic content. He also played a pivotal role in generating 8 million views on International Business Times, shaping the platform’s technology and gaming coverage.
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