House Republicans voiced their frustrations regarding Elon Musk’s approach to his role within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during a private meeting held on Tuesday.
Fox News reported that recent discussions highlighted a divide between Musk’s initiatives and the expectations of some GOP members in terms of collaboration and communication.
Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia raised concerns over the lack of harmony between Republican legislators, President Trump, and Musk's DOGE.
The main issue he cited was Musk’s lack of coordination, particularly emphasizing how directives were issued without sufficient consultation.
During the meeting, some lawmakers criticized Musk for his online behavior, particularly tweets perceived as undermining their shared goals of efficiency. One Republican attendee suggested that the House, White House, and DOGE were "fed to the wolves" by Musk’s unfiltered social media presence.
Another GOP member voiced a desire for more preemptive communication, indicating that the current strategy left many with unanswered questions.
This sentiment was echoed by statements urging DOGE to be more meticulous when conducting government audits. Austin’s viewpoints were acknowledged by his colleagues, despite diverging opinions on certain issues.
Notably, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., addressed concerns over Musk’s re-sharing of a meme labeling individuals on federal benefits negatively. He clarified that the intention was to highlight system abusers, although he noted offense taken by some, reflecting on the sensitivity surrounding the issue.
As lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill, they grappled with their constituents’ inquiries about DOGE, many centered on Musk's controversial new policy demanding federal employees submit weekly job performance summaries. Critics deemed the approach as draconian and unorthodox, with concerns it might signify undue pressure on the workforce.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, openly condemned this method, advocating for dignity and respect toward the federal workforce.
She described the initiative to justify employment roles via weekend emails as misguided. An unnamed House Republican also critiqued Musk’s layoff methods as contrary to traditional managerial practices.
Despite these contentions, Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., reminded his peers that decisions about federal agency staffing ultimately reside with the executive branch, headed by President Trump. This position aligns with the administration’s broader agenda to optimize governmental operations.
Publicly, most Republicans continue backing Musk and his ambitious vision under DOGE. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., stressed that a significant portion of the public supports efforts to slim down the government’s size and scope. His remarks underscore a common Republican sentiment favoring fiscal conservatism.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, reiterated President Trump’s backing for Musk, emphasizing the apparent success of DOGE’s initiatives.
This endorsement reflects a unified front despite internal GOP disagreements and the ongoing debate over policy execution.
Musk’s proposal to use savings from DOGE’s cost-cutting measures to fund stimulus checks has faced skepticism among his supporters. Detractors within the party questioned the popular reception of this idea, with one observer dismissing it as immature.
The narrative surrounding Elon Musk’s involvement with DOGE and federal government restructuring continues to develop. While communication lapses and policy critiques are causing ripples within Republican ranks, the ambition to curtail wastefulness retains broad support among lawmakers.
