During a recent event, Elon Musk shared that after discussing it thoroughly, he decided to shut down a particular initiative. This move aimed to limit the reach of USAID. Following this decision, a protest erupted outside the Department of Labor, which protesters claimed was the latest focus of Musk’s attention. The demonstration, organized by the AFL-CIO, Democratic lawmakers, and federal employee groups, featured signs criticizing Musk’s influence.
The situation escalated further in Congress, with Rep. Gerry Connolly condemning Musk’s actions during a hearing and attempting to subpoena the billionaire. Despite a heated exchange between Democrats and Republicans on the committee, the motion to subpoena Musk failed along party lines. Some Republicans defended Musk and his actions, alleging that federal agencies needed to be reviewed and streamlined, similar to Musk’s approach with a social media company.
Musk, who recently made headlines with a significant acquisition, faced criticism over his involvement in government matters. Amid concerns from Democrats, the White House expressed support for Musk’s efforts to improve government efficiency. While Musk remains largely absent from direct questioning, he continues to advocate for his decisions on social media platforms.
Elon Musk raised concerns about possible big money fraud without providing evidence to support his claim. Beyond the Medicare system, other government agencies were also alerted. The Treasury Department disclosed that those associated with DOGE were given limited access to the Treasury system managing government payments. Allegedly, DOGE has been instructed not to make changes to the system. Musk’s team is reportedly examining the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for any links to DEI, removing related materials. Concerns have been expressed that DOGE may follow a disruptive strategy, potentially risking NOAA’s valuable climate and weather data. Musk distanced himself from a plan to privatize NOAA’s operations proposed in Project 2025. Musk sought office space in the West Wing but found it insufficient, opting for the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Beds were reportedly brought into government buildings to accommodate late-night work. Musk’s team consists mainly of young engineers with limited government experience. Despite criticism, Trump supported the inclusion of young team members. Democratic leaders have questioned the authority and actions of DOGE.
Decisions to shut down programs or ignore federal law are non-negotiable. This is an undeniable truth. “No authority for spending decisions to shut down programs or ignore federal law,” stated Senator Chuck Schumer on Tuesday. ABC News reporters Rachel Scott, Matthew Glasser, Will Steakin, Katherine Faulders, and Max Zahn were contributors to this report. Republicans have successfully prevented Elon Musk from being subpoenaed by Congress as the popular cryptocurrency Dogecoin continues to have access to government data. This news was originally featured on abcnews.go.com.
