Senate Republicans Push to Codify Spending Cuts Identified by Elon Musk’s DOGE

U.S. Senate Republicans are calling on Congress to codify spending cuts identified by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after the Supreme Court ruled against former President Donald Trump’s attempt to withhold foreign aid payments. Following a private meeting with Musk, lawmakers acknowledged that unilateral executive action to reduce federal spending through impoundment is unlikely to succeed, urging the White House to pursue a formal legislative process instead. Senator Rand Paul praised Musk’s efforts in identifying wasteful expenditures, while Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham encouraged the administration to propose a rescission package, which would allow Congress to revoke allocated funds with a simple majority vote.

Musk, a key adviser to Trump, later met with House Republicans to discuss DOGE’s budget-cutting initiatives, which have sparked both praise and criticism. While some lawmakers applauded the effort to eliminate waste and fraud, others expressed concerns over the impact of sudden workforce reductions. Representative Frank Lucas warned that giving a small group broad authority to implement sweeping changes without extensive oversight could create long-term disruptions. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that Congress would consider a rescission package if formally requested by the White House, though no official response has been issued yet.

DOGE’s aggressive cost-cutting measures have led to significant federal job losses and contract cancellations, triggering public backlash and contentious town hall meetings. Republican leaders have since discouraged open forums, seeking to control the fallout. Musk assured lawmakers that DOGE only recommended reviewing probationary employees, but some agencies went beyond that, cutting essential positions. A Reuters analysis found inconsistencies in DOGE’s reported savings, with numerous deleted claims on its website. Senator Graham acknowledged the need for adjustments, stating that while DOGE has made positive strides, certain policies must be refined to ensure a balanced approach to government efficiency.

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