Democrats target Elon Musk as the Trump admin tries to clean up the government
Fox News senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram has the latest on efforts to stop unneeded government spending on 'Special Report.'
Elon Musk, who President Donald Trump tasked with spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) effort, declared in a social media post that "Hysterical reactions" demonstrate the importance of DOGE's work.
He made the comment in response to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
"An unelected shadow government is conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government," a post on Sen. Schumer's @SenSchumer X account reads, echoing remarks the lawmaker made during a press conference.
Elon Musk, left, arrives to speak during an inauguration event at Capital One Arena on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate Democrats policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 28, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Left: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images; Right: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
"DOGE is not a real government agency. DOGE has no authority to make spending decisions. DOGE has no authority to shut programs down or to ignore federal law. DOGE’s conduct cannot be allowed to stand. Congress must take action to restore the rule of law," Schumer's post continued.
Musk described the effort to slash government waste and bureaucracy as a one-time opportunity.
"Hysterical reactions like this is how you know that @DOGE is doing work that really matters," he wrote in response to Schumer.
"This is the one shot the American people have to defeat BUREAUcracy, rule of the bureaucrats, and restore DEMOcracy, rule of the people. We’re never going to get another chance like this. It’s now or never. Your support is crucial to the success of the revolution of the people," he asserted.
USAID CLOSES HQ TO STAFFERS MONDAY AS MUSK SAYS TRUMP SUPPORTS SHUTTING AGENCY DOWN
The business magnate has called DOGE "the wood chipper for bureaucracy."
"If the Treasury Secretary does not remove DOGE’s access to the Treasury payment systems at once: Congress must immediately act," another post echoing the sentiments Schumer conveyed during the press conference reads. "That is why @RepJeffries and I will work together on legislation to stop unlawful meddling in the Treasury Department’s payment systems. We must protect people’s Social Security payments, Medicare payments, and tax refunds from any possible tampering by DOGE or other unauthorized entities."
MUSK RIPS ‘FRAUDULENT’ TREASURY HANDOUTS AS REPORTS MOUNT DOGE HAS ACCESS TO FEDERAL PAYMENT SYSTEM
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Musk declared in a post, "Doge has not looked at, nor is there any interest in, private financial data. What would we even do with it? The outgoing payment review process just looks at potential fraud and wasteful spending to organizations. Corrupt politicians are the ones complaining. I wonder why?"
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