Progressive House Democrats call for Elon Musk to be fired

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said at a Thursday morning press conference that it is time to “fire Elon Musk,” after he and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recent efforts to overhaul the federal government.

“Today, we’re here to say with one voice, fire Elon Musk,” said Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), chair of the caucus.

President Donald Trump announced shortly after the 2024 presidential election that Musk would lead DOGE to review the federal government’s finances.

Members of the caucus said during the press conference that Musk will take money away from schools, health care programs, Social Security and other programs.

“The richest man on the planet is engaging in an illegal power grab across our government,” said Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL).

Since the start of the new Trump administration, DOGE has gained access to government payment systems, sought to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development and pushed to reduce the number of federal employees.

Several of the caucus members said DOGE’s efforts are not constitutional and are dangerous.

“Privatization schemes for this agency will put people in danger,” said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA). “This is not some kind of game. It isn’t a stunt to drain the swamp, purging the government of scientists, experts and career civil services. Career civil servants, slashing fundamental programs. These things will cost lives.”

The progressives said they plan to wage a “multi-front battle” against Musk through the courts, public pressure and in the halls of Congress.

“My entire time in Congress, I’ve never seen Republicans be able to pass a budget. They can never get that together. And they always come crawling to Democrats for help. Well, we are not going to help Republicans keep Elon Musk stealing our taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Casar.

But on the other side of the aisle, some Republicans lawmakers in Congress have dismissed the concerns about Musk’s efforts.

“I think some of the, some of the concerns that have been raised are hysteria,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). “I think that actually he is doing a public service by raising the attention and visibility of some of these abuses of the taxpayer and the waste of their money and things that make no sense or that involve some sort of political agenda that is separate and apart from anything that the American people have voted for.”

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