Schumer: Democrats will use spending bills to curb Musk

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) says Democrats will push for language in the spending bills that need to pass by March 14 that would unwind Elon Musk’s efforts to dismantle government agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Schumer emphasized that Democrats don’t want to see the government shut down, but he vowed that Democrats would seek to halt Musk’s aggressive moves to freeze government funding, push federal workers to resign and shutter agencies such as USAID and the CFPB.

“The bottom line on this is that the Republicans are in charge, and we don’t want a shutdown. It’s up to them. But in terms of trying to get in the appropriations bills [language] undoing lots of the many things that they’ve done that are wrong. Yes, we’re certainly going to make an effort to do that,” Schumer told reporters Tuesday.

Schumer said it’s fair to trim government programs that might not be using taxpayer money most efficiently, but he said Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have gone too far by locking out workers at USAID and shutting down all operations at the CFPB.

“Everyone knows there’s waste in government that should be cut, but DOGE is using a meat axe. And they’re cutting things that are efficient and effective,” he said.

The veteran New York lawmaker said he was in Albany and Syracuse visiting community health centers.

“Many of them have had their funds cut temporarily — some even haven’t been restored yet. They’re the most efficient health care providers around,” he said.

“Take [US]AID, maybe there are some programs they don’t like. But most people agree that PEPFAR was extremely effective and cost-effective," he said, referring to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. "Most people would want to see us continue our fight in Central Africa against Ebola so it doesn’t come here.”

“If you want to make cuts, then you do it through a debate in Congress, not lawlessly by just implementing it,” he said.

Some Democrats have said they’re willing to shut down the government if Republicans won’t agree to put the brakes on Musk’s aggressive bid to overhaul federal agencies without congressional approval.

Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) declared over the weekend that he’s not interested in supporting a government funding bill that would let [President] Trump and Musk continue to “dismantle” federal programs.

“I cannot support efforts that will continue this lawlessness that we’re seeing when it comes to this administration’s actions,” he said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “And for us to be able to support government funding in that way only for them to turn it around, to dismantle the government. That is not something that should be allowed.”

Topics

Aguilar says Democrats would oppose spending bill with Department of Education cuts

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., said that House Democrats would vote against a government funding bill if it included cuts to the Department of Education. Aguilar claimed Republicans "don't care about ...
NBC News - 10h
Senate Democrat: ‘Musk is about subverting Constitution’

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sharply criticized Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk for what he argued is “subverting the Constitution.” Wyden joined MSNBC’s Jen Psaki on Monday ...
The Hill - 13h
Schumer lays out Senate Democrats' strategy to push back against Trump

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer detailed Democrats' efforts to combat what he called a "coordinated assault" by President Trump.
CBS News - 1d
Schumer warns of 'Trump shutdown,' lays out 4-pronged plan for Democrats

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) in a letter to colleagues Monday warned of the possibility of a “Trump shutdown” and reminded fellow senators that Democrats have the power to make or ...
The Hill - 1d
Trump vows to cut billions of dollars from US defence spending

President says ‘fraud and abuse’ at Pentagon will be Elon Musk’s next target
Financial Times - 2d
Judges block Musk's efforts to slash federal spending

Federal judges block President Trump and Elon Musk's attempts to slash spending and reshape the federal workforce. NBC News' Aaron Gilchrist reports.
NBC News - 3d
Democrats Take Aim at Elon Musk

It’s the first sign of unified opposition for a rudderless and leaderless Democratic Party.
The New York Times - 4d
This Is How Democrats Can Counter Elon Musk

Recklessness will not get us to a revitalized government, but neither will excessive caution and addiction to procedure.
The New York Times - 4d