Republican senators met with Elon Musk Wednesday to remind him that major budget cuts must go through Congress.
During a closed-door luncheon, GOP lawmakers made it clear that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cannot bypass the legislative process when it comes to eliminating funding and reducing the federal workforce.
Musk met with Senate Republicans to provide an overview of DOGE’s mission to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs.
While many conservatives support his mission, they emphasized that formal spending cuts must be codified through Congress.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a strong proponent of reducing government waste, acknowledged Musk’s efforts but stressed the need for legislative action.
“To make it real, to make it go beyond the moment of the day, it needs to come back in the form of a rescission package,” Paul stated after the meeting, referencing the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling earlier in the day that rejected the Trump administration’s argument for freezing billions in foreign aid.
“I love all the stuff they’re doing, but we got to vote on it,” Paul said. “My message to Elon was: Let’s get over the impoundment idea and let’s send it back as a rescission package.”
Paul explained that, with 50 or 51 votes in the Senate, the GOP could officially cut spending through a simple majority—a process Musk had reportedly not realized was possible.
Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) reinforced the need for congressional approval, stating that Senate Republicans overwhelmingly support taking a formal vote on DOGE’s proposed cuts.
“Yes, yes, 100 percent, and we should be doing it, like, yesterday,” Graham said.
He clarified that while Musk can push through regulatory reform without congressional approval, any major budget reductions that fall outside of reconciliation must go through a rescissions package.
“My understanding is, since the budget reconciliation deals with mandatory spending [and] that the DOGE cuts would be primarily from discretionary, the way we’d do that procedurally is for the White House to request us to take up a rescissions package,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) explained. “We could pass it with 51 votes here and a majority in the House.”
Sources familiar with the discussion said that while some senators were previously irritated by Musk’s aggressive approach, they were notably more diplomatic when speaking to him directly in the meeting.
“Senators were much nicer to him in person than they have been. A week ago, people were pretty cranky: ‘They’re shutting down stuff, we’re not being told.’ They were much more polite to him in person,” one source said.
While Musk has spearheaded some of the boldest government efficiency reforms in recent history, Republican senators are signaling that the process must follow constitutional procedures.
The next step will likely involve the White House formally submitting a rescissions package to Congress, allowing lawmakers to codify spending cuts into law.
Republican senators need to remember the waste and abuse has been going on during their oversight. Without Musk we wouldn’t even know what they have been letting happen to our tax dollars.
I agree. America’s affluent class, government elected officials, senators and congressmen as well as appointed government positions aren’t getting rich(millionaire status) from their salaries.
Russ, Good point! I am concerned that congress will talk and not act. They are pretty much just time wasters and they know this stuff has to be cut, downsized and demolished! I do not trust congress to do this quickly even if they have the votes and they are all subject to bribes! So give them one chance with Trump riding their butts to get it done. And we will see if these pansies really want to clean up the government. My guess is NO!
You’ve been given the data. Why haven’t you presented a bill cancelling these programs?
The will of the people are above those in Congress.. Without our consent they are nothing, can not make laws that violates our Constitutional rights (which they have done for over 100 years).. Ex.; Our property tax, is unconstitutional as it is today, because in the 1979-81 most states took it upon themselves when controlled by Marxists to change the agreement that our forefathers had allowed.. The agreement was an Assessor, when he could be kicked out if he acted like an idiot (lord and master over our property), and any NEW tax increase “We the People” would vote YES or NO on any increase.. Any “RIGHT” we have in the Constitution can not be taxed, fees attached to it, or any law made effecting that right..
The Republicans, or more appropriately the GOP Elitists are still living in the past are the ones complaining. Musk has never done anything except act as the “lead auditor and advisor” to President Trump. Musk has not closed any department or agency. He has not fired a single employee. He has not cut and funding. He is doing what Trump has requested he do.. The GOP are just pissed that he is doing what they should have been doing for decades instead of joining the demonRATS in the Uniparty. The decisions to close, cut and fire are being done by Musks boss D.J.T. as it has always been. The Left just loves to manipulate the truth with their incendiary lies and rhetoric. Just like their all too frequent lies about Trumps tax cuts are for the wealthy only. The liberal Left has nothing left but lies. And the American people know that and acted appropriately on Nov 5, 2024.
The Deep State has included these “safeguards” to protect their power! They intend to prevent the reduction of government that Trump and DOGE propose! The survival of the government underworld must be shielded!
They (the Radical Left) have many flaming hoops Trump must jump thru. I just didn’t expect the ultimatum to come from Republicans. The swamp hides it’s members from both parties!