Frustration is growing among some House Republicans over Elon Musk’s actions as part of the federal government, especially following a recent private meeting.
During this gathering, Representative Austin Scott from Georgia expressed worries that Republicans and the White House are not aligned. He mentioned that communication between Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the House needs improvement. Some lawmakers feel they are being left in the dark while Musk continues to tweet.
“We deserve better communication. It’s affecting our ability to answer questions,” one of the GOP members said. Scott stressed the need for DOGE to be more thoughtful and careful in its audits of government operations.
Another sticking point for Scott and other Republicans is a recent meme Musk shared on social media. It referred to people on federal benefits as the “parasite class.” While Musk intended to highlight those misusing the system, Scott’s team found this language offensive.
Scott supports DOGE’s mission but criticized Musk’s approach. He stated that any requests for information from federal employees should have been coordinated beforehand. “We need to work together without alienating anyone,” he said in a statement.
Republicans have faced backlash from their constituents about DOGE’s actions. Many were confronted during their visits home, and progressive groups organized protests. Despite varying opinions on Musk’s methods, Republicans generally agree on the goal of cutting waste in government spending.
Some lawmakers voiced concerns about the way federal employees were instructed to report their work. They were surprised by Musk’s insistence that those who didn’t comply could be let go, which doesn’t align with typical management practices. “Most bosses would handle things differently,” one lawmaker commented.
Public discontent also emerged from Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, who criticized Musk’s treatment of federal workers. She stated that public employees deserve respect for their hard work and doubted the necessity of Musk’s weekend email asking for justification of their roles.
Despite the frustrations, many Republicans continue to support Musk. House Speaker Mike Johnson remarked that the majority of Americans appreciate DOGE’s aim to streamline government. “We believe this effort will ultimately make government more efficient,” he explained.
The White House’s DOGE spokesperson was contacted for comment, but no response has been provided so far.