Republicans Have Big Plans for Spending Cuts, But Doubts Lurk on Capitol Hill
Despite plans for significant spending cuts, some GOP lawmakers have expressed skepticism about whether Congress can muster the momentum to make lasting changes. This comes as President-elect Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advisory panel, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, held meetings on Capitol Hill to brainstorm ways the executive and legislative branches can work together to reduce the national debt and cut spending.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., expressed concerns that the proposed changes won’t materialize, stating, “You don’t see a lot of that. Now, when is that going to start? Is it going to start just because Elon and Vivek address us?”
Some GOP lawmakers have shown similar doubts, with Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, calling on his colleagues to “grow a spine” and pass meaningful spending cuts. Another senior House GOP aide warned that the hard part will come when Congress must actually enact the proposed changes.
The national debt has surpassed $36 trillion, and some lawmakers have expressed concerns that the DOGE panel’s goals are overly ambitious. A senior House GOP aide likened the panel’s vision to “swinging for the fences,” while another described the mission as “worthy and absolutely necessary but nothing will change” without concrete action.
Some Republicans have even questioned the ability of Musk and Ramaswamy to lead the charge, with one anonymous GOP lawmaker calling the DOGE a “magical department” and stating that members of Congress know how to do their job. Others have expressed concerns about the panel’s logo, which bears a resemblance to the cryptocurrency dogecoin, backed by Musk.
