Some Democrats are sticking with a congressional caucus partnered with Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency even as their party rails against its scorched-earth overhaul of federal agencies.
Multiple Democratic members of the caucus said they thought it was better to be inside the tent rather than outside, even as they disagree with how Musk is going about his job.
“The caucus is about focusing on rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. I joined in good faith and to make sure that we have a voice at the table to protect my constituents,” said Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), who added: “The illegal activity we’ll handle through the litigation process.”
“For now, I’m staying, but I’m staying because I’m going to talk to my Republican colleagues and basically ask them the question of, what’s the point of the caucus anymore?” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.). “Elon doesn’t seem to think the caucus is necessary because he doesn’t seem to think Congress is necessary.”
A third Democrat, Rep. Val Hoyle of Oregon, said she’d stay in “for now” and stressed that the “caucus is different than what Elon Musk is doing” or a separate Oversight Committee subpanel chaired by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) that’s intended to be another, more official Hill counterpart to Musk’s effort.
Democrats in recent days have rallied against GOP moves like the now-paused freeze of federal funding and the access to the Treasury Department payment system that Musk and his allies recently gained access to under the DOGE initiative. It has given the party a messaging foothold as they chart a response to Trump’s second term, with a group of Democratic lawmakers protesting against Musk Tuesday at the Treasury Department.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday he was open to a “conversation” about whether Democrats should remain on the Oversight subcommittee chaired by Greene.
