Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) spoke to the media regarding the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its legitimacy as an entity to cut billions – or possibly trillions – of dollars of government spending. The initiative will be headed by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (R).
The Texas congressman was questioned on whether cutting upwards of $2 trillion is “feasible.” Rep. Roy responded by saying that the purpose of DOGE is not to cut a specific dollar amount but rather to expose and eliminate unnecessary funding when possible.
“I think the most important thing they can do is expose the stupid, and shame Members of Congress, and to stop funding the stupid,” said Rep. Roy. “And so I would say their primary responsibilities is to just identify, using crowdsourcing and using AI, whatever they can to make sure that we know and the people know that we're funding dumb things.”
Furthermore, Rep. Roy cited multiple instances of what he believes DOGE should target in order to cut and limit government spending, especially if it’s deemed an improper usage of taxpayer monies.
“Take, for example, the disaster supplemental we're here to talk about DOGE. We got $113 billion unpaid for, chock full of all sorts of nonsense. We’ve got a FEMA that's continuing to pay for COVID burials. So, at what point are we going to wake up and look at what we're shoveling down here? And you know, hopefully, these guys can expose it so that Congress has to do its job,” concluded Roy.
In November, President-elect Trump stated that this new establishment will help “dismantle government bureaucracy” in Washington.
🚨STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
Let’s go, @elonmusk @VivekGRamaswamy! pic.twitter.com/YKT1V1UBVR
— Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) November 13, 2024
“I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency ("DOGE"),” said Trump. “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies - Essential to the ‘Save America’ Movement.”
"This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!" stated Mr. Musk, according to the Trump Vance transition team.
President-elect Trump will take office for the second time on January 20.
