On Wednesday, Democratic lawmakers tried to dam current actions by President Donald Trump, taking specific intention at his transfer to permit billionaire campaign benefactor Elon Musk to tear via federal departments and businesses, with full entry to a number of fee techniques and the non-public knowledge of tens of millions of Individuals.
Critics have described the billionaire’s actions as akin to a “coup,” as Musk is now seemingly in control of all businesses, deciding which ought to proceed to run, which workers ought to be fired or provided questionable buyouts, freezing up funds that ought to be going to applications throughout the U.S. and internationally, and extra — all of which is likely illegal, observers and some in the administration have noted.
Musk is main the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), a federal position that solely exists via a decree Trump made final month. Throughout a Home Oversight Committee listening to on Wednesday, rating member Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia) described Musk’s place as “puzzling,” and called for him to be subpoenaed by the panel in order to answer questions about his work.
“Who is that this unelected billionaire that he can try and dismantle federal businesses, fireplace individuals, switch them, provide them early retirement and have sweeping modifications to federal businesses with out having any congressional evaluation?” Connolly stated in the course of the listening to.
The measure was blocked in a party-line vote, with all 20 Republicans voting “no” and all 19 Democratic members of the committee voting “sure.”
Additionally on Wednesday, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin) launched a invoice that seeks to restrict who can turn out to be a “particular authorities worker” throughout the federal authorities, a title that the Trump White Home has granted to Musk. Below Pocan’s proposal, no individual with that designation could be allowed to have contracts with the federal authorities — which means that Musk, who has billions of {dollars} in authorities contracts via his varied firms, would both have to finish these agreements or step down from his position as head of DOGE.
The invoice would strengthen already current guidelines for particular authorities workers relating to conflicts of curiosity — guidelines that Musk presently seems to be flouting.
“Nobody ought to have the power to direct funds in direction of their private curiosity if they’re working for the federal authorities. That’s why we don’t enable Members of Congress or many different federal workers to obtain federal contracts,” Pocan said in a statement announcing the bill. “The identical is much more true with a particular authorities worker with broad authority to direct federal bills.”
No authorities worker, ‘Particular’ or not, ought to have any monetary curiosity in who the federal government does enterprise with. Elon Musk is the poster baby for the sort of potential abuse. After greater than $20 billion in federal contracts, there’s no means Musk could be goal in what he’s doing.
With the Home of Representatives presently managed by Republicans, nonetheless, Pocan’s measure faces steep odds of consideration or development.
Within the different congressional chamber, Senate Democrats on Wednesday led an all-night marathon of speeches, talking out towards the affirmation of Russell Vought, Trump’s former head of the Workplace of Administration and Price range (OMB), to steer that company as soon as extra. Vought is an ardent Trump loyalist who authored a portion of Challenge 2025, and have become the right-wing coverage roadmap’s most important promoter after Trump tried to distance himself from the doc throughout his presidential marketing campaign.
“Of all of the dangerous nominees, of all of the extremists that Donald Trump has elevated, of all of the hard-right ideologues who’ve come earlier than the Senate, none of them maintain a candle to Russell Vought. He’s far and away essentially the most harmful to the American individuals,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said in his remarks.
Senate Democrats continued their speeches throughThursday morning, likely delaying a vote for Vought until later that day. With 53 Republicans within the Senate, Vought will probably be confirmed until 4 GOP lawmakers facet with each Democratic senator towards him.
The strikes from Democratic lawmakers come as polling reveals that Democratic voters (and independents who are inclined to assist Democrats) are presently unhappy with the shortage of motion from the occasion. According to an Economist/YouGov poll published this week, solely a fifth of these voters (20 p.c) believes that Democratic lawmakers are taking acceptable motion to oppose Trump’s agenda up to now, whereas greater than thrice that quantity (61 p.c) thinks that Democrats aren’t doing sufficient.
Several thousand demonstrators took part in protests against the Trump administration in cities throughout the U.S. on Wednesday, voicing their disdain for the president’s assaults on transgender rights and his dismantling of range, fairness and inclusion (DEI) applications throughout the federal authorities. Protesters additionally condemned Trump for permitting Musk to have entry to authorities knowledge whereas furloughing employees related to america Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID).
In Washington, D.C., protesters held up indicators studying “USAID Saves Lives,” and chanted “Elon Musk Has to Go,” amongst different slogans, NPR reported.
Demonstrators in different elements of the nation have signaled their assist for immigrants within the U.S. as Trump has launched into an anti-immigrant crackdown throughout the nation.
“My household and my associates which have immigrated right here belong right here,” said Rita Teniente, a nurse who attended a protest in Madison, Wisconsin, noting that her personal dad and mom have been immigrants. “We really feel that we belong right here, that we’re a part of American fabric and that we deserve the identical rights.”
Dennis Garcia, a protester in Houston, Texas, stated he was outraged by the administration’s resolution to enact ICE raids in “sensitive locations” — locations like colleges, church buildings and hospitals — to detain and in the end deport individuals in large numbers.
“Todos los Latinos. We shouldn’t divide one another. We should always stick collectively,” Garcia said. “That’s what this protest is about. That we’re all right here, and we’re not going to allow them to bully us anymore.”
Catie Miglietti, a demonstrator in Lansing, Michigan, stated she determined to protest with a purpose to present her vehement disagreement with Musk accessing knowledge from the Treasury Division and different businesses.
“If we don’t cease it and get Congress to do one thing, it’s an assault on democracy,” Miglietti said.
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