Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, co-leaders of Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), faced mixed reactions from lawmakers during their Capitol Hill meetings this week. Their ambitious proposal to slash $2 trillion in government spending has sparked debate among Republicans, skepticism from some Democrats, and a whirlwind of intrigue thanks to their plan to compile a “naughty and nice list” of lawmakers ahead of the 2026 elections.
Musk and Ramaswamy met with Republican lawmakers on Thursday to discuss DOGE’s objectives. The program aims to identify and eliminate inefficiencies in federal spending.
Congressmen Aaron Bean (R-FL) and Pete Sessions (R-TX) launched a bipartisan DOGE Caucus to support this initiative. Republican Representatives Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Ralph Norman (R-SC) have signed on, as has Democrat Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), who described reducing wasteful spending as a “nonpartisan issue.”
Additionally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) plans to chair a House Oversight Subcommittee under DOGE, which she says will investigate “waste, corruption, and useless parts of our federal government.” Greene has emphasized a focus on exposing unelected bureaucrats and scrutinizing major government departments.
In the Senate, a parallel DOGE Caucus has been launched by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) with support from Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), among others.
Despite this momentum, several lawmakers expressed doubts about the feasibility of DOGE’s ambitious goals. Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) voiced concerns about the lack of realistic plans, noting, “Half the room was excited, but the other half knows the reality of passing such sweeping cuts.”
With Republicans holding a narrow 219-215 majority in the House—soon to decrease due to departures for Trump administration roles—the challenges of uniting even the GOP behind the initiative are significant. Additionally, the Senate filibuster presents a major hurdle for DOGE’s proposals.
“These guys are going to get their eyes opened,” commented one Republican lawmaker, speaking anonymously. Others pointed to the lack of details about how specific cuts would be achieved, raising questions about the program’s implementation.
Undeterred by skepticism, Musk and Ramaswamy emphasized their commitment to reform. During the meeting, Musk highlighted his willingness to hold lawmakers accountable, stating that they would create a “naughty and nice list” of politicians based on their support for or opposition to DOGE’s initiatives.
This list, Musk explained, would be used to influence elections, with DOGE leaders pledging to back primary challenges against lawmakers who obstruct the program’s goals.
Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) expressed cautious optimism, noting on social media that while some lawmakers would hinder DOGE’s success, Musk’s direct involvement could shift the dynamics. “It gave me hope that the richest man in the world is actively engaging in holding Congress accountable,” Crane tweeted.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene elaborated on DOGE’s plans to engage directly with the public. The group intends to introduce a weekly podcast or report to update Americans on spending investigations and lawmakers’ voting records.
“Our subcommittee will shine a light on every unelected bureaucrat and wasteful agency,” Greene told reporters. “Americans deserve to know how their money is being misused.”
She also reiterated DOGE’s plan to publicly score lawmakers based on their spending habits, providing transparency ahead of elections.
While the DOGE initiative has energized portions of the Republican Party, it faces significant obstacles. Narrow congressional margins, resistance from moderate Republicans, and strong opposition from Democrats could limit its potential.
Critics, including Rep. Max Miller and some unnamed lawmakers, have questioned whether the $2 trillion target is realistic given the current political landscape. However, supporters like Greene and Crane argue that DOGE represents a much-needed effort to rein in federal spending.The political ramifications of DOGE are already becoming evident. Musk and Ramaswamy’s plan to publicly identify uncooperative lawmakers could shake up primary races in 2026, adding pressure on incumbents to support aggressive spending reforms.
Despite doubts, DOGE’s co-leaders remain optimistic about their ability to effect change. Musk’s deep pockets and high-profile presence, coupled with Ramaswamy’s strategic vision, have the potential to disrupt traditional Washington dynamics.
Whether DOGE’s efforts to slash government waste succeed or falter, the program has already sparked a national conversation about fiscal responsibility, accountability, and the role of federal spending in shaping the nation’s future.
Johnson spoke to reporters Thursday to explain the objectives of lawmakers meeting with DOGE.
Johnson: This is an important day. It’s the beginning of a journey. You heard what DOGE is all about, the Department of Government and efficiency. It’s a new thing, and this is a new day in Washington and a new day in America. We have long lamented the size and scope of the government that it has grown too large. And let me be frank about this: The government is too big. It does too many things, and it does almost nothing well. And the taxpayers deserve better. They deserve a more responsive government, a more efficient government, one that is leaner and more focused on its primary objectives. And that’s the opportunity that we have here now.
We believe it’s a historic moment for the country, and these two gentlemen are going to help navigate through this exciting new day. Elon and Vivek don’t need much of an introduction here in Congress for certain, and most of the American people know what they’re capable of and what they’ve achieved. Both of these gentlemen have run very successful organizations, they’re innovators, and they’re forward thinkers, and so that’s what we need right now. And so, what you’re going to have today is first is a meeting that we’ll have here with decision makers, key figures in the Republican House and Senate, who are chairs of committees of jurisdiction, who deal with the money and financing of government and the structure of government.
We’ll have chairs of the new DOGE caucuses that have been set up in the Senate and the House. And then after that, we’ll proceed to the Congressional Auditorium, where all of the Senate Republicans and House Republicans have been invited, and I think many of them will gather for this discussion. So, there won’t be a lot of detail for the press today, and that’s by design because this is a brainstorming session. It is the first, again, as I said, of a long series of meetings that will be held as we’re laying the groundwork for the new year and the new Congress. And you’re going to see a lot of change around here and in Washington, in the way things are run.
We need to make government more efficient, and that is what this whole objective is. That’s what the DOGE effort will be about. And you’re going to see bicameral cooperation, and it will be, by the way, bipartisan. Over the last 24 or 48 hours, you’ve seen a number of our Democrat colleagues, both in the Senate and the House, who have said, “You know what, Sign me up. I want to be a part of this as well.” So, we welcome that. It should be a bipartisan effort, and I think we’re going to do great things for the Country.
