As backlash grows over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its sweeping budget cuts, several House Republicans are returning to Washington with a mission: demand more transparency, more compassion, and a clearer plan from both the Trump administration and Elon Musk, who leads the downsizing effort.
While Republicans remain broadly supportive of cutting government spending, many are now grappling with anger from constituents directly affected by layoffs, particularly in federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Calls for Compassion from Within the GOP
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), who faced tough questions during a heated town hall in his home district, plans to personally reach out to Musk to advocate for a more compassionate approach to the downsizing process.
“If we have layoffs at the CDC, some people are going to be affected. The question is, do we give people time to adjust to their lives?” McCormick told NBC News.
Ironically, McCormick plans to use Musk’s own words against him in upcoming discussions:
“The first time I ever met Elon Musk, he was asked, ‘What could Republicans do better?’ And his response was… ‘I think you guys could come across as more compassionate.’”
McCormick also hopes to raise his concerns directly with President Trump during a scheduled meeting with the House Republican sophomore class at the White House this week.
Frustration Over Lack of Information
Several Republicans have also voiced concerns over the lack of clear communication from the Trump administration about DOGE’s actions. Lawmakers say they’re being left out of the decision-making process, leaving them unprepared to answer voters’ questions.
Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.), who faced voter frustration at a recent town hall, said:
“It would be better for members to have real specific information because we don’t have it. We don’t know what they’re looking at, and we don’t know what the numbers are.”
Many Republicans have learned about DOGE’s cuts the same way their constituents have—through media reports and social media updates—leaving them “flat-footed” during public events.
Support for DOGE, But Not for Musk
While Republicans generally support DOGE’s mission to reduce government spending, there is growing discomfort with Musk’s aggressive approach and rapid timeline.
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), who also faced difficult questions during a recent town hall, acknowledged that while his constituents support cutting federal spending, they have specific issues with Musk’s involvement:
“I’ve not heard anyone say they don’t want to cut anything. It’s just that they don’t like Elon. That’s it.”
Despite constituent concerns, Hern remains firm in his support for DOGE’s overall mission, emphasizing the urgency of reducing the national debt, which now exceeds $37 trillion:
“We’re continuing to move forward… But I still think the right thing to do is to get our government under control.”
Claims of Organized Protests Amid Growing Public Discontent
Some lawmakers, like Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.), believe that recent protests at town halls were organized by outside groups rather than driven entirely by local voters:
“The unfortunate thing was, this was organized protests, I think from some outside agitator groups.”
However, Alford also acknowledged legitimate concerns from constituents about the speed of the layoffs:
“My district is firmly behind what President Trump and DOGE are doing, but the concern is how fast this is happening.”
Alford likened the situation to a ship headed toward a financial disaster:
“We don’t have much time before we hit that reef with $36 trillion worth of debt.”
