• About
  • Contact
Friday, May 9, 2025
The US Inquirer
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Home
  • National
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Crime
  • World
PRICING
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • National
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Crime
  • World
No Result
View All Result
The US Inquirer
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

GOP lawmakers concerned about DOGE firings, but most support effort

by Caitlin Huey-Burns Nikole Killion
February 20, 2025
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
GOP lawmakers concerned about DOGE firings, but most support effort

RELATED POSTS

What Pope Leo XIV has posted on social media about politics, Trump administration

Trump fires longtime Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden

As the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, implements sweeping cuts across the federal government, Republican lawmakers are worried about the impact on jobs and industry in their states. 

But very few are directly criticizing President Trump or DOGE’s leader, Elon Musk, and are instead taking a quieter approach. But the concerns raised nonetheless underscore the clash between shrinking government and parochial interests. 

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she was hearing from so many constituents concerned about cuts to the federal workforce in her state that she decided to host a tele town hall Wednesday night, which she said over 1,000 people attended. 

Alaska has one of the largest federal workforces per capita in the country, with public land management a significant focus. Murkowski said the concerns at the town hall ranged from the impact on preparedness for wildland fires to staffing national parks to the ruthless treatment of employees.

“The abrupt terminations that we have seen for those have really been detrimental,” she said, adding that she took her concerns to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “The problem is, they’re going to require that all these people who were terminated reapply, so they have to go back to usa.gov and go through the application process, which, if you haven’t done it, is a multi-month process. Parks are opening up in a couple months here, and so I’m concerned.” Additionally, she said, cuts to the Bureau of Land Management could slow permitting for Mr. Trump’s energy initiatives. 

The Alaska senator said she supports eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government, “but there is a way that we go about it, and we do it within the confines of the law and the rules that are out there…when you’re dealing with employees, there is a right way and a really not so right way to treat them.” 

Maine Republican Susan Collins, another moderate senator, said she’s also worried about the impact on national parks in her state, as well as on biomedical research. 

“I think many of these firings are indiscriminate,” she said. “We should wait until Cabinet members are confirmed and can take a careful look at their agencies’ needs, rather than doing these sweeping indiscriminate cuts. The fact that workers were let go who are working on avian flu, and the fact that workers have also been fired who are responsible for nuclear safety, shows that we need a far more careful approach. 

Earlier this month, as the administration began to dismantle USAID, Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “distribute the $340 million in American-grown food currently stalled in U.S. ports to reach those in need.”

Moran, who sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee, also said he raised his concerns with the White House. “U.S. food aid feeds the hungry, bolsters our national security & provides an important market for our farmers, especially when commodity prices are low,” he said on X. He later said the State Department approved his request to distribute the stalled food aid.

Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall partnered with Moran to move USAID’s Food for Peace program — of particular interest to Kansas farmers — under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture. 

“To me, this is all about saving American taxpayers money, and so I fully support pauses in these programs,” Marshall told CBS News. “I think it’s time to get rid of some of the agencies we have, over 400 agencies in this federal government, over 2 million employees outside of what we have in the military. So I think it’s time for consolidation.” 

Lawmakers have also taken notice of the layoffs at the National Institute of Health. “Every cent of hard-earned taxpayer money should be spent efficiently, judiciously, and accountability — without exception,” Alabama Sen. Katie Britt told AL.com. “While the administration works to achieve this goal at NIH, a smart, targeted approach is needed in order to not hinder life-saving, groundbreaking research at high-achieving institutions like those in Alabama.” 

Most other Republicans remain supportive of DOGE’s mission. North Carolina GOP Sen. Thom Tillis said he’s making sure FEMA and disaster aid isn’t disrupted in his state, which has recently been ravaged by storms. But overall, he said, he agrees with the approach. 

“I actually believe they are doing this because they’re sick of trying to get answers to legitimate questions about where we can be efficient, and the way to force people to justify investments on exceptions is to shut everything down,” Tillis said. “I know it’s disruptive, but I think they need to have the capacity to bring things back online that make sense.” 

Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin also defended the administration’s cost-cutting efforts. He pointed to the nation’s burgeoning debt as a national security issue that requires “difficult choices”.  

“Any member is going to be particularly upset about some cuts that may be happening in our backyard,” Mullin told CBS News. “Look what’s happened to FAA? You know, in Oklahoma City, we had the training facility for our air traffic controllers, right? That’s a concern, and Sean Duffy and I’ve had conversations. But at the same time, we have the responsibility to the taxpayers and American people to get our financials, our financial burdens, in order.”

Florida Senator Rick Scott said he doesn’t believe Musk and his DOGE team are moving too quickly. 

“It’s what I did when I was governor. It’s what I did in my business life,” said Scott. “You go through and you’re constantly looking at how to spend your money better. So, it’s what they ought to be doing. It’s what everybody ought to be doing. Every- you know, everybody ought to be going through the budget and saying, ‘how can we save money’?”

Grace Kazarian and

Emily Hung

contributed to this report.

Caitlin Huey-Burns


headshot-600-caitlin-huey-burns.jpg

Caitlin Huey-Burns is a political correspondent for CBS News and a fill-in anchor for the CBS News 24/7 politics show “America Decides.”

Share6Tweet4Share1

Caitlin Huey-Burns Nikole Killion

Related Posts

What Pope Leo XIV has posted on social media about politics, Trump administration
Politics

What Pope Leo XIV has posted on social media about politics, Trump administration

May 8, 2025
Trump cuts to AmeriCorps causing “damage and chaos,” groups say
Politics

Trump fires longtime Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden

May 8, 2025
Why officials are calling for a complete overhaul of the air traffic control system
Politics

Why officials are calling for a complete overhaul of the air traffic control system

May 8, 2025
Trump touts UK trade deal, but U.S. companies fear they won’t survive China tariffs
Politics

Trump touts UK trade deal, but U.S. companies fear they won’t survive China tariffs

May 8, 2025
Jeanine Pirro to replace Ed Martin as interim U.S. attorney, Trump says
Politics

Jeanine Pirro to replace Ed Martin as interim U.S. attorney, Trump says

May 8, 2025
Pope Leo XIV voted in 2024 U.S. election — here’s which primaries he’s voted in
Politics

Pope Leo XIV voted in 2024 U.S. election — here’s which primaries he’s voted in

May 8, 2025
Next Post
Senate begins marathon “vote-a-rama” on GOP budget plan

Senate begins marathon "vote-a-rama" on GOP budget plan

DOGE cuts 9/11-related cancer research funding

DOGE cuts 9/11-related cancer research funding

Recommended Stories

Government reaches settlement with family of Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt

Government reaches settlement with family of Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt

May 2, 2025
Trump’s 25% tariff on imported auto parts kicks in

Trump’s 25% tariff on imported auto parts kicks in

May 3, 2025
H.R. McMaster receives accidental call from President Trump

H.R. McMaster receives accidental call from President Trump

April 9, 2025

Popular Stories

  • Trump shares AI-generated photo of him dressed as pope

    Trump shares AI-generated photo of him dressed as pope

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • Trump: “I don’t know” if everyone is entitled to due process

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • Australians voting in national election as Trump’s influence looms

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • Carney to meet Trump, vowing to stand firm against president

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • Gang experts cast doubt on Trump’s claim about MS-13 finger tattoos

    16 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
The US Inquirer

© 2023 The US Inquirer

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Ethics
  • Fact Checking and Corrections Policies
  • Copyright
  • Privacy Policy
  • ISSN: 2832-0522

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Crime
  • World

© 2023 The US Inquirer

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?