Rep. Ro Khanna has strongly condemned Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative, arguing that it has failed to deliver its promised financial benefits while causing significant harm to federal employees. In an opinion piece for The American Prospect, Khanna accused the administration of prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy at the expense of working-class families.
According to Khanna, thousands of federal workers have lost their jobs due to DOGE, with veterans being disproportionately affected. He criticized the lack of transparency, stating that nearly a third of these workers are veterans who were dismissed without prior notice. He also highlighted the consequences for key government agencies, such as the Social Security Administration and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which serve millions of Americans. “Last week, DOGE announced a 12% staff reduction at the Social Security Administration, a program that prevents 22 million people, including children, from falling into poverty,” Khanna noted. Additionally, 2,400 employees have already been let go from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and nearly all workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau face termination.
Despite the mass layoffs, Khanna argued that DOGE has not achieved its intended financial savings. He pointed out that 40% of the contracts canceled under DOGE resulted in no actual cost reductions, as many had already been completed. He also criticized Musk’s claim of saving $8 billion by canceling a contract that only saved $8 million.
Khanna is now urging the House Oversight Committee to revisit a vote to subpoena Musk. The initial vote failed after a last-minute procedural move caused several Democrats to miss it. Addressing speculation that he had abstained, Khanna clarified that he was in a meeting with the Mexican ambassador at the time.
The congressman also criticized the House Republicans’ latest budget plan, which he claims would increase the national deficit by $2.8 trillion. He condemned its proposal to allocate $4.5 trillion in tax breaks to corporations and the ultra-wealthy while cutting Medicaid and food assistance programs. He warned that these measures would strip millions of low-income families of essential support.
Polling suggests that 71% of Trump voters oppose Medicaid cuts, reinforcing Khanna’s stance. Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders has been rallying against Musk and Trump’s economic policies in Republican-leaning states. Khanna announced plans to visit three red districts in California starting March 24 to address concerns over DOGE’s layoffs and Medicaid reductions.
“This is the time for progressives to directly engage with communities across the country, especially those suffering from job losses and policies that favor billionaires over the working class,” Khanna said.
