Democrats Wrestle With DOGE and Musk

Democrats are unified in anti-DOGE messaging, but many want improper payments and the Pentagon scrutinized. For now, Democrats have little leverage over DOGE.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) (C) speaks alongside (L–R) Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) about Elon Musk and DOGE accessing government agencies' data during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 3, 2025.

WASHINGTON—During the first two months of the second Trump administration, few issues have united Democrats like opposition to Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a time-limited organization directed by executive order “to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity” across scores of agencies.

That unified anti-DOGE message came through from both the New Democrat Coalition and the more left-leaning Congressional Progressive Caucus. The groups held separate news conferences at a retreat for House Democrats on March 13.