Rand Paul Warns Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy of Challenges Ahead with DOGE Initiative
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is calling for the repeal of the Espionage Act. (Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images)
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has issued a stark warning to Elon Musk about the challenges ahead as Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy prepare to lead a new initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. While this proposed bureaucracy has yet to be officially created and authorized by Congress, it is expected to operate as a blue-ribbon panel with influence over President Donald Trump’s administration.
In an interview with Fox News reporter Chad Pergram, Paul expressed his skepticism about the impact DOGE might have on reducing government spending, a cause he has long championed without much success.
“Ultimately, it takes Congress,” Paul explained. “Congress has to get rid of the spending.”
Paul acknowledged DOGE’s potential to highlight wasteful spending but remained cautious about its effectiveness. “DOGE can point out the spending problems and the waste the same way I’ve been pointing it out,” he said. “But the reason it’s not eliminated is they don’t have the votes to get rid of the spending. So, I am very hopeful that DOGE will draw attention to this, the same way I’ve been drawing attention to it.”
As an example of what he sees as government waste, Paul criticized the National Science Foundation (NSF), which received increased funding through President Joe Biden’s Chips Act to support semiconductor manufacturing and science education.
Paul cited studies funded by the NSF, including one investigating whether “tequila or gin makes people more aggressive,” as evidence of frivolous spending. He also criticized a $10,000 grant for a drag show on ice, though this accounts for a minuscule fraction of the federal budget—0.0000005% of the $2 trillion total.
“Most of the terrible, wasteful projects are crazy stuff and experiments,” Paul said. He criticized Congress for doubling the NSF’s budget, adding, “Why is there more waste? Because the idiots in Congress keep giving them more money.”
Paul also pointed out inefficiencies within the Department of Defense, citing a National Bureau of Economic Research study showing that many contracts are awarded without competitive bidding.
While Paul supports efforts to shine a light on wasteful spending, his comments underline the uphill battle Musk, Ramaswamy, and DOGE may face in pushing for fiscal discipline in Washington.
