X CEO Elon Musk is set to meet with congressional Republicans to pitch his aggressive budget-cutting plans, but his involvement is already raising concerns among some GOP insiders. A Republican Senate aide, speaking anonymously to Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman on Thursday, warned that Musk and fellow Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Vivek Ramaswamy could create significant political headaches for Republicans in the coming weeks.
“Two people who know nothing about how the government works pretending they can cut a trillion dollars, both with decent pulpits to preach from, and the ear of an unpredictable president? Disaster,” the aide remarked. The aide added that, while Musk and Ramaswamy could cause trouble, “the only good thing is that at some point they’ll overpromise and get bounced by Trump,” but until then, it would be “disaster.”
Sherman further elaborated on the political risks of DOGE’s plans for Republicans, noting that the initiative lacks any statutory authority or a fast-track process for passing proposals. “Unlike previous spending-reduction initiatives, DOGE has no statutory authority or fast-track floor process, and Hill leaders have no idea how they’ll handle any of the proposed spending cuts offered by Musk and Ramaswamy,” he wrote.
This lack of clarity on how to move forward with the budget cuts has caused unease among Capitol Hill leaders. Musk’s plans, which have already raised eyebrows, include significant proposals to trim government spending. One area he has openly hinted at targeting is Social Security, a move that could put him at odds with President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to keep the program off limits.
Additionally, Musk is calling for the abolition of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), an agency that has returned billions of dollars to consumers from financial institutions. With the potential to reshape key federal programs, Musk and Ramaswamy’s push for budget cuts is likely to become a contentious issue on Capitol Hill in the coming months. The uncertainty surrounding their plans and the political fallout from their proposals will likely continue to create tension within the Republican Party.