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Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, raised concerns about what she described as "incredibly troubling" actions by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment on Thursday.
Why It Matters
Musk, the world's wealthiest man and a key Trump ally, has spearheaded DOGE's efforts to cut government staffing and reduce federal spending. The moves have faced significant backlash from Democrats and some Republicans, as thousands face job losses and many programs are on the chopping block.
Trump, Musk, and their supporters say these cuts are necessary to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse from the federal government. They have raised concerns about the ballooning national debt, which stands north of $36 trillion—although it's unclear that DOGE's cuts have led to significant financial savings.
What To Know
Murkowski, who has long been critical of Trump and often expressed disagreement with the president, has previously sounded the alarm about some of DOGE's actions. She again raised concerns Thursday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
"This week, I met with some Alaskan USAID employees. They not only informed me of the confusing and callous handling of personnel matters by OPM and DOGE, but they also painted an incredibly troubling picture of what the world looks like without humanitarian assistance from the United States," Murkowski wrote.
"Although I support measures to find inefficiencies within the agency, USAID's mission to keep people healthy and safe in even the most remote corners of the world should not be eliminated.
"Dr. Peter Kerndt, an Alaskan physician who has dedicated his career to treating tuberculosis in Alaska and around the world, shared with me, 'America is great, because America is good.' It is imperative we not lose sight of that."
Trump paused funding for all foreign aid programs and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) projects that did not "fully align" with his administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's call to end payments for foreign aid programs followed.
The funding pause faced legal challenges, and the issues involved are playing out in the courts. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court backed a federal judge's power to order the Trump administration to pay nearly $2 billion to USAID contractors.
Murkowski told CNN last month that DOGE's "abrupt terminations" have "really been detrimental" to Alaska, citing concerns over preparations for wild land fires amid cuts to the National Park Services.
The senator has bucked Trump numerous times, including during his first presidential term. Most notably, she joined all Senate Democrats and six other GOP colleagues to vote to convict Trump after his impeachment in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump on DOGE during his address to Congress: "Thank you, Elon. He's working very hard. He didn't need this. He didn't need this. Thank you very much. We appreciate it."
Elon Musk, during a Cabinet meeting at the end of February: "We simply cannot sustain a country with $2 trillion deficits. The interest on the national debt now exceeds the defense department spending...If this continues, the country will become de facto bankrupt."
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont said Thursday in a committee hearing: "The person who is running the government right now is Elon Musk. Mr. Musk has taken it upon himself, with the support of President Trump, to virtually dismantle the United States government."
Representative Morgan McGarvey, a Kentuck Democrat, on X: "Tim Nicolazzi dedicated his life to service — a few weeks ago, he was fired. No notice, no severance, no compassion. I'm cosponsoring the Protect Veteran Jobs Act to reinstate vets — like Tim — who have been illegally fired by Elon Musk and DOGE."
What Happens Next
Many of DOGE's actions have been challenged by lawsuits, which are currently playing out in the federal court system. Trump and most Republicans continue to back Musk's and DOGE's efforts, and additional cuts are expected to continue.
Correction, 3/7/25 at 11:49 a.m. ET: The state McGarvey represents was corrected.
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About the writer
Jason Lemon is a Senior Politics Editor at Newsweek based in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to taking on the editor role, Jason's reporting focused ... Read more