Elon Musk, DOGE at center of new House Dem pressure campaign against GOP
House Democrats have launched a new coordinated pressure campaign aimed at restricting Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), leveraging the GOP’s razor-thin majority in Congress. The campaign is focused on urging just three House Republicans to cross the aisle and vote for a bill designed to prevent Musk from accessing U.S. citizens’ records in the Department of Treasury.
Democratic lawmakers have been vocal on both traditional and social media platforms, calling on Republican leadership to allow a vote on the Taxpayer Data Protection Act. This legislation aims to safeguard Americans’ private data from Musk and his DOGE employees. Representative Susie Lee of Nevada emphasized the importance of protecting citizens’ privacy and urged Republicans to join Democrats in passing the bill.
Typically, legislation requires the approval of majority party leaders to proceed to a House-wide vote. However, Democrats are prepared to use a discharge petition to bypass GOP opposition and force the bill to be considered by all House lawmakers. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has indicated that only three Republicans need to break ranks and side with Democrats to block Musk’s access to taxpayer information.
Jeffries suggested that highlighting the GOP’s slim majority could become a recurring theme in the 119th Congress. He criticized Republican colleagues for remaining silent on issues concerning Musk and President Trump’s DOGE initiatives, accusing them of prioritizing billionaire donors over the interests of the American people.
Progressive lawmakers like Representative Mark Pocan of Wisconsin have also joined the campaign, emphasizing the need to prevent an unelected billionaire from accessing personal financial information. They underscored that just three House Republicans joining Democrats could secure passage of legislation to halt Musk’s access to private data.
The focus on garnering support from three House Republicans aligns with the number of GOP lawmakers representing districts won by Vice President Kamala Harris in the previous election. Representatives Mike Lawler of New York, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Don Bacon of Nebraska are likely targets for Democrats seeking bipartisan cooperation on the issue.
While the majority of House Republicans have supported Musk’s DOGE efforts, Democrats have raised concerns about his lack of government experience and potential conflicts of interest. Republicans have defended Musk’s initiatives, citing the national debt crisis as justification for extraordinary measures.
As the pressure campaign unfolds, it is expected to be a prominent theme in Congress over the next two years, given the narrow margin of Republican control in the House. Democrats are determined to hold Musk accountable and protect citizens’ privacy rights, urging bipartisan collaboration to pass legislation that safeguards sensitive taxpayer information.
