Rep. Smith Statement on Elon Musk's Role in the Trump Administration

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Smith released the following statement:

I am deeply concerned by the role Elon Musk is playing in the Trump administration. The President has given Musk broad, sweeping power with no clear definition or boundary. Musk is using that power in ways both illegal and destructive.

He has blocked payments duly approved by Congress and signed into law by the President. This is illegal. He has completely shut down U.S. foreign aid, blocking payments of programs already approved that millions of people across the world are counting on for food security and health care among other needs. Agencies providing crucial services to people in desperate circumstances are headed into bankruptcy as a result of these funds being cut off.

He is also randomly threatening or firing thousands of government employees in ways that jeopardize their ability to do their jobs and may also violate employment law. Just days before the fatal plane crash in Washington D.C., Musk's DOGE task force offered all FAA employees eight month's pay in exchange for quitting, leaving them to wonder if they might be fired at some point if they didn't accept the offer. Chaos, uncertainty and threats are making it impossible for federal employees to do their jobs in far too many instances.

I strongly support the idea of making government more efficient and more effective. Meaningful reform is needed, and Mr. Musk certainly has the background and experience to help accomplish these goals. He should focus on that and stop randomly terrorizing federal employees and illegally cutting off funds duly approved by Congress and being depended on by people in desperate need of help.

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