Ron DeSantis has launched a blistering attack on Congressional Republicans, accusing them of betraying their base by refusing to codify spending cuts tied to Elon Musk’s government efficiency initiative.
At a Glance
- DeSantis criticized Republicans for failing to enact Trump-era government cuts led by Elon Musk’s DOGE program
- Musk faces backlash despite promoting cost-saving reforms in federal agencies
- Internal GOP divisions stall action as shutdown deadline approaches
- Critics warn that the inaction undermines fiscal conservatism and voter trust
- Musk may step back from politics as DOGE momentum stalls
DeSantis Calls Out Congressional Inaction
In a scathing rebuke, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis accused Congressional Republicans of abandoning core fiscal principles by failing to pass budget cuts proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era initiative spearheaded by Elon Musk. “To see Republicans in Congress cast aside any meaningful spending reductions is demoralizing and represents a betrayal of the voters who elected them,” DeSantis said, according to AOL News.
DeSantis emphasized that despite holding a majority, the GOP has failed to move the cuts forward—undermining the party’s credibility on fiscal restraint and risking a government shutdown as the September 30 budget deadline looms.
Watch a report: DeSantis Rips GOP for Ignoring Musk’s Budget Cuts.
Elon Musk’s Political Frustration
Musk, who helped design the DOGE initiative to streamline federal agencies and reduce bureaucracy, has encountered significant resistance from both parties. Even GOP moderates like Senator Susan Collins voiced skepticism over proposed foreign aid reductions, including to PEPFAR and global health programs. As Collins told WLS-AM, “I don’t see those passing.”
The backlash—coupled with personal attacks on Musk’s businesses—has led the Tesla CEO to consider stepping away from politics entirely. “He became public enemy #1 of legacy media around the world,” DeSantis noted, lamenting the lack of support for one of the GOP’s most high-profile allies.
GOP Identity Crisis
Fiscal conservatives within the party are growing increasingly restless. “Congress can’t cut spending through DOGE without the President sending a formal rescission bill,” said Senator Rand Paul, highlighting another layer of gridlock. Despite rumors of a $9 billion rescission package targeting foreign aid and NPR funding, the White House has yet to act, and GOP leadership fears backlash from within its own ranks.
As the Washington Examiner reported, the failure to implement DOGE reforms has demoralized conservative influencers and threatens to splinter the party heading into 2026.
Unless Republicans unite around tangible spending reforms, they risk alienating a base that elected them for precisely this purpose. As DeSantis bluntly concluded, “We’re at the end of May…and not one cent in DOGE cuts has been implemented.” The fallout may not only cost credibility—but control of Congress itself.
