Democrats Demand Trump Fire Elon Musk Amidst Controversial Government Purge
Washington, D.C. – A coalition of more than three dozen Democratic lawmakers has launched a vigorous attack on President Donald Trump, demanding the immediate termination of Elon Musk, the controversial leader of the newly established "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). The Democrats allege that the Trump administration, guided by Musk, has engaged in the illegal and politically motivated firing of numerous government officials whose agencies were actively investigating or prosecuting Musk’s vast business empire.
The forceful call to action was spearheaded by prominent figures in the Democratic Party, including Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey, along with the leading Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, Representatives Gerry Connolly of Virginia and Jamie Raskin of Maryland. Their demand was delivered in a strongly worded letter, timed to coincide with the president’s first joint address to Congress of his second term.
The lawmakers assert that the administration’s sweeping removal of agency heads and other personnel has directly impacted 11 federal agencies that were, at the time of the firings, conducting a total of 32 ongoing investigations, complaints, or enforcement actions against Musk’s various companies. These companies include the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, the space exploration firm SpaceX, and the neurotechnology enterprise Neuralink.
"These firings have effectively neutralized the very individuals within our government who are responsible for holding Mr. Musk and his companies accountable for adhering to the law," the Democrats wrote in their letter. "Their absence leaves everyday Americans vulnerable to threats to their health, welfare, safety, and economic well-being." The letter was shared exclusively with USA TODAY.
The lawmakers highlighted specific examples of how the firings have obstructed justice. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), for instance, has a substantial number of unfair labor practice cases pending against Tesla. In addition, SpaceX was charged with unfair labor practices just last year. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) was also overseeing complaints alleging that Musk violated campaign finance law. The Democrats pointed out that Trump has been actively seeking to remove the leaders of both the NLRB and the FEC.
The Democratic lawmakers emphasized that many of the officials targeted by the administration were duly confirmed by the U.S. Senate and are subject to legal protections that must be observed before they can be removed from office. These protections include mandatory notification to Congress before firing inspectors general and the requirement of "just cause" before terminating members of the NLRB.
Despite the Democrats’ fervent plea, their request is unlikely to gain traction with the Trump administration or the Musk-led DOGE. Since Trump’s inauguration earlier this year, DOGE has reportedly fired tens of thousands of federal workers, a move that has sparked widespread controversy.
President Trump has consistently defended Musk’s efforts, arguing that they are essential for downsizing the government and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. During his first Cabinet meeting last week, Trump jokingly suggested that aides should "throw out" any agency head who expressed dissatisfaction with Musk’s work.
"Some disagree a little bit, but I will tell you, for the most part, I think everyone’s not only happy, they’re thrilled," Trump stated.
Many of Musk’s firings have been met with legal challenges, as have other DOGE initiatives, such as attempts to access sensitive personal information from agencies like the Department of Education and the Internal Revenue Service.
The public appears to be divided on the issue of government cuts. A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted from February 26-28 found that 51% of respondents approved of Trump’s efforts to reduce staff at government agencies, while 49% disapproved. In contrast, an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll from February 24-26 revealed that 55% of respondents believed the cuts were doing more harm than good. The same poll also found that 39% of respondents had a favorable opinion of Musk.
Musk is scheduled to attend Trump’s address to Congress, where the president is expected to highlight the federal government cuts spearheaded by DOGE as a significant achievement of his administration. The event is likely to further ignite the political tensions surrounding Musk’s role in the administration and the ongoing debate over the size and scope of the federal government. The situation remains highly fluid, and the long-term consequences of the administration’s actions are yet to be seen.
