Republicans recently met with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to discuss potential federal spending cuts, with lawmakers stating that 'everything is on the table.' The meeting was described as a listening session where ideas were exchanged and questions were asked.
Some lawmakers mentioned that cuts could potentially include Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, despite the bipartisan popularity of these programs. GOP representatives emphasized the need for efficiency in programs like Social Security and Medicare to ensure their sustainability.
During the meeting, various topics were discussed, such as making cuts to the education budget, bringing federal workers back to work, and eliminating redundancy in the federal government.
Lawmakers revealed that Musk and Ramaswamy proposed the idea of a 'naughty list' and 'nice list' to hold lawmakers accountable for government spending. The pressure on Republicans to deliver significant cuts was highlighted, with concerns that voters would be 'furious' if promises were not fulfilled.
House Speaker Mike Johnson described the meeting as 'very productive,' indicating progress in charting a course forward. The meeting aimed to address the need for action leading up to the Trump-imposed expiration date of July 4, 2026.
The DOGE caucus, co-led by GOP representatives, already has 63 members, including a few Democrats. Notably, four Democrats, including Reps. Steven Horsford, Greg Landsman, Val Hoyle, and Jared Moskowitz, are part of the caucus.
