Speaking about recent government cuts on Sunday, Representative Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, said President Donald Trump's and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has "maybe" made "some mistakes."
Newsweek has reached out to Jordan's office via email and DOGE via direct message on X, formerly Twitter.
Why It Matters
Trump created DOGE, a task force led by Musk, to reduce government costs and the federal workforce. In its first month of operation, it has restructured multiple federal agencies and recommended mass layoffs, sparking backlash and concern from Trump critics, as well as from some Republicans.
Musk has called for sweeping cuts to federal government spending, claiming it should be reduced by up to $2 trillion annually. Supporters say this will boost efficiency and help tackle the national debt, while critics argue it will reduce access to government services.
While the cuts are expected to continue, there are several legal challenges aiming to stop the administration's efforts as the cases are expected to play out in the courts.
What To Know
In a Fox News Sunday interview with host Shannon Bream, the congressman defended DOGE's efforts but said that it has "made some mistakes."
"Maybe there have been some mistakes made, but I think the intensity and the focus on getting rid of the wasteful spending—the one guy who can unlock people who somehow get locked in a restroom in a national park? This is ridiculous. So, the arguments you are seeing from the left are pretty darn crazy when you think about 'oh we are spending money for crazy things,'" Jordan said.
While Jordan did not clarify what mistakes he is referring to, his remarks come as DOGE's access to government payment systems and people's personal information have been met with backlash from some lawmakers, government officials and advocacy groups.
Several thousand national parks and forests employees were abruptly terminated last week by the Trump administration, including the only locksmith at Yosemite National Park in California, which Jordan seemingly referred to.
According to NBC News, around 2,000 recently hired employees were fired at the U.S. Forest Service and an additional 1,000 jobs were slashed at the National Park Service.
In response to the cuts, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the Forest Service, told NBC News the terminated positions were funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) under former President Joe Biden.
"We have a solemn responsibility to be good stewards of the American people's hard-earned taxpayer dollars and to ensure that every dollar spent goes to serve the people, not the bureaucracy," a USDA statement read in part, per NBC News.
DOGE has continued its efforts to downsize government employees and agencies, announcing earlier this month that it will continue to target other government agencies such as a broader effort by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is being made to reduce its workforce, which includes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Legal challenges continue as attorneys general from 14 states filed a lawsuit in a Washington, D.C., federal court arguing that Musk was illegally appointed and called for the court to stop DOGE's drastic cuts across the federal government. The lawsuit states that DOGE has spread "chaos and confusion" across the country and describes Musk as "an agent of chaos."
What People Are Saying
Steve Gutierrez, with the National Federation of Federal Workers, told NBC News on Thursday: "These folks aren't the swamp. They aren't bureaucrats. They feel like the government doesn't have their backs."
Former forestry technician Kevin Farrell told NBC News on Thursday: "The lands are all still there, but there won't be anybody to manage them. I'm afraid people will lose access if there's no staff to maintain and operate the campgrounds, service the cabins, clean the bathroom. The public isn't going to get served."
Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, Friday on X, formerly Twitter: "Dozens of Alaskans – potentially over 100 in total – are being fired as part of the Trump administration's reduction-in-force order for the federal government. Many of these abrupt terminations will do more harm than good, stunting opportunities in Alaska and leaving holes in our communities."
She added: "We can't realize our potential for responsible energy and mineral development if we can't permit projects. We will be less prepared to manage summer wildfires if we can't support those on the front lines. Our tourism economy will be damaged if we don't maintain our world-class national parks and forests."
President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House last week: "Elon got access only to letting people go that he thinks are no good if we agree with him, and it's only if we agree with him. Elon can't do and won't do anything without our approval. And we'll give him the approval where appropriate, and where not appropriate, we won't. Where we think there's a conflict, we won't let him go near it."
What Happens Next?
Cuts to federal government spending are expected to continue and will need to expand substantially if Musk is to reduce expenditure by anything close to $2 trillion annually.
This is likely to spark more conflict with federal employees and their unions, with workers telling Newsweek earlier this month that morale has fallen sharply since Trump returned to the White House.
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