Mike Johnson Defends Elon Musk's Efforts to Cut Government Spending: 'Not a Power Grab'

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the initiatives taken by Elon Musk in his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to investigate and curtail government spending on Wednesday. Johnson emphasized that the executive branch is operating within its authority, stating, 'There’s a reason the founding fathers put Congress as the first article in the Constitution and we’re going to vigorously defend that.' He added that Musk's efforts to scrutinize federal spending and evaluate executive agencies are a 'long overdue' development, aimed at ensuring the stewardship of American taxpayer dollars. With DOGE created under an executive order by President Trump last month, Johnson dismissed concerns from Democratic critics arguing that Musk’s influence is a potential power grab. Instead, he views this initiative as a necessary function of an active and engaged executive branch, stating that the evaluations and internal audits being conducted signify responsible governance. As debates intensify, Congressional Democrats rallied against Musk's proposed reforms, further highlighting the growing divide over the efficiency and governance of federal spending.