Lawmakers know their place on Capitol Hill— the were voted in by their constituents after all.
But billionaire Elon Musk was not voted in, but appointed to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Now, a few weeks into President Donald Trump’s second administration, some lawmakers are starting to question Musk’s authority as he locks federal workers out of the U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID), The Hill reported.
Lawmakers are left questioning how Musk can do that in light of the agency being funded by Congress.
One such lawmaker is Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
She questions whether Trump’s permission wields enough empower for Musk to override Congress’s funding directives.
“The president is suggesting that he has authorization. I think there is more than some question,” Murkowski said.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Congress should receive advance notice before such a move is made.
Whether Musk had the authority to shut down USAID “is a very legitimate question,” she said.
“There is a requirement in the law for 15 days’ notice of any reorganization. We clearly did not get that. We got the letter yesterday,” Collins said.
The lawmaker added the law “also calls for a detailed explanation of any reorganizations, renaming of bureaus, shifting of centers, and again we have not received that.”
She wants to talk to other Appropriations Committee members “about our next steps.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said a move like shutting down USAID would violate the Constitution in a strict sense.
He added former President Joe Biden also pushed boundaries by using executive power.
Tillis said it “would be helpful” for Trump or Musk to get Congressional approval before doing something so drastic.
“At some point it’s going to require congressional action to have staying power,” he said.
