The article centers on the significant resistance from Republicans in Congress towards codifying even a small portion of the spending cuts implemented by Elon Musk's team at the U.S. DOGE Service. This resistance comes despite the White House's efforts to enshrine these cuts into law. The Republicans' hesitation is fueled by internal party conflicts surrounding extending tax cuts and concerns about passing cuts while already holding a small majority in both the Senate and House.
The White House faces a formidable challenge in achieving its sweeping overhaul of federal agencies due to the opposition from both Congress and the courts. With the lack of legal backing for Musk's unilateral cuts, the administration's options to ensure the cuts' longevity are limited, potentially diminishing the overall impact of DOGE's actions. The administration initially proposed a $9.3 billion rescission package to Congress but faced immediate concerns from several Republican senators, including Susan Collins (R-Maine) about the inclusion of certain cuts like PEPFAR.
Republican lawmakers express concerns about the political feasibility of passing even a scaled-down rescission package due to the party's slim majorities in Congress. Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) argues in favor of passing the cuts, while Representative Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, suggests a more cautious approach, advocating for a review of the package to ensure it has the necessary political support before submission. The article highlights the potential for a constitutional crisis if the White House violates federal budget law by implementing the cuts without congressional approval.
The article underscores the ongoing power struggle between the executive and legislative branches, with the future of Musk's sweeping cuts remaining highly uncertain.