Billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy—fresh off being named the co-head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—was dragged after claiming on X that a federal worker came up to him praising DOGE and told him she'd be "OK" with being fired.
Ramaswamy claimed:
“Just got approached by a federal employee who asked for a selfie & shared how much she appreciates DOGE: “it has to happen & if I get fired, I’m ok with it.”
"Most humans are good people & yes that includes most federal workers too. It’s the size & scope of the *bureaucracy* that’s the problem.”
You can see his post below.
Ramaswamy's post appears to be an attempt to justify DOGE's mandate to regulate federal spending.
Last month, Ramaswamy made clear his plans with co-head Elon Musk to “delete” many government agencies and enact massive cuts “among federal contractors and others who are overbilling the federal government.”
Ramaswamy’s post lacked a photo of the woman or any additional details to verify that the conversation occurred.
This omission left many skeptical, doubting the encounter took place—especially since it seemed improbable that someone would jeopardize their own financial stability to support Ramaswamy and Musk’s goal of slashing $2 trillion from the government’s budget.
He was swiftly called out.
Senior House Republicans, including key members of the committee responsible for appropriating funds, have voiced concerns about implementing the conflicting directives tied to President-elect Donald Trump’s push for cost-cutting, as the initial enthusiasm around DOGE begins to wane.
While Republicans are eager to slash spending they don't like, the political risk of making projected cuts is high and time is also a pressing factor, with Musk and Ramaswamy aiming to complete their cost-cutting goals by 2026, a tacit admission that they are unlikely to hold a House majority after that year's midterms.
Currently, discretionary spending, which accounts for 30% of the federal budget and includes defense expenditures that Republicans are unwilling to reduce, falls short of the $2 trillion target set by Musk and Ramaswamy. This forces them to consider mandatory spending, which includes highly popular programs like Social Security.
Further complicating matters, Republicans want to allocate additional funds for Trump’s strict border enforcement measures, his mass deportation promises, and continued military and financial support for Israel amid its conflict in the Middle East. Not to mention the expected extension of the Trump tax cuts, which will add trillions to the deficit.
GOP lawmakers have urged Musk and Ramaswamy to work collaboratively with Congress rather than attempt to circumvent the legislative process, according to multiple sources. Of course, because DOGE is not and will never be an actual governmental department, they have limited power, relegated to essentially lobbyists.
