Politics

REPORT: Democrats Planning Scheme To Take Back Power From DOGE

Published

3 weeks ago

April 9, 2025

Just days after receiving an earful from millions of irate liberal activists across the nation, U.S. House Democrats have sketched the contours of a plan to assert congressional oversight over the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency.

Two Democratic lawmakers have joined forces to introduce a bill that would force DOGE to disclose its own inner workings, including everything from a personnel registry to its reasonings for firing thousands of federal employees. For now, bluster may be all the two men can muster, given Republicans’ majority control of the lower chamber.

Still, it’s the latest sign that Democrats are in a bind and seeking ways to challenge the cost-cutting agency formed by President Donald Trump and advisor Elon Musk. During Saturday’s “Hands Off” demonstrations, millions of Democratic-leaning protestors showered liberal lawmakers with the same animus that they aimed at Republicans, accusing the powerless party of failing to be more of a bulwark in Congress.

The bill, titled the “DOGE Accountability and Transparency Act,” is being introduced by Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Axios reports. It would require DOGE to “provide weekly reports to Congress regarding changes DOGE has made to any Federal agency and the realized impacts of such changes, and for other purposes,” according to the bill’s text.

In separate statements, Schneider and Lynch mocked Trump and Musk for their hatchet-style approach to trimming the federal budget.

“We should not allow Elon Musk to recklessly take a chainsaw to our federal government; he must answer to Congress and provide real, regular updates on DOGE’s actions,” Schneider wrote in announcing their bill.

“We cannot let President Trump’s version of ‘Wreck-it-Ralph’ distract us while Elon Musk continues to gut agencies that are responsible for providing American families with essential needs and services,” Lynch said.

Other changes required of DOGE under the bill would be an accounting of all firings, budget cuts, policy changes, physical alterations to federal buildings or relocations, and data accessed by the department’s staff, the outlet stated.

If enacted, the five-page bill would require DOGE to deliver its first report within one week covering all activities since the start of the second Trump administration.

It’s worth reemphasizing that this political theater is a nonstarter under House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who not only controls a larger majority after two special elections last week but is also busy melding Senate recommendations to Trump’s “big, beautiful” spending bill with those previously passed by the House.

As long as Johnson can overcome Democrats’ 213-member opposition with the 219 sitting Republicans in his caucus, Schneider, Lynch, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) will find themselves shut out of the discussions. Perhaps that’s why Jeffries is spending part of this week challenging Johnson to a one-on-one debate on the chamber’s floor, another theatrical teaser that has little to do with governing.

Asked for comment, Johnson said he had not yet read the letter sent to him by Jeffries but suggested he is open to debating the Bronx Democrat over spending, illegal immigration, and election integrity.

“That’s interesting. I’m happy to debate him anytime,” Johnson told The Hill.