Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna is determined to collaborate with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, both supporters of Donald Trump, in a bid to reduce inefficiency and streamline government operations.
Hailing from California, Khanna is among the select group of Democrats who are endorsing Trump’s initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which will be spearheaded by Musk and Ramaswamy.
‘I’m ready to work with @doge, @elonmusk + @VivekGRamaswamy to slash waste. I have a track record of doing so,’ Khanna wrote on X.
Khanna highlighted his proactive approach by mentioning his efforts in prompting TransDigm to repay $16 million following revelations of price inflation. He drew inspiration from the Truman Committee and advocated for ensuring that the Department of Defense spending yields value for American taxpayers.
The lawmaker also appeared on ABC This Week on Sunday where he was asked about his talks with Musk and how the effort is going.
He heaped praised on Musk for his ‘brilliant’ strategy to work with former President Barack Obama on his SpaceX venture.
‘Well there was one area Elon Musk was brilliant in that he worked with President Obama and [Defense Secretary] Ash Carter to have SpaceX, and that disrupted Boeing and Lockheed,’ Khanna said of the world’s richest man.
‘We were getting ripped off, the American people, in putting satellites up to space, and President Obama, under his leadership, Ash Carter’s leadership, they said “Elon, with SpaceX you can bid on launching these rockets,”‘ Khanna said.
Rep. Ro Khanna is pushing to work with DOGE to help cut government waste. He said he believes when it comes to cutting costs, especially on defense spending, there would be bipartisan support
The lawmaker said that what was done with SpaceX could be done with other parts of the government to reduce costs.
‘I think when there comes to defense, getting better defense for a value and cutting costs, there can be huge bipartisan cooperations,’ Khanna said.
In a separate X post, Khanna also wrote ‘Millions of Americans want us to work with @DOGE to cut wasteful spending. I am for spending money to improve peoples’ lives, not wasting money. It’s common sense.’
‘Bernie Sanders and I have said we could work together on the defense costs – defense contractors,’ Khanna said in his This Week interview.
‘Look, Lockheed Martin with the F-35s has gone about $200 billion over. There is waste when it comes to breast pumps being purchased at $1,400 instead of $200,’ he noted.
‘Soap dispensers: $150,000 we paid Boeing for soap dispensers. That’s the waste they should go after,’ Khanna continued.
Rep. Khanna has put out a series of X posts about his willingness to work with DOGE to cut government waste
Billionaire Elon Musk, co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Capitol Hill on December 5
During that same ABC appearance, Khanna argued health care is another area where he could also work with DOGE.
It came after Khanna was asked by anchor Martha Raddatz about retweeting Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) who reposted Musk on the topic of health care.
Khanna had reposted Sanders on X who has also signaled a willingness to work with DOGE.
The Vermont senator had reposted Musk’s tweet about making sure the people ‘get their money’s worth.’
‘Yes. We waste hundreds of billions a year on health care administrative expenses that make insurance CEOs and wealthy stockholders incredibly rich while 85 million Americans go uninsured or underinsured. Health care is a human right. We need Medicare for All,’ Sanders wrote.
Senator Bernie Sanders reposting Musk about Americans getting their money’s worth to make the case for Medicare for All
Raddatz noted during Khanna’s interview that Medicare for All was ‘not really going to happen’ but asked him what he would to say to frustrated Americans.
The lawmaker pointed out if DOGE really cares about administrative waste, Medicare is just two percent administrative fees while private insurance is 18 percent.
‘As we fight for Medicare for All what we can do is require private insurance to cover anything that Medicare would cover,’ he said.
Khanna argued DOGE will find that the Congressional Budget Office has said ‘Medicare is the most efficient’ and said the new agency should ‘be looking at where the other private costs are.’
The progressive lawmaker, who has served in Congress since 2017, did say there were areas he believes DOGE should not touch including Social Security, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Medicare funding.
While some Democrats are jumping at the opportunity to work with Musk and Ramaswamy to cut government waste, some lawmakers, political pundits and watchdogs are skeptical of the effort being headed up by two men who have never worked in government.
It also has been pointed out that Musk heading up the new department is a likely conflict of interest.
While he is tasked with cutting government waste, Musk has benefited immensely off his own companies’ government contracts and could push to eliminate other agencies he has clashed with over regulations.
Podcast host Keith Olbermann called Khanna out directly for his willingness to work with DOGE and claimed the lawmaker is ‘being played’ but the lawmaker pushed back.
He responded to Olbermann on X: ‘with respect your support for the establishment, platitudes & constant criticism of @BernieSanders is why we are in this mess. Bernie gets having an open mind with on defense cuts. Maybe have dignity & let a new generation build a party that can win.’
Other progressives have taken aim at Musk directly. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called him out for posting about defunding the ACLU which does not receive taxpayer money.
‘They receive $0 in taxpayer funds,’ she wrote on X. ‘Meanwhile, y’all are proposing defunding Veteran’s healthcare, Medicare, and Social Security when you think no one is watching. Doesn’t get lower than gutting some of the only lifelines left for veterans, seniors, widows, and the disabled.’
