Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) said tech billionaire Elon Musk would be a “coward” if he refuses to testify before Congress about what the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is doing to revamp the federal government.
Magaziner, interviewed by Fox News outside the Treasury Department, weighed in on Musk’s influence and DOGE’s recent actions impacting various agencies across the executive branch.
“I think if he won’t come before Congress to testify, then he’s a coward,” the lawmaker told the outlet.
Earlier Wednesday, Republicans on the House Oversight Committee quickly shut down an idea from Democrats to subpoena Musk, which would force him to appear before the panel and undergo questioning about the changes to the federal government.
The vote failed, 19-20, because Democrats didn’t have enough support.
Musk and DOGE officials have begun their takeover by working to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — including its employees being placed on leave — and gaining access to the federal payment system, which includes Americans’ tax records. The Treasury Department was sued by a coalition of groups over the issue, though the administration said access would be “read-only.”
“This is completely illegal,” Magaziner said. “I mean, Congress appropriates money and the president, or his unelected lackeys, don’t have the authority to just withhold money that Congress is appropriating.”
The Rhode Island Democrat reiterated a common concern among his colleagues: that Musk and DOGE may have too much access to confidential, sensitive information from Americans.
The Treasury Department controls $6 trillion annually and distributes funds for various programs including Social Security and Medicare, salaries for federal workers, payments to government contractors and grant recipients and tax refunds for Americans.
Magaziner attempted to bridge the gap between Democrats and DOGE officials, who have been tasked with cutting federal spending.
“We’re all for finding fraud and finding more efficiency in government,” the lawmaker said. “If he has ideas for how to do it he should say what they are and call them out.”
“But what he does not have the authority to do is just willy-nilly stop payments that have been appropriated by Congress with no process, no due process and no transparency,” he added.
