Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) scoffed at the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, labeling the agency “unconstitutional and illegal” during a Thursday appearance on CNN’s “CNN Newsroom.”
“You know, they haven’t asked to meet with me, but the impoundment of funds that have been appropriated by the Congress is unconstitutional and illegal,” Logfren, a former lawyer, told anchor Jim Acosta in the clip highlighted by Mediate.
“There is no such Department of Government Efficiency. It’s made up. So good luck to ’em,” she added.
Her comments were made hours before Ramaswamy and Musk join House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) at the Capitol for meetings with Republican House members.
DOGE was created with the objective to “slash wasteful spending” and help restructure the government. However, Lofgren said President-elect Trump’s plans have to go through Congress before being affirmed under the law.
“If there is a plan President Trump wants to propose to the Congress, he should send it to us, but the Constitution does not permit the president to simply avoid what the Congress has done — that power of the purse is with the legislative branch, not the president,” she stated.
