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Another Democrat voiced support for cost-cutting by DOGE, calling out one area in particular with room for “huge bipartisan cooperation.”

(Video Credit: ABC News)

A stated target of $2 trillion in cuts in a target-rich environment was sure to have many in Congress concerned that their pet projects could be on the chopping block as the Department of Government Efficiency set to work. Sunday, California Rep. Ro Khanna (D), called out areas he could see his party on board with reminiscent of mutually assured destruction.

During an appearance on ABC News’s “This Week,” the newly-elected vice chair of the Progressive Caucus addressed conversations that he had had with Elon Musk on cost-cutting, steering away from waste in health insurance programs toward the defense contracts that included $1,500 for breast pumps and $150,000 worth of soap dispensers.

“You have been talking to Elon Musk. Tell us a little bit about those conversations. He has welcomed your input,” said host Martha Raddatz. “What has that back and forth been like with Elon Musk and what do you think about what a huge role he’s playing so far?”

“Well, there’s one area Elon Musk was brilliant, in that he worked with President Obama and [former defense secretary] Ash Carter to have SpaceX. And that disrupted Boeing and Lockheed,” the congressman said. “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 — he had reusable rockets that-”

“Okay,” Raddatz interjected, “now go to your conversation with him.”

“Well, we’ve talked about that,” continued Khanna. “And I made the case to him that Tesla and SpaceX have been funded by the Obama government and let’s have a role for government. But let’s look at what you did with SpaceX. Why can’t we do that with other parts of the five primes…to reduce costs? I think when it comes to defense, getting better defense for value and cutting costs, there can be huge bipartisan cooperation.”

Calling out the five primes — Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman — led some to suggest that Democratic “cooperation” with Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s plans for DOGE had more to do with efforts to negotiate protections for preferred spending by the federal government.

As had been reported, the announcement that Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D) would be joining the Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus in the House, his initial pitch wasn’t about cutting, but rather separating the FBI and FEMA from under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security that they might have direct reports to the White House instead of the DHS secretary.

Khanna himself had already voiced concern that the federal Department of Education could get shuttered by DOGE with a fearmongering take offered to CNN’s Kate Bolduan.

“Well, it’s horrifying, and I think it doesn’t understand history. First of all, look at the real-world impact that that would have,” he said concerning if the department were eliminated. “It would mean kids who are getting Pell Grants to be able to go to college, that would be in jeopardy. It would mean a lot of schools, Title I schools that get federal funding, that would be in jeopardy. If you have a child who has autism or special needs, your — education of your child, if they go to public school, would be in jeopardy.”

In response to the congressman’s talk of bipartisanship, comments reading into the discussion suggested, “He’s not pledging cooperation. It’s a threat. The threat is, if you guys wanna start cutting, we’re going after your friends.”

Kevin Haggerty
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