DOGE Marches On: Congress Vows to Slash Waste, Fraud After Musk’s Exit

Despite the dramatic exit of Tesla CEO Elon Musk from the Department of Government Efficiency amid a public clash with the president, congressional leaders are doubling down on the mission to root out government waste. House DOGE Caucus chairman Aaron Bean, R-Fla., emphasized resilience, saying, "DOGE is bigger than any one person." With 110 members, the caucus remains committed to curbing wasteful spending, enhancing oversight, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

Next week, a major push to overhaul the Treasury’s payment system aims to tackle the staggering $162 billion in annual improper disbursements—a problem Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent began addressing. Bean’s panel will also champion $9.4 billion in cuts identified by DOGE, working alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to push these rescissions through Congress.

On the Senate side, DOGE caucus chairwoman Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, is taking aim at COVID aid fraud. A recent report revealed nearly $80 billion in potentially fraudulent payouts from relief programs like PPP and EIDL. Ernst is launching a bill to block such losses, slamming "con artists who raided America’s piggy bank" and pointing out simple fixes like verifying Social Security numbers could have saved billions.

The DOGE in Spending Act signals Congress’s resolve to carry forward Musk’s vision, proving the fight against 'Crazytown' inefficiency rolls on.