EDITOR:

Congressman Bergman:

Can you use your positions in congressional committees to recover money that may have been wasted by Elon Musk under the guise of DOGE?

The president created DOGE, without Congressional authority, violating Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress that authority. James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution,” wrote, “Congress has plenary control over the salary, duties, and even the existence of executive offices.” Are not his actions unlawful? Shouldn’t taxpayers be compensated for any losses he caused?

Initially, Musk claimed he’d use DOGE to recover $2 trillion, then $1 trillion, and finally $150 billion.

Even Musk’s claim of $150 billion is questionable. He claimed one action saved $8 billion, but it was actually the cancellation of a $8 million contract. Another instance involved a contract that the Biden Administration had already canceled.

The Partnership of Public Services estimated Musk cost taxpayers $135 billion due to firing, rehiring, and paid leave. Fortune reported further that money was wasted by federal workers answering Musk’s emails asking workers what 5 things they did that week. Answering those emails expended 165,000 hours weekly. What was the return on these emails? Was anything discovered? Can you seek an answer?

Reuters reported 20 instances where cuts led to purchasing bottlenecks, increased costs, decision-making paralysis, longer public wait times, higher-paid civil servants filling menial jobs, and a brain drain of scientific and technological talent. Reuters did not place a dollar amount on the time wasted by these missteps.

Mr. Musk’s actions will reduce government income. He wants to slash the IRS by 50%, leading to a $2.4 trillion loss to the Treasury over the next decade due to a hobbled tax compliance staff.

How can you recoup this waste? Can you fund the needed IRS workers to preserve $2.4 trillion? How will you replace the lost revenue? Will you hold hearings on Mr. Musk’s activities?

Richard Clark

Escanaba