Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has unleashed a scathing rebuke of House Republicans, calling their failure to codify Elon Musk’s DOGE spending cuts a “betrayal of the voters” as conservatives splinter over the trillion-dollar One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Ron DeSantis lambasted House Republicans for abandoning Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts, calling it a “betrayal of voters” despite Musk facing significant backlash for his role.
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed the House with $1.5 trillion in cuts to programs like Medicaid while extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, but faces opposition in the Senate from fiscal conservatives who claim it will add $3.8 trillion to the deficit.
- Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul are leading resistance against the bill, with Johnson calling continued deficit spending “immoral” and “wrong” as the national debt surpasses $36 trillion.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune faces the difficult task of satisfying conservative senators’ concerns while maintaining President Trump’s demand that the bill remain intact.
- Elon Musk has stepped back from DOGE and political spending after investing $250 million in Trump’s campaign, citing no current reason to continue his involvement.
DeSantis Defends Musk While Blasting GOP Leadership
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has emerged as a vocal defender of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), while simultaneously condemning House Republicans for their failure to implement the department’s recommended spending cuts. DeSantis took to social media to express his frustration with congressional Republicans who have seemingly abandoned the fiscal restraint promised by DOGE, an initiative that polls show is supported by 73% of Americans who favor government waste reduction.
“Elon Musk took massive incoming hits — including attacks on his companies as well as personal smears — to lead the effort on @DOGE,” said Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida. “He became public enemy #1 of legacy media around the world. To see Republicans in Congress cast aside any meaningful spending reductions (and, in fact, fully fund things like USAID) is demoralizing and represents a betrayal of the voters who elected them,” said Ron DeSantis.
Conservative Senators Stand Against Deficit Spending
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has revealed deep divisions within Republican ranks, particularly in the Senate where fiscal conservatives are sounding alarms over the legislation’s impact on the national debt. While the bill includes $1.5 trillion in cuts to programs like Medicaid and food stamps over the next decade, it simultaneously extends the Trump tax cuts of 2017, leading to projections that it would increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion over ten years.
“It’s immoral. It’s wrong. It has to stop. This is our moment. We’ve witnessed an unprecedented level of increased spending,” said Senator Ron Johnson, Republican from Wisconsin.
Senator Rand Paul has joined Johnson in opposition, emphasizing that conservatives must take a stand against what they see as fiscally irresponsible legislation. This resistance creates a significant challenge for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who must navigate between satisfying these concerns and maintaining President Trump’s desire for the bill to pass without substantial changes.
Musk Retreats from Politics as DOGE Impact Debated
After investing approximately $250 million in President Trump’s successful 2024 campaign and serving as a key advisor, Elon Musk has begun to distance himself from both DOGE and national politics. The backlash against his involvement has been substantial, with protests at Tesla dealerships and a notable drop in Tesla’s stock price. Musk’s relationship with the administration also appears to have cooled, as President Trump has ceased posting about the billionaire on Truth Social.
“I think in terms of political spending, I’m going to do a lot less in the future,” said Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
DOGE claims to have identified over $175 billion in taxpayer savings, though these figures are disputed by third-party monitors. Some Republicans have proposed using a “rescissions package” to implement DOGE cuts and reclaim unused appropriated funds—a legislative mechanism that could potentially bypass the Senate filibuster. This approach represents one last hope for salvaging Musk’s cost-cutting vision in the face of what DeSantis characterizes as establishment resistance.
Rural Republicans Voice Medicaid Concerns
Another faction complicating the bill’s passage consists of Republican senators from rural states who worry about the impact of Medicaid cuts on their constituents. The legislation imposes new work requirements and eligibility checks on Medicaid recipients, potentially affecting millions of Americans. These senators fear that limitations on state provider taxes could severely impact rural hospitals that rely heavily on Medicaid funding, creating a political liability in their home states.
“Everybody is falling in lockstep on this. ‘Pass the big beautiful bill. Don’t question anything.’ Well, conservatives do need to stand up … if we don’t stand up on it, I really fear the direction the country is going,” said Senator Rand Paul, Republican from Kentucky.
As the Senate debates continue, Senator Johnson has suggested breaking up the massive omnibus bill to focus on areas of agreement, a proposal that runs counter to the administration’s preference for comprehensive legislation. This internal Republican strife highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing fiscal responsibility with political reality—a tension that continues to define the party’s approach to governance even with unified control of government.
