Last Updated 1 month by Amnon J. Jobi | Amnon Front Page
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Two members of Indiana’s U.S. House delegation said the federal government needs austerity measures, though they split on the methods employed by Elon Musk and DOGE.
News 8 spoke with Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman and Democratic Rep. Andre Carson for this week’s episode of All INdiana Politics. Stutzman, who serves on the House Budget Committee, said Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is giving the federal government a long-overdue close examination of its spending priorities. So far, Musk has targeted the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, among others. Stutzman said DOGE’s findings so far demonstrate a broader problem with waste and abuse within the federal budget. He said he can’t and won’t rule out cuts to defense spending, Social Security, Medicaid, or Medicare, the four largest categories of federal spending.
Stutzman says everything should be on the table.
Protests have already been held nationwide against Musk’s influence in the Trump administration, accusing him of acting like an unelected head of state. Stutzman dismissed that criticism.
“At the end of the day, President Trump is responsible for this and President Trump selected one of the smartest guys that knows how to build a business,” Stutzman said. “I mean, talk about rocket science? Elon’s done it.”
Carson, the senior member of Indiana’s delegation in Congress, said while he’s not opposed to austerity measures, he thinks the way Musk and his team are going about their cuts is damaging services and demoralizing government workers. He said he’s particularly worried by cuts to federal DEI programs, which he said are responsible for diversifying the federal workforce.
“Donald Trump wants to create a workforce that is loyal to only him and his very extreme agenda,” Carson said. “That is what this is all about and any attempts to erase DEI, to erase Black history, minority history, and the collective struggle.”
Carson said he thinks Congress should take a hard look at military spending, but Democrats will not support cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.
All INdiana Politics airs at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on WISH-TV.