(NewsNation) — Elon Musk has become an outsized figure in the Trump administration and is increasing ire among Democrats.
While Musk has been tasked with cutting down on government spending under President Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, his abrupt takedowns of several government agencies are gaining pushback.
Since becoming the head of DOGE, Musk has launched a widespread effort to eliminate the United States Agency for International Development.
Musk alleged that USAID funding was used to launch deadly programs and called it a “criminal organization.”
Trump, under Musk’s recommendation, ordered USAID funding to be paused for 90 days, and many of the agency’s staff were fired or put on administrative leave, which largely halted the agency’s work.
Musk’s DOGE has also turned on the Education Department, with lawmakers raising concerns about DOGE’s access to internal systems containing personal information on tens of millions of Americans.
In a letter to the acting education secretary, a group of Democrats is seeking to intervene as DOGE gains increasing access to student loan databases and other systems. Democrats fear it could lay the groundwork for a takeover akin to Musk’s attempt to close the USAID.
Democrats, including California Rep. Mark Takano, planned to show up at the department’s Washington headquarters on Friday and demand a meeting with leaders appointed by President Donald Trump.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.