By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
Under President Donald Trump, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—led by Elon Musk—is lighting a fire under Republican voters ready to rip out Washington’s waste at the roots.
Launched in February 2025 via Executive Order 14158, DOGE has identified $175 billion in savings through asset sales, contract cancellations, and fraud crackdowns, including more than 12 million supposed Social Security recipients listed as over 120 years old—zombie accounts draining taxpayer dollars.
DOGE’s mission to eliminate waste has the people behind it—73% of Americans, including 89% of Republicans, support the effort. That kind of backing makes it a political powerhouse.
Yet, as of now, Congress has not voted on codifying DOGE’s proposed $9.4 billion rescissions package, risking the enthusiasm of the GOP base ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert captured this urgency in a statement to Rocky Mountain Voice, saying, “Just like many Americans who were thrilled to see the waste exposed by DOGE, I believe it is time for Congress to take a vote and actually implement these cuts. Now that the House has passed President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which was a priority for the President and was not statutorily able to address the discretionary spending cuts recommended by DOGE, we can move forward to cutting this wasteful spending. Fiscal hawks like Russ Vought have committed to sending a rescissions package to Congress in the coming days and I look forward to voting YES to cut this spending.”
Congressman Jeff Hurd also weighed in, with his office stating, “Conservatives everywhere should be excited to see the Administration and Congress finally stepping up and cutting billions in waste, fraud and abuse. Rep. Hurd will always fight to ensure American tax dollars are used effectively and intelligently.”
Despite repeated requests, we have not received comment from Congressmen Jeff Crank or Gabe Evans regarding their position on codifying DOGE’s proposed cuts.
Congress must act swiftly to lock in DOGE’s cuts, sustain GOP voter enthusiasm, and secure a strong showing in 2026.
DOGE is energizing the Republican base by going straight after bloated programs like NPR, PBS, and USAID. DOGE has delivered on promises to prioritize taxpayer dollars.
Its audits uncovered billions in misallocated funds, including foreign aid expenditures like payments to the Taliban, which conservatives have called out as evidence of corruption. These findings resonate with GOP voters who view such spending as disconnected from American interests.
For Republican voters, who delivered a GOP mandate in 2024 to tackle the $36 trillion national debt and $196 billion deficit increase, DOGE is proof their votes can drive change.
Codifying DOGE’s cuts would amplify this enthusiasm, showing GOP voters their party is serious about fiscal responsibility—a key motivator for turnout in the 2026 midterms, where Republicans must defend their slim House majority and expand their Senate edge.
Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill passed the House on May 22–by a single vote, but as Rep. Boebert noted, it wasn’t allowed to include DOGE’s discretionary cuts. Those still need a standalone vote—and time is running out.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought has pledged to deliver the $9.4 billion rescissions package targeting NPR, PBS, and foreign aid by early June 2025. House Speaker Mike Johnson affirmed the House’s readiness, stating that it is “eager and ready” to act on DOGE’s findings.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, announced that a DOGE cuts bill targeting foreign aid and NPR/CPB could appear as early as this week, urging weekly votes to tackle the “bloated” government.
Passing this package would lock in savings and signal to GOP voters that their party is fighting for them, a narrative critical for mobilizing the 62% of Republicans who prioritize reducing government spending.
Congress’s inaction to date threatens to dampen this enthusiasm.
Sen. Susan Collins and other moderates are balking at cuts to global health, and concerns over political backlash are slowing momentum. A court ruling in May made it clear: Trump can’t do this on his own—Congress has to step up.
Conservatives have warned that delays could “betray” the 2024 mandate, with calls for action growing louder.
With the 2026 midterms looming, where historical trends favor the opposition, Republicans cannot afford to alienate their base. Failing to codify DOGE’s cuts risks eroding trust among voters who see the initiative as a litmus test for GOP commitment to fiscal discipline.
The urgency is heightened by the Impoundment Control Act’s 45-day window for Congress to consider rescissions packages, meaning delays could derail DOGE’s momentum.
Beyond the $9.4 billion package, DOGE’s plans to modernize IT systems, create a fraud-detection database, and enhance immigration enforcement promise long-term savings that appeal to GOP voters’ priorities of efficiency and security.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt affirmed that DOGE’s work will continue post-Musk, with embedded employees collaborating with Trump’s cabinet.
A congressional vote to codify these cuts would cement this legacy, proving to voters that Republicans deliver.
Critics, including Democrats like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, argue that DOGE’s cuts risk harming safety nets, calling the GOP agenda a “reckless tax scam.”
However, supporters counter that eliminating waste—like erroneous Social Security records—strengthens essential programs. For Republican voters, this argument aligns with their frustration over unchecked spending.
Congress must vote “YES” on DOGE’s cuts to save billions and ignite the GOP base for 2026. Failure to act risks squandering a historic mandate, while success could propel Republicans to a triumphant midterm, proving they’re the party of results.
Republican leaders promised to clean up Washington—backing DOGE is how they prove it.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.