An overwhelming majority of Rep. Tom Barrett’s (R-Mich.) constituents do not approve of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
At a telephone town hall with constituents on Monday, Barrett conducted a survey asking if they support DOGE’s mission to “streamline the federal government and reduce spending?”
The results show that more than two-thirds of Barrett’s constituents present during the town hall do not support DOGE.
“That’s 70 percent for no, 30 percent for yes,” Barrett announced.
Barrett narrowly flipped a Democratic district in Michigan that was previously represented by now-U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin. He said that his office has received numerous calls about Musk’s role in the federal government, according to a local outlet.
On Monday’s call, Barrett insisted that Musk’s power is limited, despite evidence to the contrary.
“DOGE is making recommendations to agency heads,” Barrett said. “It’s up to them to do the best implementation of achieving what every American should expect, that the tax dollars they send to Washington, D.C., are being used prudently for the right things, for the right purposes, and not being abused, wasted or spent on things that shouldn’t be done.”
Barrett’s telephone town hall comes after Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), warned Republicans to avoid in-person meetings with voters after angry constituents confront Republicans over actions taken by the Trump administration.