Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, had some choice words for President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk about their efforts to tear down the civil service.
The controversy started when Connolly took a stand against Musk's latest email blast to federal workers demanding they detail all their weekly accomplishments or risk being fired — something even some other Trump administration officials appear to be backing away from, with Health and Human Services emphasizing response is optional and should be tailored to avoid giving information to "malign foreign actors."
"This country is fed up with the wrecking ball Elon Musk and Donald Trump are taking to essential government services," Connolly posted to X. "Federal agencies need to regain order right now by telling employees they do NOT have to respond to Elon Musk's absurd email."
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The "rapid response" account for the Trump White House hit him back over the post.
"Stop lying, Gerry. 77% of Americans support a 'full examination of all government expenditures.' 72% agree there should be a government agency 'focused on efficiency.' 70% say government is 'filled with waste, fraud, and inefficiency.' Two-thirds say Congress should join the effort."
The White House numbers came from a recent Harvard CAPS-Harris poll. But Connolly wasn't finished.
"Oh, did I hit a nerve?" wrote Connolly. "If Elon Musk and his coffee boy Donald Trump are so popular, tell it to the House Republicans who spent last week getting an earful from a ton of very angry Americans."
Connolly proceeded to share multiple news stories about Republican lawmakers getting shouted down at town halls by their own constituents, furious about the Musk takeover, noting Reps. Rich McCormick (R-GA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Tom Kean (R-NJ), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Scott Perry (R-PA) are all on the receiving end of protests.
Meanwhile, he noted that even some Republicans are distancing themselves, with Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH) saying Trump's executive orders were "getting out of control."