Senate GOP Pushes Musk's Cuts for Legal Approval

Senate Republicans have pressed Elon Musk to ensure his proposed cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) undergo congressional approval via a rescissions package. This approach would require a simple majority vote in both the GOP-led Senate and House, making the cuts legally binding and protecting them from judicial challenges. Senators Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham emphasized the importance of codifying these cuts to make them permanent, with Graham urging a more aggressive stance from the White House. Musk, who provided his contact information to senators, expressed willingness to cooperate with Congress and acknowledged that without legislative action, the cuts would remain temporary. The rescissions process emerged as a favored strategy to reclaim congressional control over budgetary decisions and avoid legal setbacks encountered by previous efforts to freeze spending. Some lawmakers, however, remain concerned about the potential unpopularity of such cuts among constituents.