MSNBC host Joe Scarborough sparked controversy on Friday by claiming that Republican voters did not support President Donald Trump to cut wasteful government spending, despite Trump’s longstanding campaign promises to streamline federal agencies and reduce inefficiencies.
Scarborough’s comments came as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by top adviser Elon Musk, reported saving $55 billion through mass layoffs and the dismantling of programs deemed unnecessary.
READ: Trump Exposes Shocking List Of Taxpayer-Funded Government Programs: “This is All Fraud”
“This idea that Republicans, all Republicans want a guy wielding a chainsaw and just slashing National Institutes of Health budgets, slashing USAID budgets or some of us who are very proud of what [former President] George W. Bush did with PEPFAR, saving 25 million lives in Africa, slashing [the Federal Aviation Administration], slashing [Transportation Security Administration]—I’m sorry, I’ll just say it, that’s not what a lot of Republicans voted for Donald Trump for,” Scarborough argued on his show.
However, Scarborough’s claims appear to contradict polling data and Trump’s explicit campaign pledges. A January 24 Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that 58% of Republican voters support DOGE’s efforts to cut government waste. Overall, 29% of Americans expressed support for the agency, while only 11% of Democrats backed its initiatives.
Additionally, a February 9 CBS/YouGov poll revealed that 74% of Republicans believe Musk and DOGE should have influence over government operations and spending, compared to just 69% of Democrats who opposed the idea.
READ: Elon Musk Says Trump Supports $5K Taxpayer Refunds As DOGE Cuts Government Waste
Trump has long campaigned on eliminating government waste and inefficiency, a promise he reinforced by appointing Elon Musk to lead DOGE. On January 20, Trump signed an executive order establishing the agency, which has since undertaken significant efforts to reduce federal spending. Among its most notable actions, DOGE dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after uncovering billions of dollars in questionable expenditures including:
- $520 million for an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) consultant in Africa.
- $25 million to promote biodiversity conservation and “illicit livelihoods” in Colombia.
- $40 million to improve the social and economic inclusion of “sedentary migrants.”
- $42 million to Johns Hopkins University for social and behavioral change research in Uganda.
- $10 million for voluntary medical male circumcisions in Mozambique.
- $9.7 million to teach Cambodian youth about “enterprise-driven skills.”
- $21 million to increase voter turnout in India.
DOGE has also targeted other agencies, firing four Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees over $59 million in spending to house illegal migrants in luxury New York City hotels.
Additionally, the agency has overseen layoffs of more than 200,000 federal workers across multiple departments, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Department of Education. Notably, the White House has emphasized that critical roles, such as air traffic controllers, were not affected by the FAA cuts.
READ: Karoline Leavitt Sets ‘Record Straight’ On Musk, DOGE And Social Security Waste
Despite Scarborough’s assertions, Trump’s efforts to reduce government waste align with his broader America First agenda, which has consistently emphasized fiscal responsibility and accountability.
In a statement, the White House highlighted the success of DOGE’s initiatives, stating, “President Trump promised to drain the swamp and eliminate wasteful spending, and that’s exactly what DOGE is doing. These savings will benefit American taxpayers and ensure that their hard-earned dollars are used responsibly.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.