While acknowledging the existence of wasteful spending within the federal government, Senate Democrats have expressed concerns over the approach taken by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). They argue for a more measured evaluation of individual programs rather than sweeping cuts.

Following inquiries from Fox News Digital, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the need for a thorough Congressional review to identify and eliminate wasteful spending, rather than a broad-brush approach. This sentiment was echoed by other Democratic lawmakers, who, while generally supportive of spending cuts, criticized DOGE's methodology.

Senator Chris Murphy voiced concerns that DOGE's focus is misplaced, prioritizing the interests of billionaires over genuine government efficiency. He suggested targeting areas like prescription drug costs for potential savings.

Senator John Hickenlooper acknowledged the potential for improvements in government spending, while Senator Andy Kim criticized the disruptive nature of DOGE's cuts, citing the removal of federal employees needed for critical tasks like bird flu management and nuclear regulation. Kim expressed a willingness to collaborate on a bipartisan approach to address wasteful spending.

Senators Bernie Sanders and Tammy Baldwin also supported the idea of cutting wasteful spending but did not specify target areas. Meanwhile, DOGE's actions have drawn criticism for targeting programs deemed valuable by some, such as community health centers and Medicaid. Former President Trump has proposed returning a portion of the DOGE savings directly to taxpayers and using another portion to reduce the national debt.