A.G. Gancarski
A Jacksonville Republican member of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus says he and his constituents want to know more about what’s being cut amid the Elon Musk group’s breakneck pace.
“I have constituents sort of concerned about the cuts as well. But I think part of what’s going on is DOGE is moving so fast that it’s got people’s heads spinning,” said Rep. John Rutherford. “In fact, I want more information about what’s going to happen before it happens. They’re moving so fast.
Rutherford is among the Congressional Republicans who have resisted calls to hold town halls, saying they present “an opportunity for a mob to act out in front of media.” So his constituent concerns are coming from smaller group settings.
Yet it’s notable that his comments, made Friday on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal,” stop short of previous full-throated endorsements of the DOGE mission.
“Musk is not acting on his own, nor does he have complete authority over anything, including the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk is carrying out the orders given to him from President Donald Trump to clean up the waste, fraud, and abuse that have plagued the federal government for far too long,” Rutherford said last month.
During the same C-SPAN hit Friday, Rutherford acknowledged that Trump has the ultimate authority to cut executive branch functions, and defended those moves to reduce “bloat” in the government, particularly given that previous President Joe Biden hired people in what the Congressman called a “willy-nilly” way.
“He has the duty and the power … and the responsibility,” he argued.
As First Coast News reports, DOGE cuts look likely to impact Rutherford’s district with some notable cuts.
The Charles E. Bennett Federal Building, which is considered an “anchor institution” by Downtown Vision, was listed among 440 structures that could be sold. Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, and Housing and Urban Development functions are among those that could be removed from the city as a result.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District is also vacating its offices on the Southbank.
8 comments
Robert J. Ciolek
March 8, 2025 at 6:05 pm
I hope he remembers that he represents a co-equal branch of government and prevents unfixable damage from being done by an unelected bozo.
Hung Wiil
March 8, 2025 at 9:38 pm
The branches are not “co-equal.” A reader of the Constitution could help but notice that the distribution of powers among Articles I, II, III, are imbalanced, with Article I granted the vast majority of powers, relevant powers, particularly in the area of self-defense, commonly referred to as the principle of checks and balances.
Don’t be a DOGE bag.
Ron Ogden
March 8, 2025 at 6:58 pm
This notion of “unelected” is foolish. Musk serves at Trump’s pleasure, and Trump most certainly was elected. Drop it, goofs.
Congressman Rutherford should indeed remember that he works for a co-equal branch, but that branch is NOT an administrative branch, it is a legislative branch, and he and his colleagues need to stick to their damn knitting and let the elected chief executive administer the government according to his Constitutional power, employing whom he wishes, including Musk. If they want to make it federal policy that the President cannot administer the government, then pass the legislation and get Trump to sign it. Be sure to wake me up when hell decides that particular snowball does have a chance after all.
Michael K
March 8, 2025 at 8:28 pm
First, there is zero evidence of fraud. Zero.
Second, the “wall of receipts” is rife with ridiculous errors, mis-counting, and listing long dead contracts.
Third, many of Musk’s actions are illegal, and in many cases, unconstitutional.
Congress holds the power of the purse, and the executive has checks on his or her power – whether from the judiciary or Congress.
Those 25 year olds (and Musk) have no idea what they are doing. Taking a buzz saw is not thoughtful, merely destructive. Wake up: Many of these “cuts” will benefit Musk financially – the Trumpian grift is only exposed by a free press.
Bill Pollard
March 8, 2025 at 7:39 pm
Pretty much everything is being cut and everyone is being affected or will soon be affected and in big and harmful ways. And what Trump and Musk are doing is largely illegal and unconstitutional. Both parties in Congress need to take action and very soon.
MH/Duuuval
March 9, 2025 at 8:09 pm
A little, teeny, tiny, bit of pain for voters — please, lord, no recession — and fancy pants dinners for Putin’s Poodle’s plutocratic donors and BFF.
Martha Jones
March 9, 2025 at 11:09 am
In the March 7th Rutherford Roundup, the Congressman declared – “President Trump has done more to renew the American Dream than any other president.” If this is the case, Congressman Rutherford and his fellow Republicans should be holding Town Halls weekly to explain why Americans are experiencing higher inflation, rising interest rates, business contraction, and deteriorating job and stock markets.
MH/Duuuval
March 9, 2025 at 1:53 pm
The comment from Rutherford you cite made me laugh. He is riding high in his all-white, MAGA, gerrymandered district and won’t be brooking any interference from critics. Hence, no town meetings. However, he promises to meet with you as an individual. Let us know how that turns out.
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