House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated his intention to reduce funding for Planned Parenthood and PBS. This comes as Republicans explore avenues for cutting government spending through the recently established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In an interview with Fox News, Johnson expressed the Republican party's strong commitment to saving taxpayer dollars and pledged to tackle excessive government regulation.
He criticized the current size and scope of government, arguing for a significant reduction in its activities. Johnson views the creation of DOGE as a unique chance to implement substantial changes within the administrative state and curb wasteful spending. He highlighted DOGE as a "generational opportunity" to reshape how the government operates.
Congress is working to prepare for the implementation of the recommendations put forth by Trump's DOGE commission. (Getty Images)
Recalling the appointment of Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk to lead DOGE, Johnson mentioned their mandate to streamline government bureaucracy, reduce regulations, and cut wasteful spending, as outlined by President-elect Donald Trump on Truth Social. Musk previously suggested a potential $2 trillion reduction in the U.S. budget.
Trump appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the Department of Government Efficiency ("DOGE"). (Getty Images)
Johnson has invited Ramaswamy and Musk to Capitol Hill for a collaborative session with Republican senators and representatives to strategize for the upcoming Congress. He emphasized the House Oversight Committee's ongoing efforts to identify areas of waste, fraud, and abuse, and announced the formation of a new subcommittee dedicated to pinpointing areas for immediate spending cuts. Beyond spending cuts, Johnson outlined other key priorities for the House, including extending the Trump tax cuts and enacting legislation related to border security and energy policy.
