President Donald Trump has taken steps to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds and has allowed billionaire ally Elon Musk access to sensitive Treasury payment systems responsible for handling trillions of dollars. Additionally, Trump and his administration have removed agency watchdogs, top FBI officials, and federal prosecutors who played roles in investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.
Now, Trump and Musk are focused on dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides tens of billions in congressionally approved aid to foreign allies each year.
Each of these moves touches areas where Congress traditionally holds authority or oversight. Yet, Trump has bypassed lawmakers at every turn.
Having returned to the White House two weeks ago, Trump—who won the popular vote for the first time—is now asserting his executive power to shrink the government and eliminate officials he sees as disloyal.
Historically, lawmakers have viewed their oversight powers and control of federal spending as key responsibilities in Washington’s balance of power. However, in Trump’s second administration, congressional Republicans have largely deferred to him, recognizing his influence over their voter base.
Despite once criticizing executive overreach under Democratic presidents, Republicans, who now control both chambers of Congress, have remained passive as Trump implements controversial and legally questionable executive actions. Instead, they have largely cheered on his efforts to disrupt Washington and challenge the country’s system of checks and balances.
Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, acknowledged that past Democratic presidents have also tested the limits of their authority. “They’re going to see how far they can go,” Tillis told NBC News regarding Trump’s administration. “I don’t begrudge them for doing it.”
Still, he suggested it would be better if Trump sought congressional approval before refusing to spend congressionally mandated funds, such as those allocated for USAID. “I think it’s legitimate; it’s just not going to last long-term if it doesn’t make sense,” said Tillis, who is up for re-election next year.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, defended Trump’s actions at a recent gathering of House Republicans at Trump’s golf club near Miami. “He’s been using his executive authority, I think, in an appropriate manner,” Johnson said. “He got a mandate from the American people. Let’s not forget he ran on restoring common sense and fiscal sanity and ensuring that the government would be more efficient. It was a major theme of the campaign.”
However, some Republicans have raised concerns, particularly about Trump’s efforts to dismantle USAID.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, expressed reservations, saying, “I am concerned about—I have questions about the legality.”
She also described the generally muted response among congressional Republicans to Trump’s executive actions. “We’re all kind of getting into the mode of: Things happen, the news drops, and there’s this explosive reaction, and then you find out that, OK, well, we’re narrowing the order or, well, there’s not really going to be tariffs,” Murkowski said. “And so I think we’re all just kind of processing and figuring out the appropriate response.”
With the exception of quietly blocking former Representative Matt Gaetz’s bid for attorney general, Senate Republicans have largely supported Trump’s nominations, despite pressure from his allies to back picks such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. More contentious nominations are ahead, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health and human services secretary and Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence.
Musk and Trump Target USAID
On Monday, Musk announced that the government efficiency department Trump put him in charge of was “shutting down USAID.” Agency employees were informed they would not be allowed to enter their Washington headquarters and should instead work remotely. Later, Trump accused USAID of engaging in “fraud” and appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as its acting administrator.
Rubio notified Congress that “a review of USAID’s foreign assistance activities is underway with an eye towards potential reorganization,” according to a State Department statement.
Rubio, during a visit to El Salvador on Monday, criticized USAID, saying, “It’s been 20 or 30 years where people tried to reform it, and it refuses to reform. It refuses to cooperate. When we were in Congress, we couldn’t even get answers to basic questions about programs… That’s not going to continue.”
When asked whether Trump could dismantle USAID without congressional approval, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, declined to criticize the president. Instead, he echoed Rubio’s concerns about USAID’s transparency. “I think it’s a lot more about finding out how the dollars are being spent, where they’re going, and whether or not they’re consistent with the administration and our country’s priorities when it comes to our national interests,” Thune said.
Trump has also fired 18 independent inspectors general, who were tasked with investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in federal agencies. Democrats and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, argued that Trump’s move violated a law requiring the president to give Congress 30 days’ notice before removing an inspector general and to provide justification for the dismissal.
Still, Grassley remained largely supportive of Trump, stating, “There may be good reason the IGs were fired. We need to know that if so.”
Last week, congressional Republicans appeared unprepared when the Trump White House unilaterally paused all federal loans and grants—previously approved by Congress—to review whether the funds were supporting initiatives the administration opposed. While GOP leaders ultimately supported the planned funding freeze, a federal judge temporarily blocked it, though U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan noted on Monday that some forms of federal aid still seem to be frozen.
Democrats Push Back
With Republicans holding majorities in both chambers, they could investigate and subpoena Trump officials. However, for now, such action appears unlikely. Instead, Republicans are working with Trump to pass his legislative priorities, including expanding energy production, tightening border security, and cutting taxes.
As a result, Democrats have taken up the fight against Trump’s actions.
On Monday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York announced that Democrats would introduce legislation “to prevent unlawful access” to the Treasury payment system, which contains confidential information related to Social Security, Medicare, taxpayers, businesses, and federal contractors. The proposal will serve as a test of whether Republicans are willing to limit Trump’s actions.
Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, called for Democrats to “fight back” against Trump and Musk, urging them to block all future nominees. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees USAID and the State Department, threatened to place a “blanket hold” on all of Trump’s State Department nominees in response to the USAID controversy.
“Dismantling USAID is illegal and makes us less safe. USAID was created by federal law and is funded by Congress. Donald Trump and Elon Musk can’t just wish it away with a stroke of a pen—they need to pass a law,” Schatz said in a statement.
Senator Chris Coons, a moderate Democrat from Delaware, warned of broader consequences if Trump succeeds in eliminating USAID. “There’s some disagreement about USAID,” he said. “But the much more fundamental fight is over whether an agreement in appropriations that is a law will be respected and can hold.”
On Monday, a group of House and Senate Democrats attempted to enter USAID’s headquarters at the Ronald Reagan Building but were blocked. Outside, they expressed solidarity with USAID employees and condemned Musk’s role in dismantling the agency.
“We are going to fight in every way we can—in the courts, in public opinion, with the bully pulpit, in the halls of Congress, and here at AID itself,” said Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia, the new top Democrat on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which represents thousands of federal workers.
Overhauling USAID, he added, is “a matter for Congress to deal with—not an unelected billionaire oligarch named Elon Musk.”