Veterans & Seniors at Risk: AOC Slams Cost-Cutting Proposals

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N. Y. ) has openly criticized certain cost-saving measures suggested by the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). In a recent social media post, she highlighted how these proposals might negatively impact veterans, seniors, and the disabled. Ocasio-Cortez was responding to a separate post from Elon Musk, which suggested defunding the ACLU. She quickly defended the organization, noting that it doesn't receive government funds. Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans met with DOGE co-leaders Vivek Ramaswamy and Musk, led by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La. ). Johnson described the meeting as a brainstorming session. In the Senate, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) heads the DOGE Caucus, while Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga. ) will chair a relevant subcommittee. Some Democrats, like Representatives Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla. ) and Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), and potentially Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), have shown interest in joining these efforts. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn. ) introduced the "DOGE Acts" legislation to curb spending and freeze federal hires and salaries. These debates come as President-elect Trump chooses Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , an anti-vaccine activist, for the Health and Human Services department, and Dr. Mehmet Oz for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Trump has pledged not to alter Medicare and Social Security, but Medicaid remains uncertain.