U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th) didn’t hold back this week during an Energy Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill. Pallone, the ranking Democrat on the committee, blasted Republicans for not standing up to President Donald Trump’s executive orders, specifically measures that tried to freeze federal funding for programs across the government. Pallone called it a “power grab” and “dangerous and corrupt.”
The comments came as Democratic lawmakers accused Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency– or DOGE– of gaining access to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration building and its computer systems. And as Musk’s team has entered government buildings around Washington D.C. in recent days, sparking several lawsuits and complaints that he has improperly accessed personal data. Not only is Musk the richest person in the world, he is running several companies that have sizable government contracts. He was one of the largest contributors to Trump’s presidential campaigns, and Trump and Republican allies in Congress are backing Musk’s moves to slash budgets and programs Congress has approved.
Now, Pallone is joining other ranking Democrats in efforts to investigate the executive orders and any attempts to freeze federal funding.
“First of all, we just sent letters from my committee to all the federal agencies that could potentially be impacted by this funding freeze,” said Pallone in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “Basically what President Trump is doing is stealing from the American people…these are all things Congress has appropriated under the law.”
“Every indication is that a lot of the money is still not going out,” added Pallone. “The fact that the court stepped in and said you can’t do this funding freeze has not stopped him from continuing it. I continue to get reports that this funding is not available from the communities.”
“Everyone wants to give a new administration a chance, but the chaos we’re seeing now with the funding freeze and trying to disassemble various agencies this is getting to the point where the level of chaos or incompetence is just not acceptable,” said Pallone. “I think that’s why you’re going to see more and more objections, not only from Democrats but other organizations too.”
