February 23, 2025 | By Lorenzo Duncan | dogereport.info
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), launched in January 2025 under President Trump with Elon Musk leading the charge, aims to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. But not everyone’s cheering. From Capitol Hill to the courtroom, elected officials, judges, and politicians are raising hell over DOGE’s mission. DOGE is under fire. Drawing from outlets like CBS News, Politico, and The Hill, we spotlight the loudest DOGE opposition, their fears, and what they might be hiding—like Adam Schiff’s pardon or Dick Durbin’s Epstein evidence block. Let’s break it down.
The Critics: Who’s Leading the Charge?
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has slammed DOGE’s “slash-and-burn” tactics. In a February 18 CBS News interview, he warned that its $3.4 billion in cuts—detailed in our Latest Updates—threaten Social Security and Medicare. His February 15 Senate floor speech, reported by Politico, called DOGE “reckless.”
What’s He Afraid Of? Durbin’s Illinois relies on federal funds. DOGE’s audits could expose waste—or worse—in his backyard, risking voter backlash.
What’s He Hiding? His loudest critics point to a February 2 Fox News report on his role blocking Jeffrey Epstein flight log releases as Judiciary chair. Senator Marsha Blackburn’s January 31 Breitbart accusation suggests he’s shielding powerful names tied to Epstein—maybe even his own.
Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA)
California’s Adam Schiff has taken aim at DOGE’s “unaccountable” structure. On February 20, The Hill quoted him calling it a Trump “authoritarian” tool, echoing a Yahoo News interview that day. Schiff’s no stranger to DOGE heat—check our Challenges section.
What’s He Afraid Of? Schiff’s January 20 preemptive pardon from Biden, per Al Jazeera, hints at fear of DOGE digging into his Jan. 6 past—or beyond—especially with Kash Patel’s FBI nomination looming (*Fox News*).
What’s He Hiding? Schiff dismissed his pardon as “unwise” (*The Hill*), but why take it? X buzz speculates donor ties or leaks, though nothing’s proven. His “Adam Schiff pardon” saga could spell trouble if DOGE’s data lens widens.
Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Maryland’s Jamie Raskin dubbed DOGE a “Trojan horse” for deregulation in a February 19 PBS News segment. He tied it to the DOJ dropping NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ charges (*CBS News*), alleging “corrupt bargains.”
What’s He Afraid Of? Another Biden pardon recipient (*Al Jazeera*), Raskin fears DOGE exposing his district’s spending—or Trump settling Jan. 6 scores.
What’s He Hiding? No hard dirt, but his pardon suggests skeletons. Could DOGE audits hit his progressive projects? See more at dogereport.info.
Judge Dale E. Ho (Southern District of NY)
Federal Judge Dale Ho, overseeing the Adams case in Manhattan’s U.S. District Court, didn’t mince words. During a February 19 hearing (*PBS News*), he questioned DOGE’s push to nix Adams’ charges, per The New York Times.
What’s He Afraid Of? Ho’s worried DOGE could override judicial power, turning courts into rubber stamps for executive moves—a red flag for uscourts.gov norms.
What’s He Hiding? Likely nothing personal—his stand seems principled. X chatter about “deep state” ties lacks evidence.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
The Senate's richest Socialist, Vermont’s Bernie Sanders offers a nuanced take. He praised DOGE’s Pentagon cuts on Fox News but warned in a February 21 The Guardian op-ed that its “indiscriminate” cuts threaten social programs.
What’s He Afraid Of? Sanders’ Medicare for All dreams don’t jive with a $2 trillion leaner budget—DOGE could derail his life’s work.
What’s He Hiding? His critique matches his record—probably no secrets here, just ideology and an unwillingness to hold bureaucrats to an appropriately high standard.
Why the Uproar? Fear and Power at Stake
The Department of Government Efficiency complaints boil down to two big fears: exposure and power loss. DOGE’s transparency push—like those “What Did You Do Last Week?” emails (*MSN*)—could unmask waste or corruption tied to these critics’ oversight. Politico notes agency heads lobbying to save budgets, while The Guardian flags harm to vulnerable groups.
Exposure Risk: Audits might reveal mismanagement—or darker deeds—like Durbin’s “Dick Durbin Epstein” link.
Retribution: Schiff and Raskin’s pardons (*Al Jazeera*) suggest they’re bracing for DOGE-backed probes, maybe via Patel’s FBI (*senate.gov*).
Power Erosion: Ho and Durbin see DOGE as a Trump power grab, sidelining courts and Congress.
What’s Hidden? The Juicy Bits
Dick Durbin: His Epstein log block (*Fox News*) is the murkiest—protecting allies or himself?
Adam Schiff: That pardon (*The Hill*) screams preemptive cover. Jan. 6 or donor dirt?
Jamie Raskin: Less clear, but his pardon and the likely criminality of the J6 Committee hint at vulnerabilities.
Dale Ho: Clean slate—his fight’s probably about principle, not personal stakes.
Bernie Sanders: No hidden agenda—just a policy clash and a case of TDS.
What’s Next for DOGE Opposition?
As DOGE chases its $2 trillion goal, these critics won’t quiet down. Durbin’s Senate Judiciary role could slow Trump nominees, while Schiff and Raskin rally Dems. Ho’s rulings might test DOGE’s legal reach, per uscourts.gov. Sanders could push a counter-narrative. Follow the fight on our Latest Updates.
DOGE’s a disruptor—exposing waste or rattling cages? Its critics say the former; their pasts suggest the latter. What do you think? Sound off below.
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