On Tuesday, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) attacked reports on CNN's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) spending cuts and accused President Trump of trying to rally viewers.
In an interview on “CNN News Central,” Anchor Brianna Keilar asked Republican lawmakers about nonpartisan presumptions that suggest that targeted spending cuts on GOPs would require cuts in eligibility programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.
Following Elon Musk's proposal in an interview Monday that lawmakers will need to look closely at their eligibility spending to create important dents when reducing wasteful spending in the government. Meanwhile, Trump continues to insist that his efforts to curb government spending will not cut general Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security qualification programs.
“The problem is reducing profits against waste, fraud and abuse,” Kaylor told Burchett. “It seems there's a lot of support [cutting] Waste, fraud, abuse.
“The problem is, if you talk to people who can actually know the amount of waste, fraud, and abuse you can tackle, you won't get the number of cuts he's talking about…without being honest about reducing these qualifications,” Kaylor continued, referring to the goal laid out by Musk, the public face of Doge's efforts.
Burchett said that those who suggest that he needs to get back on his feet and cut his qualifications are the same people who “create the problem” and those who fear “catch it by hand in a cookie jar,” adding, “Of course they'll tell you.” This is crazy. ”
“If Elon Musk says he thinks he can find $100 million in waste, abuse, fraud, why won't he see him if he can find it? What hurts? Everyone is trying to be critical. They're attacking messaging carriers,” he added.
Keilar repeatedly pushes “mathematics” on Burchett, pointing to a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate, showing the total amount of fraud that has not reached the target's spending reduction target. She also said Doge's own cutting program receipts didn't take into account the desired budget cuts.
Burchet pointed out a specific scam that Doge had found, and immediately he and Keeler said they were “trying to have a conversation” and were talking to each other.
“Why don't everyone on CNN want to cut something like that?” Burchet asked her.
“I'm just trying to do math with you.
Burchet then accused CNN of intentionally opposing the cut and accusing viewers of “scaring.”
“Madam, you all don't support one cut. CNN, you don't support one Dadgum cut with something like this. You're trying to use the lowest denominator. You're trying to scare most people to drive a train against Trump. And it's not working. Americans aren't buying it. And you guys made a big mistake with this because there's incredible waste, abuse, fraud.”
“No, I'm looking at the numbers,” Kaylor said in the Burchett.
When she spoke, he replied: “No, deep. You are not looking for – no wife, you are not all.”
The anchor continued. “We're looking at the figures that Doge puts out themselves. They say they're cutting contracts that have already ended. They say they're cutting in a lot. They're actually seeing a small amount.”
“It's just mathematics, it's a House of Representatives and we're going to keep watching mathematics,” she said.
“Well, look at mathematics. Are you saying there are no multi-billion dollar waste abuse or fraud in the federal government? Are you trying to say that?” he said. “Because everyone knows that.
She spoke on him, “I don't need to tell you that. I have an estimate of the CBO.”
“That's why Trump is in the White House and that's why Kamala Harris is on the book tour,” Burchett said of Kaylor.
“That's the actual number we're trying to discuss…” she said. “I'm trying to have an honest conversation with you about the numbers and CBO estimates and numbers that experts on this topic are hoping for.”
She then concluded the interview, as Burchett rang with “Unknown Expert.”
