'A big difference': CNN host shuts down lawmaker comparing DOGE staffers to WWII fighters
Screengrab/CNN
DOGE and Elon Musk, who may or may not be leading the arm of the White House, has drawn concern for trying to access Americans’ personal data at the IRS. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who is on the DOGE subcommittee, and CNN’s Pamela Brown had a heated discussion about his role cutting the federal government Tuesday morning. During this conversation Burchett compared young staffers at DOGE to World War II soldiers.
“Congress better get some guts and start backing [DOGE] up, or the next president could undo everything that's done. And that is really my biggest fear. I don't care what title you give Elon Musk,” Burchett said.
The conversation continued.
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“Hey, hold on for a second,” Burchett said.
“Okay,” Brown said.
“How many people at the IRS are elected?” Burchett asked.
“Okay,” Brown said.
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“You’re proving my point. All these people are there. This is a very porous agency,”
“There's a difference between civil service and checks and balances, in place of a small group and politicals who are going in, many of them young staffers who we know nothing about, really.”
Burchett compared the young staffers at DOGE to U.S. soldiers.
“Those are Japanese rifles,” he said, referring to rifles on his wall. “Guess what? My dad was 20, 21, years old when he killed the people that carried that you all don't question the fact that, you know we've with these 20, 22, year old people, the ones that fight our daggum wars.”
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“There's a difference between members of the greatest generation… risking their life to serve our country, and young staffers going in with their computers and trying to get access to personal data. There is a big difference.”
The conversation continued, and eventually Brown cut him off.
“All right, we’re going to leave it there,” Brown said.
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