Tensions are rising among Senate Democrats over the recent actions by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, with many accusing them of breaking the law.
However, the response from Democrats on Capitol Hill has been far from unified as they grapple with what some are calling a potential “coup.”
Reports surfaced earlier this week that Musk’s team of DOGE outsiders had gained access to the Treasury’s payment system, as well as sensitive taxpayer information, including social security numbers.
On top of that, the administration’s move to shut down agencies funded by Congress, like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has sparked outrage among lawmakers.
Divided Responses and Limited Power in the Minority
In the face of these accusations, Democratic lawmakers have voiced their concerns in a variety of ways. Protests, calls for investigations, and press conferences have all been part of their response.
However, as a minority party, many Democrats feel they have limited power to take significant action unless they receive support from Republican colleagues.
While some Democrats have shared that GOP senators are privately expressing their worries, very few have openly criticized the actions of Trump or Musk.
Instead, most Republicans seem to be taking a “wait and see” approach, leaving Democrats in a tough position.
Senate Democrats Split Over Trump Nominees
The division among Senate Democrats became particularly evident this week during the confirmation process for Trump’s nominees.
Despite some Democratic senators accusing Trump and Musk of a corrupt alliance, several still voted in favor of the president’s choices.
For instance, two dozen Democrats supported the confirmation of Doug Collins as head of the Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday, and Senator John Fetterman (D-Penn.) was the lone Democrat to back Pam Bondi as attorney general.
However, not all Democrats are in agreement.
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) made a bold statement this week, declaring that she would oppose every Trump cabinet nominee going forward.
In a public statement, she expressed frustration over broken commitments from nominees who had promised to stand up to the president if necessary, only to fail to do so once in office.
Democrats Pressure Colleagues to Take a Stand
Rochester’s stance was praised by some House Democrats, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who called it a form of leadership.
Other lawmakers and activists have been pushing for more Democrats to follow suit.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) confirmed to DailyMail.com that he would be voting against all Trump cabinet members, citing the administration’s “illegal and reprehensible actions.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has also been vocal in his opposition to the president’s nominees, accusing them of blindly following Trump’s directives, even when they conflict with what they promised Congress.
Growing Pushback Against USAID Shutdown and Treasury Data Breach
Democratic lawmakers have also taken action in response to the shutdown of USAID.
Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz put a hold on all of Trump’s State Department nominees until the administration reverses what he described as a “brazenly authoritarian action.”
This move is expected to slow down the process of confirming Trump’s appointees.
Protests against these moves have intensified.
On Monday, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who once worked at USAID, spoke out at a rally outside the agency’s shuttered offices.
Kim emphasized that Russia and China would benefit from the end of USAID’s work.
The following day, a larger protest was held outside the Treasury Department in response to Musk’s alleged access to taxpayer information.
Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost joined the rally, calling for greater transparency and expressing concern over the potential abuse of private data by an unelected billionaire.
A Growing Constitutional Crisis?
As protests and political maneuvers continue, Democrats are warning of a looming constitutional crisis.
Some, like Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), believe that the situation could lead to the “destruction of our democracy” if not addressed.
Yet, not all Democrats are in agreement with the way things have unfolded.
Former congressman Tim Ryan, who previously ran for Senate, criticized the protests, calling them depressing and questioning whether they truly represent the future of the country.
Despite the protests, the path forward remains unclear.
With limited options available in the minority, Senate Democrats are preparing for the upcoming budget battle, which could provide them with some leverage.
As funding for the federal government runs out next month, Democrats and Republicans will need to come together to resolve the debt limit issue.
However, House Democratic leaders are skeptical, suspecting that Republicans are more loyal to Trump and Musk than to the interests of Congress.
Congressman Pete Aguilar (D-CA) summed up the frustration: “They answer to Donald Trump and Elon Musk, not to us,” he said, emphasizing that Democrats would continue to fight for government funding and the rule of law.
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