Cline: Move along, nothing to see here

If you called Congressman Cline’s office (202-225-5431) this week about the role of an unelected billionaire in the Musk-Trump administration, you may have got this email in response.

Bottom line: Cline is perfectly fine with what Musk and Trump are doing, and thinks they are both worthy of our complete trust. Most of what he writes in the email is obfuscating BS. If someone wants to write a fact-based refutation of it, please let me know.

Dear Mr. Zitzer (sic),

Thank you for contacting my office regarding your concerns with businessman Elon Musk’s role in the Trump Administration. I appreciate hearing from you on this important topic.

As you know, today’s society relies heavily on technology. As technology develops and society evolves, so must our government. In fact, June 30, 2024 marked the deadline for all U.S. federal agencies to transition to fully electronic records. With that in mind, protecting the privacy of Sixth District constituents is a top priority. It is essential that we ensure the protection of individuals’ digital records under the control of the federal government, including Social Security and Medicare records.

I also believe it is crucial to recognize that the President of the United States, regardless of their party affiliation, has Article II constitutional authority to appoint individuals who can help execute their vision for the federal government. Most recently, President Trump designated Elon Musk as a “special government employee,” which is defined by Section 202 of Title 18 of the United States Code. President Trump’s decision to enlist Mr. Musk is a bold step toward strengthening America’s technological leadership and eliminating bureaucratic inefficiencies. This appointment is fully within the President’s discretion and is no different from past administrations appointing industry experts to key cabinet, advisory, and operational roles.

For over 20 years, Mr. Musk has undoubtedly showcased to the American people his unparalleled ability to drive innovation, develop world leading technologies, and ensure America is the world leader in energy, Artificial Intelligence, rocketry, transportation, and healthcare, among other fields.

Further, Musk is not a private citizen being given “unprecedented access to personal or sensitive information,” as the extreme left would lead you to believe. Mr. Musk holds some of the highest-level security clearances as a key defense contractor and his work is integral to ensuring U.S. military superiority. As you are aware, the rocket systems and satellites his companies produce are used across the federal government, including in the Department of Defense, and his Starlink system has been critical in supporting U.S. allies abroad. There are few, if any, private individuals who have done more to advance America’s technological and defense capabilities in modern history. If there is anyone qualified to bring the federal government into the 21st century and improve its efficiency, it is Elon Musk.

Additionally, led by Mr. Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is an essential initiative to reduce wasteful spending, cut bureaucratic red tape, and modernize government technology. On his first day in office, President Trump legally integrated DOGE into the federal government by way of an executive order renaming the U.S. Digital Service as the U.S. DOGE Service (USDS). Fully authorized under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), USDS will enhance government productivity and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. Each executive agency’s DOGE Team works in coordination with agency heads in order to ensure the implementation of President Trump’s DOGE agenda. Treasury Secretary Scott Bissent has already approved DOGE’s lawful access to unclassified records and systems to facilitate this integration.

There is no evidence to support the allegation that Elon Musk or his team has unlawfully accessed or seized the sensitive data. Any access to citizen data is strictly regulated, and the role of DOGE is focused on modernizing outdated systems, not compiling private information. The real threat to Americans’ privacy has come from an unchecked bureaucracy that has mismanaged data security for decades. The reforms proposed by President Trump and implemented by individuals like Mr. Musk are designed to prevent government overreach, not expand it. The current laws protecting the privacy of citizen information have not been revoked and will be strongly enforced.

Additionally, to ensure proper legislative oversight of these efforts, I am proud to serve as a member of the new DOGE Caucus here in Congress. This caucus will work alongside President Trump to introduce reforms that streamline government operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and restore fiscal responsibility in Washington.

I appreciate you reaching out regarding this issue and welcome continued discussion on how Congress is taking proactive steps to strengthen our government’s technological and fiscal responsibility. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if I can be of further assistance. To receive the latest updates from my office, I encourage you to sign up for my e-newsletter at cline.house.gov or like/follow my Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Sincerely,

Ben Cline

Member of Congress