Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) defended the “Department of Government Efficiency” on Tuesday, even after the organization helmed by Elon Musk laid off hundreds of federal workers in his state.
Musk and his DOGE – which the White House says he does not lead, though a spokesperson declined to say who does – have initiated legally dubious staff cuts and spending freezes at several government departments, prompting lawsuits and confusion.
The U.S. Forest Service alone will see its workforce reduced by thousands, which includes 360 federal employees in Montana.
Zinke appeared on NewsNation and defended DOGE’s actions when pressed by host Blake Berman.
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Berman began. “You’re among the many that believe that DOGE needs to look into government spending, peel it back, let’s trim back. But I wonder how it works when you see those headlines in your own community with your constituents losing their jobs. What’s the balance?
“Well, I got a couple things,” Zinke responded. “One is the concern was the seasonal workers coming up, fire season obviously is a concern. And in parks this summer season, they get a lot bigger. So, you look at the seasonal – those have been exempt. And the last hiring, and what do they get hired for? Four years ago, what the hiring looked like was thousands of people hired for old growth regulation. Looking at that, probably. So, I think it’s fair to look at it. They were last year’s, you know, probationary. But the bottom line is this. If the job is important, you’ll keep it. If the job is on the line, it’ll be looked at. And if the job isn’t necessary, it’ll be cut.”
Berman took another crack at his guest.
“With hundreds, though, in your community potentially losing their jobs, how does that impact your neighbors and those who live around you?” he asked.
“Well, you know, again, what do they do? Zinke answered. “Is the job critical? And where’s the government at? What was that job? Should it be reorganized?”
Zinke concluded that the parks will be adequately staffed once peak season begins.
Watch above via NewsNation.
