The top two Democrats on Capitol Hill announced legislation Tuesday to rein in billionaire Elon Musk, who has launched a campaign to remake the federal government.

“It’s an all hands on deck effort,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, standing beside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

What You Need To Know

  • The top two Democrats on Capitol Hill announced legislation Tuesday to rein in billionaire Elon Musk, who has launched a campaign to remake the federal government

  • President Donald Trump has given Musk enormous latitude, granting him and the staff at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to the offices and computer systems of government agencies

  • Their legislation will likely face a wall of opposition from Republicans, who control both the U.S. House and Senate, but in the weeks ahead, Democrats will likely have an opportunity to force legislative concessions from Republicans
  • In addition to legislative avenues, Jeffries and Schumer argued they have three other levers they can pull to try to counter Trump: oversight, litigation, and shining a light on what the Trump White House is doing in hopes of triggering public outcry

President Donald Trump has given Musk enormous latitude, granting him and the staff at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to the offices and computer systems of government agencies. He has reportedly gained access to a key government payment system at the Treasury Department.

To counter this, Jeffries and Schumer said they will be rolling out legislation to restrict Musk and his associates.

“Nothing screams democracy like having a secret squad of company men pull off a hostile takeover of America’s Social Security and tax information in the dead of night. That is not democracy,” Schumer said.

Their legislation, though, likely will face a wall of opposition from Republicans, who control both the U.S. House and Senate.

In addition to legislative avenues, Jeffries and Schumer argued they have three other levers they can pull to try to counter Trump: oversight, litigation, and shining a light on what the Trump White House is doing in hopes of triggering public outcry.

Jeffries pointed to recent events as an example of the “shining a light” method working, saying, “We saw that last week with respect to the illegal funding freeze that was reversed in less than 40 hours, and we saw it as it relates to the wide-ranging, out-of-control tariff scheme applied to our North American allies.”

Schumer noted that several groups are already pursuing legal action against Trump, and they are assisting and relaying information to them when they can.

Both Schumer and Jeffries have, in recent weeks, been facing increased pressure from rank-and-file Democrats and activists who want to see a more aggressive approach to the White House.

On Tuesday, a group rallied outside Schumer’s office in Manhattan, at one point chanting, “Wake up Chuck.”

“Sen. Schumer should be doing more in D.C. to show that it is unacceptable,” protester Ashley Smith told Spectrum News NY1, referring to Trump’s actions.

In the weeks ahead, Democrats will likely have an opportunity to force legislative concessions from Republicans.

With the government funding deadline looming, there’s a good possibility that Republican leaders will need the votes of Democrats to authorize more spending and prevent a government shutdown.