Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) on Monday compared Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers to young World War II soldiers.
Burchett was pressed by CNN’s Pamela Brown on DOGE’s reported attempt to enter an IRS system, as well as its overall access to data.
“There’s a difference between civil service and checks and balances in place in a small group and politicals who are going in, many of them young staffers who we know nothing about, really … but why don’t you have those questions as a member of the Oversight [and Government Reform] Committee?” Brown said, with Burchett talking over her as she pressed him.
“If a Democratic administration was doing this, would you not be asking questions?” she continued.
“And the questions are being asked ma’am, but I want you to look … Well, those Japanese, those are Japanese rifle, that 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, with these 20-, 22-year-old people, the ones that fight our dadgum wars …” Burchett said, with Brown also trying to get a word in as he spoke.
Burchett’s father was a Marine who served in World War II in the Pacific theater, according to his campaign website.
Some staff members of DOGE just recently left high school or college, some being as young as 18.
On Monday, the White House said tech billionaire Elon Musk is technically not in DOGE, despite the understanding he has been heading up its large cost-cutting efforts.
According to a court filing from White House Office of Administration Director Joshua Fisher, Musk is an employee of the “White House Office” and a senior adviser to the president.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
