Scoop: Democrats open whistleblower portal aimed at DOGE

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Axios

7 hours ago


Senate Democrats are launching a new whistleblower portal for public and private workers to dish on how President Trump and DOGE are slashing the federal government.

Why it matters: Democrats hope whistleblowers will expose what they argue are the White House's illegal moves to unilaterally dismantle federal agencies and programs.

Democrats say they want to hear from workers who are witnessing how Trump and Elon Musk have withheld funding and fired federal workers without the approval of Congress.

The effort comes as Trump on Thursday signed an order aimed at shuttering the Education Department, an agency with a $268 billion budget.

The portal, which launches Friday, is spearheaded by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), whose staff on the Senate Budget Committee will conduct oversight of the new tool.

The big picture: Democrats — who hold minorities in both the House and Senate — have little recourse against Trump's efforts to downsize the federal government,

But they have launched an anti-DOGE messaging offensive, betting that a sense Trump has overreach by Trump will be unpopular with voters. Polling has shown voters — especially younger ones — are concerned by DOGE's actions.

And all of the cuts have happened without the approval of Congress, which the Constitution entrusts with the power of the purse. Democrats see the DOGE cuts as an assault on the power of Congress.

"The President is not a king, and we will make sure he is held accountable," Merkley said in a statement.

Zoom out: The public and private sector worker whistleblower mirrors other Democratic initiatives to provide oversight of the Trump administration.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/03/21/democrats-whistleblower-portal-doge

---

Link to Senate Budget Committee Democrats' PRESS RELEASE - Merkley Launches Whistleblower Portal for Public, Private Sector Workers to Report Wrongdoing, Illegal Activity

Link to PORTAL - https://www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-member/whistleblower

[Scrivener7]

1. Excellent! Great idea!!

[mcar]

2. Good idea

[rich7862]

3. It is great idea, but who is left to enforce the Rule of Law.

This is a serious question, is there anyone left to enforce the rule of law?

[cadoman]

10. data from the portal can be used as foundation for criminal referrals

Though those will be dependent on DoJ functioning..

[BadgerMom]

4. Good!

[Karasu]

5. It's all illegal activity. DOGE is not a real department and never went through the process to become one.

[Martin68]

9. True, but we have to establish that in court. It may take time, but it must be done through the constitutional process.

[Cha]

6. Good on the Dems. Many are

Busy behind me scenes while being Bashed.

And I’m Not talking about “constructive criticism “. Either.

[Martin68]

7. Good move. We have to find constitutional means to fight back.

[AmericaUnderSiege]

8. Let's see some enforcement.

Information is all well good, but it doesn't magically manifest into anything other than a more detailed account of the federal government's surrender to the Russian insurgency. Let's see people drawing a line in the sand and protecting it.