Amidst Democrat accusations that President Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pose a national security risk, Republicans are pointing fingers at what they see as Democratic hypocrisy, citing past immigration and foreign policy decisions.

Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) criticized Democrats for focusing on DOGE while overlooking what he considers to be their own past missteps, such as financial aid to perceived terrorist groups, border security issues, and the withdrawal from Afghanistan. He questioned their authority to critique national security matters given these prior actions.

The Democratic concern, spearheaded by Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), centers around potential exposure of classified information due to Musk and DOGE's activities. They've expressed worry to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles about potential compromises to national security and privacy violations.

Republicans have dismissed these claims, with one Senate GOP leadership aide labeling them "absurd" and comparing them to the "Russia hoax." This aide argued that DOGE's efforts to reduce wasteful spending are being misconstrued as a security threat.

Senator Sheehy expressed gratitude for President Trump, Musk, and DOGE's work to improve government accountability, suggesting Democrats should acknowledge their efforts rather than criticize them. He framed DOGE's actions as cleaning up the Democrats' alleged mess.

Warner's letter to Wiles highlighted the potential risks of unauthorized access to classified data, emphasizing the potential compromise of intelligence sources and methods, both American and those of allies. He warned that a loss of trust in the U.S. to protect sensitive information could lead to decreased intelligence sharing and weakened national security.

This Democratic concern arises amidst controversy surrounding DOGE's restructuring of USAID and other government agencies. Musk has publicly highlighted what he considers wasteful spending and the number of contracts being canceled under his direction.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, countered the Democrats' claims, comparing their reaction to the "Russia collusion hoax" and characterizing it as a dishonest attempt to frighten the public.

A Senate GOP leadership aide affirmed continued Republican support for DOGE's work. However, DOGE's efforts have faced legal challenges, with courts issuing rulings and injunctions that limit the agency's authority, including restrictions on accessing Treasury systems and a restraining order related to USAID.