In a rousing speech, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut has declared the US is in a “constitutional crisis” following employees being locked out of USAID offices. The senator bemoaned what he branded the weakening of the nation and attacked Elon Musk‘s involvement in domestic affairs.
Senator Chris Murphy is well-known for his passionate stance on gun control and pro-choice opinions. It’s therefore hardly a surprise that he was outraged when President Trump shut United States Agency for International Development (USAID) staff out of their own office. To a gathered crowd, he promises to use every power in the US Senate to oppose Trump’s actions.
With passionate hand gestures and to the crowd’s approval, Senator Murphy declares that, “This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today. Let’s call it what it is.” He then goes on to advocate that, following democratic principles, it should be the United States people who should decide how to defend the country and where their taxes go. Then, he takes aim at the new Administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk. “Elon Musk does not get to decide,” Murphy declares.
The reality is, however, that Elon Musk is showing no signs of reducing his involvement in both domestic and overseas political affairs. After targeting over two million federal employees with a resignation email, he has turned his sights on USAID. Of course, the likely reduction in humanitarian aid if USAID were to shut down could be catastrophic. But with Trump’s continued focus on domestic issues above all else, his administration may consider that an acceptable sacrifice.
Senator Murphy, however, believes that what he considers the undermining of the Constitution jeopardizes the US’s security. He suggests that the US is “weaker today than [it was] yesterday.” He then goes on to list countries that may take advantage of this weakness. “China sees that, Russia sees that, and they will take advantage.” He then goes on to implore that everyone “raise our voices” to address the crisis.
As a commenter on Reddit pointed out, however, Trump and Musk’s actions aren’t “some coup happening to an unwilling America.” If anything, Trump has done exactly what he promised to do, albeit at a pace that few could’ve predicted. We may have to accept that, for the time being, every day will bring new turmoil and controversy.
