Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) strongly criticized Elon Musk in her latest remarks, calling him a “billionaire con man with a lot of money” during a House Energy and Commerce hearing on Feb. 25. Ocasio-Cortez slammed Musk's growing influence over federal agencies and the impact of recent government disruptions on medical research.
Concerns Over Medical Research Disruptions
During the hearing, Ocasio-Cortez pointed out how the layoffs of public employees and funding cuts have left researchers and patients in limbo. She argued that medical research is not something that can simply be paused and restarted without serious consequences.
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"We’ve got folks in these systems—researchers, people who support this research—that have just been laid off. People with medical devices, experimental medical devices implanted in their body, that have been abandoned due to this reckless idea that we can just come in and lay off dozens of public servants as though their work does not matter," she said.
She said that setbacks in medical research could delay life-saving treatments for months or even years. The amendment she pushed for in the hearing was meant to assess the impact of these disruptions, not to request additional funding or major structural changes.
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But her criticism wasn't just about the cuts—she took direct aim at Musk's involvement in government affairs.
"Elon Musk is not a scientist. He is not an engineer. He is a billionaire con man with a lot of money," she said, questioning his qualifications to make decisions about medical research and biomedical devices. "If you all think that he is an expert in that, I've got a bridge to nowhere to sell you."
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Her comments follow remarks she made earlier in February, where she called Musk "one of the most unintelligent billionaires I have ever met or seen or witnessed." During a live Instagram video, she expressed concerns about his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency and its reach into federal agencies, including the Treasury Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
"This dude is not smart, and the danger in the lack of intelligence and the lack of expertise that Elon has—I mean, this guy is one of the most morally vacant, but also just least knowledgeable about these systems that we know of," she said.
One of her biggest concerns has been DOGE's access to the Treasury Department's federal payment system, which handles $6 trillion annually in government funds, including Social Security and Medicare payments. Despite pushback from employees, Musk's agency was given access to the system, raising alarms among Democrats.
Ocasio-Cortez also criticized DOGE for placing unqualified individuals, including 19-year-olds, in high-ranking government positions.
DOGE officials say they are making sure government spending follows the Trump administration's plans. But Ocasio-Cortez and others worry that important money and policy decisions are now being made by people who don't have the right experience, which could cause serious problems.
As Musk continues to expand his role in government, Ocasio-Cortez remains one of his most vocal critics, warning that his influence could have far-reaching effects on public services and scientific progress.
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