(The Center Square) – A practicing physician in Congress from North Carolina, where four of six branches of the armed forces are represented, says the newly created efficiency department of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy has a chance to help America’s veterans.
U.S. Rep. Dr. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., said, “We need DOGE to make sure VA funding goes toward high-quality care for our vets, not needless bureaucracy.” He shared the assessment after appearing on the Fox Business television show Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street.
Musk and Ramaswamy are coleaders for President-elect Donald Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency. Trump will be sworn in Jan. 20 and the department, expected to dissolve itself on the occasion of the America’s 250th birthday on or before July 4, 2026, is already getting assisting suggestions before implementation.
Murphy is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives’ committees for Administration, Veterans Affairs, and Ways and Means. The practicing urologist is on subcommittees for health in the panels for VA and Ways and Means, and for oversight on the Administration Committee.
He was virtually unchallenged to retain his 3rd Congressional District seat three weeks ago. Murphy represents a state with five key military bases, a military ocean terminal and a U.S. Coast Guard base.
“The VA keeps asking for more and more,” Murphy said to Bartiromo. “We spend five times more per patient at the VA than they do in the British health care system, not that that is something perfect to compare it to, but if you look at the amount of waste that goes in, I am absolutely thrilled and excited for Elon Musk and Vivek to get in there and see how we can trim back government.
“Make it efficient, make it something the taxpayers can be proud of. We have too many agencies where it has just grown, grown, grown without any check. Looking forward to actually bringing that back.”
Additionally, Murphy leads the doctors caucus and figures to be involved with two other key members of Trump’s administration. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the nomination for secretary of Health and Human Services; Dr. Mehmet Oz is nominated to lead as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Murphy said each fits an overarching theme.
“I think President Trump has made a theme of picking disruptors, people who will question what has gone on,” Murphy said. “From what RFK and a lot of his views are, I don’t necessarily agree with some of them. But I look forward to conversations.
“The same thing with Dr. Oz – I look forward to conversations on how we can improve things.”
Murphy said even if someone doesn’t feel things have gone right for 50 years, having objective conversations – even hard ones – will generate results.
“We’re going to have good conversations, maybe even hard conversations about how HHS moves forward and what we believe,” meaning the doctor’s caucus, Murphy said, “is right for the health and welfare of our country. But I think it’s all together fine to bring somebody in to shake things up.”
