A HOSTILE TAKEOVER

A HOSTILE TAKEOVER

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2025)] [House] [Pages H509-H510] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] A HOSTILE TAKEOVER The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) for 5 minutes. Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Madam Speaker, today is February 6. It is my 80th birthday, and I should be celebrating, but you know what? I am mourning. You know why? Because Elon Musk, an unelected billionaire donor, has mounted a hostile takeover of the Federal Government. It is an astonishing display of corruption: A billionaire CEO who is not confirmed, who is accountable to no one, and who donated millions to Donald Trump's election campaign is now in charge of the Treasury Department's payment system. He is doing what vulture capitalists have done to American businesses across the country. They come in, do a hostile takeover, strip a company of its parts, and layoff a third of the hardworking people who make the company run. But you know what the difference is? This company is the United States of America. The parts that he is stripping out are our private information. They are attempting to dismiss committed workers who make this country run, and they are ripping the American people off in the process. Donald Trump is cosigning all of it. The richest man in the world now has access to the personal information and financial information of millions of Americans, including Social Security numbers and bank account details. This unprecedented breach of public trust puts countless Americans at risk of identity theft, financial fraud, and political retaliation. Handing over such sensitive information to a reckless billionaire with a history of self-serving business dealings and foreign interests is not just irresponsible, it is dangerous. He is attempting to dismantle the systems within the Federal Government for several reasons. First, contrary to the image he has worked to cultivate, he is not a competent manager. He does not understand how many government organizations function or the important role they play in supporting the United States and its citizens. Rather than learn, he is choosing to break them like a frustrated and impatient child. Second, he sees an opportunity to make more money. His companies already receive billions in government contracts by taking control of key parts of the Federal system. He can steer more taxpayer money into his pockets. Last is ideological. He was born and raised in South Africa under the apartheid system, and he is a white supremacist. He elevates the opinions of neo-Nazis on his social media platform. He proudly gave a Nazi salute at a rally earlier this year. He does not want the government to work for or answer to anyone who is not a straight, rich, White man. Since the moment my office opened Monday morning and continuing, my constituents have been calling my office understandably furious at this naked display of corruption. I share in their outrage. This is an outrageous thing we are witnessing. My congressional colleagues and I have been in discussions over the past [[Page H510]] few days about what we can do to fight back. I am fully committed to using every tool at my disposal to resist this egregious, un-American, and unconstitutional overreach. To those listening, call your Representatives and tell them how you feel about this out-of-touch billionaire reaching his hands into your private information. To the civil servant employees who work every day to keep the government running, I ask you to stand your ground. Tell those minions of the unelected billionaire donor that you don't work for them; you work for the American people. When they demand access, tell them no. When they tell you that you are dismissed, tell them to speak to your union rep because you are not leaving until you hear from them. Stand up, American people. Stand up for your families and protect your rights. To my Republican colleagues, aren't there at least three who believe in America? THE SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair and not to a perceived viewing audience. ____________________