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CNN
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Republican lawmakers in Congress are openly asserting their alignment with President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk in their initiatives to reduce the federal workforce.

However, beneath this surface unity, concerns are surfacing among some GOP representatives regarding efforts to undermine Congress’ financial oversight. Many are receiving a significant influx of calls from anxious constituents and federal employees seeking clarity.

Some lawmakers are actively exploring what a potential resistance movement could look like in the event of another Trump administration.

Republican Rep. Don Bacon from Nebraska, an advocate for auditing the federal government, has urged the Trump administration to meticulously review funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development and to safeguard programs that are critical to the nation’s security.

“Rather than eliminating everything outright, we should take a selective approach,” Bacon remarked. “Let’s avoid throwing out the valuable alongside the unnecessary.”

While Bacon supports the closure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a recent action taken by the administration to close the agency, he maintains that Trump should not bypass Congress.

“Congress must align with the administration’s plan, or it must be revised. We are bound by law,” Bacon emphasized. “We have to adhere to legal guidelines. If reallocations are necessary, they should be handled constitutionally.”

With an impending government funding deadline next month, congressional appropriators see this as a vital chance to advocate for the continuation of programs they deem essential, even while compliance with the administration’s cuts occurs. GOP Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, who chairs the House subcommittee overseeing USAID funding, insists that Congress must maintain its critical role.

“We hold the power of the purse, and I defend that power fiercely,” he stated in an interview with CNN.

GOP Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa has been reaching out to the White House and pertinent agencies to represent his constituents, many of whom are federal workers.

“The challenges with federal bureaucracy are predominantly located in the national capital area,” Nunn mentioned about his conversations with the Trump administration. “In Iowa, we primarily have frontline workers who are dedicated to serving our communities.”

Some Republicans are taking a proactive stance by holding private meetings with representatives from the largest federal employees’ union, including GOP Reps. Pete Stauber of Minnesota and Pete Sessions of Texas.

Stauber, a former police officer, expressed to CNN his support for enhancing governmental efficiency while recognizing the valuable contributions of its workforce.

“I will not criticize federal employees; I have been one myself,” he commented. “I know many capable and dedicated workers. Yet, we can strive for greater efficiency—that is the goal.”

Sessions is co-leading a caucus that endorses Elon Musk’s initiative for governmental efficiency and generally backs the cuts. However, he plans to tell federal employees during an upcoming meeting: “I might have approached it differently.”

GOP Rep. Blake Moore of Utah is making efforts to connect with federal employees by inviting their concerns during a recent town hall in his district.

“We need to improve our approaches to engaging with them rather than demonizing them,” Moore remarked regarding his communication with constituents.

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, a former doctor, has been discussing the potential impacts of proposed NIH budget cuts with local universities, emphasizing how these reductions could severely restrict their research capabilities.

“I am actively conversing with individuals back in my state, and it’s a pressing issue,” Cassidy stated.

Although he has not disclosed specific next steps, he added, “In general, I prefer to understand issues thoroughly before making suggestions.”

Numerous Republicans are still uncertain about the specific changes being implemented and are utilizing informal channels to seek clarity before taking further action.

“We are attempting to obtain answers for the public and ourselves,” GOP Rep. Andrew Garbarino shared with CNN.

Concurrently, GOP Sen. Susan Collins from Maine has openly opposed various cuts proposed by Trump and Musk. She criticized the administration’s attempt to freeze federal funding, which was later rescinded, and released a public statement advocating against the NIH cuts. Collins also noted that she spoke with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has promised to “re-evaluate” the initiative once confirmed as head of the Department of Health and Human Services.

As individual lawmakers take their stands, Republican leaders continue to express support for the president. House Speaker Mike Johnson recently evaded questions regarding Trump’s authority to close federal agencies without congressional approval, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested that the judiciary would play a crucial role in resolving any conflicts between the executive and legislative branches.

The majority of Republicans appear to align with their leaders regarding Trump and Musk’s strategies, demonstrating the party’s unified front behind the president, even when his actions directly challenge congressional authority.

“I’m not a legal expert. My background is in aviation,” stated GOP Rep. Jack Bergman of Michigan, when asked about Trump’s unilateral agency closures. “If you want aviation expertise, I’m your guy. But as for legal matters, I leave that to the attorneys.”

Despite a significant portion of the federal workforce being based in the D.C. metropolitan area, data from the Office of Personnel Management indicates that approximately 80 percent of federal employees work in various locations across the country.

This means that the administration’s recent offers urging federal employees to resign and receive pay through September, along with funding freezes or reorganization efforts, vividly impact those outside of the D.C. area.

“If a Democratic administration were doing the same things, there would be widespread outrage,” a Republican lawmaker commented to CNN. “We need to be cautious of the precedent we are establishing.”

The president built his campaign around reducing the federal government’s size, and Republicans maintain that the current actions reflect his campaign commitments.

GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans, representing over 30,000 federal employees in her Virginia district, shared that she has not observed offers for deferred resignations, urging her constituents to remain patient.

“Everyone should take a moment to breathe. While there’s a lot of change happening right now, it’s the transition that the American public voted for in November. If anyone has specific questions, please reach out,” Kiggans advised.

GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, with close to 15,000 civilian federal workers in his California district, expressed that his constituents are urging Republicans to confront the $35 trillion national debt.

“They expect us to tackle this, and we are doing just that, with the president leading the charge,” Issa noted. “My constituents, who are also taxpayers, want better service in their federal agencies.”

A representative from a federal employee union indicated they are urging Republican lawmakers to operate discreetly in favor of their interests: “We want them to publicly advocate for us, but we understand their position with President Trump. I believe they will work behind the scenes to dissuade Speaker Johnson from certain actions.”

Ruark Hotopp, national vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees, has encouraged unionized federal workers to contact every congressional office in the Midwest region that he represents. He arranged for union members to meet with various lawmakers this week, stating that Republican offices tend to be sympathetic, but only to an extent.

“Our question for them is—what steps will you take? Currently, their response seems to be insufficient,” Hotopp concluded.

CNN’s Morgan Rimmer and Haley Talbot contributed to this report.