Scoop: Democrats open whistleblower portal aimed at DOGE

• Democrats say they want to hear from workers who are witnessing how Trump and Elon Musk have withheld funding and fired federal workers without the approval of Congress.
• The effort comes as Trump on Thursday signed an order aimed at shuttering the Education Department, an agency with a $268 billion budget.
• The portal, which launches Friday, is spearheaded by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), whose staff on the Senate Budget Committee will conduct oversight of the new tool.

The big picture: Democrats — who hold minorities in both the House and Senate — have little recourse against Trump's efforts to downsize the federal government,

• But they have launched an anti-DOGE messaging offensive, betting that a sense Trump has overreach by Trump will be unpopular with voters. Polling has shown voters — especially younger ones — are concerned by DOGE's actions.
• And all of the cuts have happened without the approval of Congress, which the Constitution entrusts with the power of the purse. Democrats see the DOGE cuts as an assault on the power of Congress.

• "The President is not a king, and we will make sure he is held accountable," Merkley said in a statement.

Zoom out: The public and private sector worker whistleblower mirrors other Democratic initiatives to provide oversight of the Trump administration.

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) earlier this year launched a portal for whistleblowers to report abuse of power under Trump.
• Democrats have also highlighted whistleblower reports that allege FBI Director Kash Patel directed the purge of career officials at the bureau.