The only Republican senator who voted to defund DOGE says she isn't scared of 'retribution'
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- Lisa Murkowski isn't worried about political blowback from her DOGE-related critiques.
- "We've got to stop being so anxious and looking over our shoulders," she told The Washington Post.
- Murkowski earlier in March said she'd "stand up" for Alaskans in the face of any primary threats.
Earlier in March, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican in the upper chamber who voted for an amendment to defend the Department of Government Efficiency.
Despite the political pressure that GOP lawmakers face in backing President Donald Trump's agenda, Murkowski in a recent interview told The Washington Post that she isn't afraid of any pushback.
"We've got to stop being so anxious and looking over our shoulders and saying, 'Oh, my gosh, am I going to offend somebody and there's going to be political retribution?'" Murkowski said.
"This is the United States of America," she continued. "Political retribution should not be something that even exists."
Murkowski — who voted to impeach Trump after the January 6, 2021, attack at the US Capitol and won reelection to a fourth term over a Trump-backed GOP challenger — has been able to thrive politically as a moderate Republican in party dominated by the president.
In the interview, Murkowski said she backed Trump's efforts to reduce government spending but was opposed to the more aggressive tactics employed by DOGE, which has rattled Washington and caused uncertainty for the millions of federal workers across the US.
Murkowski said her vote to defund DOGE was a result of concerns that her constituents raised about federal job cuts. The amendment, which was sponsored by Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, failed in a 48-52 vote, as it fell far short of the 60 votes needed to advance.
Still, Murkowski said her critiques of DOGE haven't stopped her from having a working relationship with the Trump administration.
"Everybody has their own approach," she told the newspaper.
During a press conference in Alaska earlier in March, Murkowski said she wouldn't let up on her criticism of DOGE, even as Elon Musk has threatened to fund primary challenges against Republicans who aren't fully onboard with Trump's agenda.
Murkowski isn't up for reelection again until 2028.
"It may be that Elon Musk has decided he's going to take the next billion dollars that he makes off of Starlink and put it directly against Lisa Murkowski," she said at the time. "And you know what? That may happen."
"But I'm not giving up one minute, one opportunity, to try to stand up for Alaskans," she added.