Democratic Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a purple-haired member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is one of the most powerful lawmakers in Washington and now a foe of Elon Musk.
DeLauro is the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, considered one of the most important committees on Capitol Hill, and she also serves on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, among other responsibilities.
As the top Democrat on the appropriations committee, she is likely to use her influence over the federal budget to resist or otherwise obstruct President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to downsize the federal government with the help of Musk, fellow billionaire businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and the rest of the incoming administration.
DeLauro, who has been in Congress since 1991 and is now 81 years old, went viral Thursday for her remarks from the House floor, during which she said that Republicans killed a deal to avoid a government shutdown simply because “President Musk” told them to do so.