Virginia state Delegate Joshua Cole has come under fire for using a Holocaust-related quote during an attack on Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cost-saving initiatives. During an emergency hearing about DOGE’s impact on Virginia, Cole compared the job losses and cuts to the Nazi attack on the Jews, sparking outrage from local leaders and top Republicans.
The comparison drew criticism from Virginia House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert and Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, with calls for Cole to apologize to Virginians and Holocaust survivors. Critics also noted that Cole had misquoted Rev. Martin Niemöller in his speech.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has unveiled a plan to mitigate the potential impact of the DOGE cuts on the state, given that Virginia is home to around 145,000 federal workers. Youngkin’s plan includes resources for displaced workers to find new employment, and his efforts come ahead of an off-year gubernatorial election in November.
Although Cole did not respond to requests for comment, his concerns over the impact of the DOGE cuts on federal workers in his district were apparent during the hearing. The comparison to the Holocaust continues to draw backlash, with many condemning the use of such a historical tragedy to criticize cost-cutting initiatives within the federal government.
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