WASHINGTON – The 2024 elections were marked by division and conflict. Expectations for the next four years aren’t looking much different.

Despite this, there could be occasional points of collaboration between opposing parties.

Following last month’s victory, President-elect Donald Trump and his team are quickly gearing up for another term in office. His controversial Cabinet nominees and the establishment of a new Department of Government Efficiency led by Trump allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have drawn criticism from Democrats and some hesitant Republicans.

However, some Democrats are showing support for certain decisions made by the past and possibly future president as the party strives for influence in a Congress with Republican majorities, albeit a slim majority in the House.

Republican Representatives Elise Stefanik from New York and Lori Chavez-DeRemer from Oregon, along with Senator Marco Rubio from Florida, have garnered some Democratic praise following their nominations by Trump as UN ambassador, labor secretary, and secretary of state, respectively. Other liberal lawmakers have expressed willingness to collaborate with Musk and Ramaswamy’s new department.

“There are always opportunities for bipartisan efforts,” stated Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., who previously worked in Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Cabinet as the state’s emergency management coordinator during the COVID-19 crisis. “Bipartisanship is not a lost cause.”

Senator Elizabeth Warren mentioned that if Musk “aims to reform government contracts to eliminate billions in waste within the Pentagon budget, I’m all for it.”

“Our mission is to serve the American people, and we intend to achieve that,” Warren declared on Thursday. “If that means collaborating with Elon Musk, I’m open to it. If it means contesting him, I’m ready for that as well.”

The Trump transition team did not reply to inquiries regarding potential bipartisanship in the new administration.

Democrats show support for selected nominees

Several of Trump’s appointments have faced criticism, particularly Pete Hegseth, his nominee for secretary of defense. Hegseth is accused of sexual assault and misconduct, alcoholism while on duty, and mismanagement of funds. Former Representative Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., has already withdrawn from consideration for attorney general due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Nonetheless, certain nominees from Trump may have a smoother confirmation process in the Senate if they receive cross-party support.

“I’m receptive to a number of them,” Senator John Fetterman, D-Penn., told YSL News. “Some I might vote against, but there are others I would gladly support.”

He described Stefanik as UN ambassador, Chavez-DeRemer for labor secretary, and Rubio for secretary of state as “solid selections.”

In 2017, many of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, including heads of the Small Business Administration, Homeland Security, and Defense departments, were confirmed with bipartisan support. No Democrat declined to vote for all the nominees.

“I approved several nominees last time who were well-qualified and demonstrated the right character and expertise,” stated Senator Chris Coons, D-Del.

“Currently, Senator Rubio is a colleague I know well from our 14 years of service, and depending on the confirmation hearing outcomes, I’d likely support him,” he added.

Trump selects a labor secretary who supports unions

Warren mentioned in a statement on Tuesday that if Chavez-DeRemer “commits to empowering labor unions and advocating for worker rights as labor secretary, she is a solid candidate for the position.”

Chavez-DeRemer was one of three Republican co-sponsors in the House for the comprehensive pro-union legislation known as the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, aimed at enhancing labor protections for employees wishing to organize and negotiate collectively in their workplaces.

Warren emphasized that this endorsement was significant.

Among the limited Republican supporters of the legislation, one was appointed to head the Department of Labor.

Chavez-DeRemer’s support for unions places her in a somewhat precarious situation: While she might receive backing from Democrats who appreciate her efforts, like Warren, this stance might alienate some cautious Republicans.

“She is aligned with them. She supports unions,” stated Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., in an interview with the Washington Post on Tuesday. “She meets all the criteria for the left.”

Congress Introduces DOGE

After Trump selected Musk and Ramaswamy to oversee the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, both the House and Senate initiated smaller caucuses aimed at promoting government efficiency.

Moskowitz became the first Democrat to join the House Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency Caucus, followed by Representative Greg Landsman, D-Ohio. It’s worth noting that this caucus is not an official committee.

On Wednesday, Moskowitz encouraged his fellow members to get involved.

“Being included allows us to have a voice; if there are positive ideas, we should support them. If there are negative ideas, we need to oppose them,” he expressed to YSL News.

He emphasized that if Republicans genuinely engage with the caucus, it could lead to “substantial results.”

“If we can identify waste and misuse, and manage to save billions while maintaining services for Americans, we ought to support that,” Moskowitz stated. “I doubt there’s a single American who thinks, ‘Hey, the government? It’s flawless, leave it alone.’”

Representative Ro Khanna, D-Calif., indicated in a post on X on Thursday that he is also “prepared to collaborate” with Musk and Ramaswamy, to which Musk responded, “Thank you very much.”

In the Senate, the body’s most vocal progressive expressed his support for the new department’s objectives, particularly regarding a reassessment of the Pentagon’s budget.

“Elon Musk is correct,” Senator Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., shared on X this past Sunday. “The Pentagon, with its budget of $886 billion, has just failed its seventh audit consecutively. It’s lost track of billions. Only 13 senators opposed the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud last year. This has to change.”

Senator Joe Manchin, I-W.V., a former Democrat concluding his time in Congress after deciding against running for a third term, shared with YSL News that he believes bipartisanship can be achievable in the future.

“This is something that should naturally occur more often than it has in the past,” Manchin commented. “Nothing gets accomplished without it.”