Elon Musk is rapidly consolidatng control over large swaths of the federal government with President Donald Trump’s blessing, sidelining career officials, gaining access to sensitive databases and dismantling a leading source of humanitarian assistance.
The speed and scope of his work has been nothing short of stunning. Just weeks after taking office, the world’s richest man has created an alternative structure inside the federal government to cut spending and push out employees without congressional approval. This invites constitutional clashes over the limits of presidential authority.
According to the Associated Press, Musk has been named as a special government employee, which subjects him to less stringent rules on ethics and financial disclosures than other workers.
Trump has granted Musk office space within the White House complex to oversee the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department has representatives dispersed throughout federal agencies, executing orders. Some of these representatives have been seen at the Department of Education, which Trump aims to abolish.
Republicans defend Musk, arguing he is merely executing Trump’s agenda. Trump has expressed confidence, claiming, "Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval," dismissing concerns over potential conflicts of interest.
Democrats, on the other hand, have characterized Musk's actions as leading a coup from within. “We will do everything we can to stop this outrage,” stated Senate Democrat Chris Van Hollen.
The apex of Musk’s agenda was exemplified when he reportedly closed down the main office of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), blocking employees from accessing computer systems as part of his push to shut the agency down, claiming, "It’s not an apple with a worm in it. What we have is just a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing; it’s beyond repair."
Meanwhile, reports indicate DOGE has also gained access to the Treasury Department's payment systems, which processes trillions of dollars yearly. Richard Gregg, a former Treasury official, stated, "No one outside of the staff doing the work ever asked to have access to the payment files." This entails sensitive information including payouts for Social Security and Medicare.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer labeled the situation alarming, arguing, “Before our very eyes, an unelected shadow government is conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government.” Concerns were exacerbated about the legality of Musk and his team's access to classified information at USAID.
Critics have noted the fundamental issues with DOGE, asserting it operates without certain regulatory structures typically applied to government entities. Lawsuits have started pouring through the courts, claiming DOGE acts unlawfully, without meeting the transparency expected of federally affiliated entities.
Keya Chatterjee, executive director of Free DC, summarized the sentiment growing among federal employees, exclaiming, “This has gone beyond the pale. This is out of control.”
Despite the turmoil, Musk continues to assert the positive outcomes he envisions. He has pledged to slash government expenditure by $2 trillion and eliminate inefficiencies across federal agencies, hinting at significant layoffs.
Public figures remain skeptical of Musk's motives; Richard Painter, former White House ethics lawyer, commented on the potential conflicts of interest due to Musk's extensive business engagements across various industries.
Norm Eisen, representing unions and advocacy groups, stated, “You can’t have my data. You can’t have my spouse’s data. You can’t have my kid’s data. That information is too precious.” His comments came as part of broader legal challenges against DOGE.
With this tumultuous intersection of government and big business, the story surrounding DOGE is still at its infancy. The next steps will tell whether Musk’s ambitious plans can withstand the scrutiny and legal challenges they face. Only time will reveal Musk's ultimate influence over the federal government and its myriad operations.