The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has signed an executive order aimed at significantly reducing the staff of the public administration. This move also grants more power to the new government efficiency department, referred to as Doge, which operates under the supervision of Elon Musk. The primary responsibility of Doge is to cut public spending.
During a press appearance in the Oval Office of the White House, Trump was accompanied by Musk, who wore a black cap with the acronym Maga, a slogan from Trump’s campaign, ‘Make America Great Again’. Musk was also accompanied by his youngest son, X æ A-XII, whom he affectionately calls X.
Key Objectives of the Executive Order
Musk addressed the press, emphasizing the need to implement “Common sense controls” to reduce unnecessary expenses. He expressed his view that the Federal Administration has become a “fourth non-elected branch”. The executive order instructs federal agencies to collaborate with Doge to reduce personnel and limit hiring, aiming to decrease the size of the federal government significantly.
According to a White House official, the order urges agencies to limit hiring to “essential” positions, prepare for significant template reductions, and restrict the replacement of vacancies after personnel casualties. For every four employees who leave, agencies can only hire one new employee once the current freezing of federal contracting is finished, as stated in a White House document shared with “The Washington Post”. Exceptions will be made for positions related to national security and immigration control.
Actions and Implications of Doge
The actions of Doge, including the dismantling of some US agencies and the expulsion of tens of thousands of officials, have caused concerns and generated chaos. As part of its efforts to reduce expenses, Doge has de facto dismantled the US agency for international development (USAID) and the Office of Financial Protection of the Consumer (CFPB), which was created after the financial crisis of 2008. This has resulted in the closure of offices and uncertainty about the future of its employees.
Musk has faced criticism about his role in the government and possible conflicts of interest, given that six of his companies are under investigations, complaints, or have been subject to regulatory measures by eleven federal agencies. However, Musk has assured journalists that he strives to be as transparent as possible, although he does not intend to make his financial statements public, stating that “Transparency is what generates trust”.
Trump has supported Musk’s position, denying any issues with his role and denouncing the existence of “fraud” and “abuse” in the award of public contracts, as well as “tens of billions of dollars” being wasteful. The executive order and the actions of Doge are part of a broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government and limit public spending.