Last week, President-elect Trump appointed former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Tesla CEO Elon Musk as co-heads of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This strategic move is designed to address the pressing need for reducing government waste and bureaucracy. With a bold goal to cut $2 to 2.5 trillion from the national budget, DOGE is poised to make significant changes. Musk’s initiative to recruit “small-government revolutionaries” underscores his commitment to streamlining operations, while Ramaswamy’s alleged proposal to “delete” entire government agencies highlights their shared vision for a leaner, more efficient government.
Will the upcoming changes be for the betterment of all citizens? David Pakman chimes in below.
Key Facts (via Forbes)
Pentagon: Ramaswamy suggests prioritizing defense budget cuts, stating the department has “nearly a trillion dollars—they can’t even tell you where it goes.” Musk’s SpaceX reportedly has $3. 6 billion in federal contracts with the agency, but specific cuts are unclear.
Dept of Education: Trump has long advocated for dismantling the Department of Education. Ramaswamy echoed this, stating he expects “mass reductions” and some agencies to be “deleted outright,” as he told Fox News.
Public Broadcasting: Musk and Ramaswamy’s Wall Street Journal op-ed criticized the $535 million annual funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, overseeing PBS and NPR, as “unauthorized” spending not intended by Congress, despite being created and authorized by Congress.
Planned Parenthood: They plan to cut “nearly $300 million to progressive groups like Planned Parenthood,” they wrote in the Journal. Planned Parenthood receives about $50 million annually from the federal government.
They plan to target “$1. 5 billion for grants to international organizations,” though it’s unclear which organizations are included.
IRS: Musk is reportedly targeting the IRS, according to the Wall Street Journal. He hasn’t specified cuts but has discussed tax code simplification on social media. He’s also reportedly in talks with the IRS to create a free tax filing app.
Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice, and Securities and Exchange Commission: Musk hasn’t directly addressed plans for these agencies but is reportedly expected to make cuts, according to the Wall Street Journal.
