The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has transformed Washington at unprecedented speed during President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office — triggering massive layoffs, deep agency restructurings, and mounting legal challenges.
A Blitz on the Federal Government
Backed by a team of young tech operatives, Musk axed over 100,000 federal workers, including scientists, diplomats, and disaster experts. DOGE stormed into sensitive government systems, slashed budgets, and shut down entire agencies like USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with Musk famously boasting he “fed USAID into the wood chipper.”
Musk’s Rise—and Slow Fade
Appearing alongside Trump and gracing magazine covers, Musk seemed like the second-most powerful figure in Washington. But amid political backlash, Cabinet clashes, and Tesla troubles, Musk recently said his role at DOGE is now “mostly done,” though he’ll stay involved part-time. Still, dozens of his loyalists are now embedded across agencies, poised to carry on the agenda.
Savings Claims Under Scrutiny
While Musk initially promised $2 trillion in savings, his targets have shrunk dramatically — now aiming for around $150 billion. Experts warn DOGE’s reported savings, currently at $160 billion, are wildly inflated and based on creative accounting rather than real spending cuts.
A Growing Political Backlash
Democrats are rallying around opposition to DOGE, likening it to the Tea Party surge of 2010. Town halls across America are flooded with angry citizens questioning cuts to vital services. Even Republican lawmakers face heat, though many still defend Musk’s “progress on spending.”
Crippling Key Agencies
- USAID: 83% of contracts canceled; staff ordered home
- Social Security Administration: Rapid restructuring sowing panic among beneficiaries
- IRS: Forced access to sensitive taxpayer data to aid deportations
- Education Department: Workforce slashed by nearly 50%
- HHS: Cutting 20,000 jobs amid healthcare system strain
Culture of Fear and Chaos
DOGE’s mass firings and threatening emails — like the infamous “What did you do last week?” blast, warning non-responders of automatic resignation — have terrorized federal workers. Agencies now scramble to reoffer “deferred resignations” as uncertainty looms.
Critics Sound Alarm
“There’s never been anything like DOGE in American history,” said government scholar Donald Kettl. “Musk has torn down what took decades to build — and it may take just as long to rebuild.”
The Lawsuits Are Coming
More than 100 lawsuits have already been filed challenging DOGE actions, from agency shutdowns to alleged illegal data access. The courts could ultimately decide how deep and lasting DOGE’s impact will be.
Whether or not Musk fades from the scene, his DOGE experiment has reshaped Washington — and the repercussions are only beginning to unfold.
Article was written originally by CNN.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
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