(Photo courtesy of The Times) “Trump giving Elon Musk leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency”
Collin Gallagher
Connector Staff
Elon Musk, known for his work in space travel with SpaceX, electric cars with Tesla, and the social media app X (formerly Twitter), has taken on a new challenge, The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In January 2025, recently reelected President Donald Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency, an agency focused with the goal of reducing spending within the federal government. Musk was chosen to lead the department, with a goal of cutting at least $1 trillion from federal expenses by July 4, 2026. His approach has led to major changes, legal challenges, and debates about the future of government programs.
DOGE has identified several areas of government spending it considers not necessary. As a result, some federal agencies have faced these budget cuts. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have been shut down, which has raised some concerns about reduced oversight in financial protection and foreign aid programs.
The Department of Education has also been affected by DOGE, with nearly $1 billion in research funding removed from the Institute of Education Sciences, which collects data on different schools and education programs from across the country. In response, the University of California’s Student Government has filed a lawsuit, claiming that the Department of Education shared private student loan data with DOGE without proper authorization.
Musk has brought in young professionals from tech companies like Musk’s own SpaceX and Palantir to help modernize these government operations. While Musk’s supporters believe this could improve efficiency, others against Musk and the Trump Administration worry about rushed decision-making and potential security risks.
One example of these young professionals involved in DOGE is Marko Elez, a 25-year-old software engineer who was accidentally given access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment system, which manages over $5 trillion in transactions. Although no unauthorized payments occurred, the mistake led to questions about hiring practices and professional oversight within DOGE.
Several states, including California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington, and Oregon, have filed lawsuits against DOGE. These states argue that the department is exceeding its legal authority and bypassing normal procedures for government operations. A federal judge has already placed restrictions on DOGE’s ability to access Treasury Department data, and more legal cases are to be expected.
There has also been discussion about how Musk’s leadership of DOGE could impact his own businesses. There have been concerns from the left about a $400 million government contract awarded to Tesla for armored vehicles, while Musk continues to maintain that his role is focused only on improving efficiency. Analysts are divided on whether his involvement in government will have long-term effects on Tesla, SpaceX, or X (formerly Twitter).
Economists have different opinions on DOGE. Some, like Grover Norquist, believe the agency’s work could lead to significant savings within the government. Others, such as Jessica Riedl and Alex Nowrasteh, argue that targeting certain programs may not address the main sources of government spending. A report by The Economist suggests that DOGE’s efforts have not yet led to any major changes in overall federal spending.
With ongoing lawsuits and continued debate between supporters and critics, the future of DOGE remains uncertain. Supporters believe the department is making much needed changes to reduce waste, while critics worry about the impact on government services and whether the agency has too much power. As the situation develops, the decisions made in the coming months will likely have lasting effects on federal spending and Musk’s role in public policy.
