The Daily Star Ireland
President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk have ambitious plans to streamline the federal government, aiming to cut spending and make operations more efficient. Musk, who leads several major companies, has warned that this overhaul—expected to reduce federal spending by at least $2 trillion—may cause “temporary hardship” but would ultimately foster “long-term prosperity.” Budget experts have voiced skepticism over the feasibility of such large cuts, sparking concerns among federal employees and those who depend on government programs.
Trump’s plan includes the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), co-led by Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, though specific details about its structure and scope are still scarce. Trump and congressional Republicans have pointed to numerous areas they wish to reform, with Musk and Ramaswamy openly supporting changes in various sectors of the government.
While Musk and Ramaswamy are not empowered to make direct spending cuts or regulatory changes, they are expected to provide recommendations that could influence Trump’s annual budget proposal to Congress, though Congress is not obligated to follow it. Musk has called for scrutinizing each federal expense, saying “everyone’s taking a haircut here” to achieve financial sustainability. He also singled out the Department of Education, criticizing its handling of education, but stopped short of suggesting its elimination.
Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate, has proposed more drastic measures, including reducing the federal workforce by up to 75%. This would impact the 2.3 million federal employees, nearly 60% of whom work in departments related to defense, veterans’ services, and homeland security. His plan also suggests dismantling certain agencies like the Department of Education and the FBI, with responsibilities to be reassigned to other departments.
According to Trump adviser Stephen Moore, DOGE will need a substantial team to achieve these goals, though the effort has faced doubts from budget experts. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and former Council of Economic Advisers chair Glenn Hubbard have both expressed skepticism that cutting $2 trillion annually is realistic. The federal budget in 2024 totaled approximately $6.8 trillion, meaning a reduction of $2 trillion would require cuts across nearly all programs. As Bobby Kogan from the Center for American Progress noted, achieving such cuts would require significant reductions in programs such as defense, food assistance, and infrastructure spending, a plan he calls “impossible” without severe consequences.
Musk and Ramaswamy’s effort has been likened to past government efficiency initiatives, such as the Grace Commission under President Reagan, which made thousands of recommendations, most of which were not implemented. Legal experts also warn that the DOGE initiative may face transparency issues. Federal law, specifically the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), mandates openness for advisory commissions, including public meetings and balanced viewpoints among members. Trump’s past commissions faced legal challenges under this law, and experts argue that if DOGE operates as an advisory body to the president, it would likely be subject to similar requirements.
The Trump team has not clarified if they believe DOGE will be subject to FACA. However, legal experts suggest that if Musk and Ramaswamy move forward with plans to lead it, adherence to FACA’s transparency and viewpoint diversity requirements will likely be necessary.
