Elon Musk made a notable appearance at the White House on Tuesday, standing alongside President Donald Trump to advocate for significant reductions across the federal government. This push comes amid rising concerns about the consolidation of power without adequate transparency or accountability.
In the Oval Office, Musk, accompanied by his four-year-old son, received praise from Trump for his role in the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The President signed an executive order enhancing Musk’s authority, requiring DOGE approval for nearly all new federal hires, further streamlining the federal workforce.
Dressed in a “Make America Great Again” cap, Musk characterized the efforts of DOGE as “common sense” and denied any notions of being “draconian or radical.” He criticized the federal bureaucracy, labeling it an “unelected” fourth branch of government that wields more power than elected officials. “The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what they are going to get,” he asserted, emphasizing the democratic mandate for change.
However, concerns have intensified regarding the administration’s apparent moves to limit independent oversight. This unease was heightened by the recent dismissal of the inspector general for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), who had raised alarms about monitoring $8.2 billion in humanitarian aid following DOGE’s restructuring.
Musk claimed that DOGE’s initiatives were transparent and accessible via its website and on X, the social media platform he owns. Yet, critics pointed out that the website lacked substantive information, and posts on X failed to detail specific program cuts or the extent of DOGE’s authority.
When questioned about previous claims, including an erroneous statement regarding U.S. spending on humanitarian aid, Musk admitted to occasional inaccuracies. “Some of the things that I say will be incorrect and should be corrected. So nobody can bat 1,000,” he remarked.
As CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has significant contracts with the Pentagon and intelligence agencies, leading critics to express concerns that DOGE may grant him access to sensitive payment systems within the U.S. Treasury.
The push for mass layoffs is part of a broader strategy following an unsuccessful attempt by the Trump administration to persuade federal employees to accept buyout offers, which a federal judge blocked. On Tuesday, both Trump and Musk criticized federal judges, questioning the judiciary’s independence. Musk claimed on X that the nation is facing a “judicial coup,” while Trump attributed the slowdown of his agenda to “highly political judges.”
“We want to weed out the corruption. And it seems hard to believe that a judge could say we don’t want you to do that,” Trump asserted. “So maybe we have to look at the judges.”
