President-elect Donald Trump has entrusted Elon Musk with a task that many within the White House have struggled to accomplish: streamlining the federal workforce and enhancing government efficiency.

This week, Trump announced that billionaire Elon Musk, alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Government Operations Efficiency Board (DOGE). Trump expects the two to spearhead a "radical transformation" akin to the Manhattan Project, the U.S. government's initiative to develop the atomic bomb during World War II.

According to Trump, under the leadership of Musk and Ramaswamy, DOGE will undertake "large-scale reductions and efficiency improvements" across the U.S. government's bloated bureaucracies.

As an advisory body not part of the Cabinet, DOGE is expected to "provide recommendations and external guidance" for system streamlining, regulatory reduction, budget cuts, and federal agency restructuring. Trump envisions completing this mission by July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of America's independence.

Trump has tasked Musk with reforming the government in ways previous administrations could not, aiming to reduce inefficiency and boost productivity.

President-elect Donald Trump announced this week that American billionaire Elon Musk, along with businessman and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, would lead the Government Operations Efficiency Board (DOGE). Trump expects them to drive "a transformation comparable to the Manhattan Project," the WWII initiative to develop the atomic bomb.

Trump has said that DOGE will bring about "significant reductions and efficiency improvements in America's bloated government agencies." The board will offer external recommendations to streamline operations, reduce regulations, cut government spending, and restructure federal agencies, with a target completion date of July 4, 2026.

The president-elect wants to eliminate the Department of Education and return greater control of educational matters to state governments. He also seeks to dismantle what he calls the "deep state," referring to federal employees allegedly advancing hidden agendas.

Both Trump and Musk have hinted at drastically cutting the size of the federal government workforce. However, under the U.S. Constitution, Congress controls the federal budget and has the authority to approve or reject recommendations from external bodies like DOGE.

Musk has stated that DOGE will operate transparently by publishing its activities for public input. "If the public thinks we're cutting the wrong things or missing areas of waste, let us know," he posted on X.

Musk also suggested creating a list of "stupid expenditures" to eliminate, noting that this would be "highly entertaining."

Ramaswamy announced on November 12 that the board would soon begin "crowdsourcing" evidence of government waste and allegations of fraud.

However, questions remain about how Musk and Ramaswamy will lead DOGE. The board currently has no staff and no clear budget. It is unclear whether their efforts will be privately funded or paid for by taxpayers. Additionally, there is uncertainty about how many staffers DOGE will have and how they will be compensated. Experts within federal agencies emphasize that successful past reforms relied on input from agency insiders who understood how to maintain essential functions while implementing cuts.

Skepticism has arisen regarding the effectiveness of a board led by two businessmen, especially concerning potential conflicts of interest. Musk's companies have extensive dealings with the U.S. government, including contracts for rocket and space operations with NASA and the Pentagon.

Musk has also had contentious dealings with federal regulators. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined SpaceX for pollution near a Texas launch site. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Tesla's autopilot feature. Musk has also faced disputes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Ramaswamy, founder of Roivant Sciences, has accused the FDA of corruption, stating that "numerous FDA regulations and actions are hypocritical, harmful, and unconstitutional."

"Working for the government requires prioritizing public interest," said Max Stier, CEO of the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service. "Conflicts of interest can undermine that mission. This is especially true for someone like Elon Musk, who holds extensive financial stakes."

Musk has frequently voiced frustration with the U.S. government, often airing grievances on social media. "The world slows down due to overregulation. Each year, the noose tightens, and eventually, we must eliminate layers of suffocating rules that serve no public interest," Musk posted on X.

However, some advocacy groups disagree. "We all rely on regulations to protect air, water, workers, child safety, and more. Reducing red tape is shorthand for stripping away protections, benefiting corporations," said Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group.

Efforts to streamline government are not new. President Ronald Reagan pledged to "drain the swamp" in Washington and, in 1982, appointed chemical company CEO J. Peter Grace to lead a council examining ways to make the government more efficient. The Grace Commission proposed measures that it claimed would save $300 billion over three years, although other estimates suggested savings were closer to one-third of that amount.

A decade later, President Clinton launched the National Performance Review to overhaul government operations. From 1993 to 2000, this initiative cut 426,200 federal jobs and saved taxpayers $136 billion.

Elaine C. Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who led performance initiatives under Clinton, emphasized the need for thoughtful reform that maintains critical programs while increasing efficiency. "You can't make sweeping changes without upsetting some people. The sooner leaders recognize that, the wiser their future actions will be," she said.

Kamarck also stressed the importance of involving career civil servants in reform efforts, noting that they have the best understanding of what works and what does not within government agencies.

(According to Reuters, LA Times)

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