A Controversial Undertaking

Elon Musk, the world's richest man and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been making waves since his appointment by President Trump. However, a new report sheds light on the controversial beginnings of DOGE and its aggressive approach to downsizing the federal government.

According to the New York Times, Musk and his team of young computer engineers only began formulating their plan in earnest after Trump's 2024 election victory. Prior to that, their efforts were described as "throwing spaghetti against the wall." The group, which included billionaire Howard Lutnick and healthcare entrepreneur Brad Smith, faced the challenge of determining a legal structure for achieving their goals.

Smith reportedly had to educate Musk on basic budgeting and civics, as the tech mogul preferred to surround himself with his own loyalists. Musk also clashed with Smith over the need for legal expertise, reportedly wanting to bypass legal processes and dismantle the federal government swiftly.

Despite initial plans for DOGE to operate as an independent entity, Musk ultimately became a presidential advisor and "special government employee," shielding him from public records requests. This arrangement allowed DOGE to take over the US Digital Service, an agency created to modernize federal government agencies.

Musk's tenure has been marked by aggressive tactics, including layoffs, demands for job justifications, and access to sensitive federal databases. He has also overseen the near-shuttering of USAID, a development and influence agency, and admitted to temporarily halting an Ebola prevention program.

Musk's goal is to reduce the federal workforce by 75%, a move that has drawn criticism and concerns about the potential impact on government services and national security. The Independent has reached out to Musk and DOGE for comment.