This article explores the controversial role of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration. It analyzes the motivations of both Democrats and Republicans in their responses to Musk's influence, highlighting the unusual nature of this bipartisan consensus.
Both Republicans and Democrats have a vested interest in exaggerating the power of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency. Such bipartisanship, if you can call it that, is rare. Musk, with complete control over every payment the federal government makes and access to every bit of data submitted to the IRS, is an ideal target to cast as a villain setting out to dismantle the federal government to enrich himself.
For Republicans, Musk and his DOGE agents are liberators, striking devastating blows against a corrupt and decadent deep state that has escaped democratic accountability for far too long. Videos of government employees crying as DOGE operatives remove LGBTQ flags from the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development are part of a shock and awe strategy. The message to federal bureaucrats everywhere: obey President Donald Trump’s executive orders, or your agency will be next. As unique a figure as the billionaire automotive, media, and astronautics mogul is, Musk’s role in the Trump administration is far from unprecedented, and his DOGE agency isn’t even new. Establishing and Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency simply renamed an existing White House entity called the United States Digital Service, expanded its mission, and directed each federal agency to designate four employees as “DOGE Team” members dedicated to implementing Trump’s agenda. The Digital Service was created by former President Barack Obama in the wake of the debacle of the HealthCare.gov launch. It was tasked with recruiting “tech experts” to come to Washington and “work in collaboration with other government agencies to make websites more consumer-friendly, to identify and fix problems, and to help upgrade the government’s technology infrastructure.” Originally housed in the Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer, by 2016, USDS was reporting to the deputy director of management at the Office of Management and Budget. While some of its staff have always been temporary, the USDS administrator has always been a full-time government employee who did not require confirmation by the Senate. Democrats did not mind this until now. Musk, while functionally in charge of DOGE, is not its “administrator” even though Trump’s executive order does call for the hiring of a “USDS Administrator” and, crucially, requires all agency heads to select DOGE team members in consultation with the holder of that office. It is unclear how long Trump will wait to hire a USDS administrator, but that will probably not come before Musk’s temporary term of no more than 130 days with the Trump administration ends. Musk is designated as a “special government employee,” SGE, a designation that has existed by statute since 1962, and more than 40,000 of them currently serve in the executive branch. By law, they may only serve for 130 days or less in a 365-day period. Some presidents, such as former President Joe Biden, rehired special government employees for a second temporary term. SGE examples from other agencies include specialized victim’s fund attorneys at the Department of Justice, nuclear scientists at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and public outreach specialists at the State Department. Anita Dunn recently served as Biden’s Senior Advisor to the President for Communications as an SGE. Musk is not so much a shadow government puppet master or conquering hero as he is a glorified consultant. Even before Trump was sworn in, members of his transition team were asking Treasury officials for access to the department’s payment system. These requests were denied by acting Treasury Secretary David Lebryk, who was fired once current Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was confirmed by the Senate. Musk pushed for his own pick for treasury secretary, Howard Lutnick, but Trump did not accede to Musk’s advice on that matter. However, Bessent followed Trump’s DOGE executive order, designating four Treasury employees, approved by Musk, to act as DOGE team members within the Treasury. It is these Musk-approved Treasury employees who have since been granted access to the Treasury payment system by Bessent. Contrary to the alarmist tales spread by Democrats and their media allies, there has been no “hacking” involved. However, while Musk has helped recruit DOGE team members throughout the government, it is the agency heads and Trump who ultimately have the authority to hire and fire the employees. On Tuesday, Trump, speaking to reporters, said, “Well, he’s got access only to letting people go that he thinks are no good if we agree with him, and it’s only if we agree with him.” The buyout offered to more than two million federal employees follows a similar pattern. The email to federal employees read like the email Musk sent to Twitter staff when he first took over the company. It even had the same subject line (“A Fork in the Road”)
ELON MUSK DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY DOGE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SPECIAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE SGE US DIGITAL SERVICE USDS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLITICS DEEP STATE
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