Co-president Elon Musk now has extra energy, due to an order signed by President Donald Trump, and it looks like he’s going to make use of it to enact additional federal spending cuts.
The “special government employee” was given extra jurisdiction by his second in command, who signed an government order on Tuesday that successfully compels federal companies to collaborate with Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity.
Underscoring his help for Musk’s plans to chop spending, the government order has particular directions that direct federal company heads to “coordinate and consult with DOGE to shrink the size of the federal workforce and limit hiring to essential positions.” Every company can even be restricted to hiring for so-called “essential positions,” based on a abstract of the decree. (There are some exceptions for organizations reminiscent of immigration enforcement, legislation enforcement, and public security.)
As well as, the order mentioned federal companies can solely rehire a most of a single employee for each 4 individuals who depart. That is all part of DOGE’s “workplace optimization initiative,” which is jargon for bulldozing the bureaucratic equipment in MAGA’s picture.
Contemplating Musk’s unpopularity and the truth that about half of Individuals don’t need him concerned in spending choices, it’s considerably shocking that Trump continues to raise Musk’s political affect and is absolutely behind the mega-billionaire efforts to chop crimson tape. To date, that’s already included mainly shuttering the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth and limiting hiring.
However these strikes haven’t come with out consequence: DOGE is going through a number of lawsuits from labor unions and Democratic state attorneys basic for doubtlessly operating afoul of the legislation. In spite of everything, they will’t shut down federal companies with out first in search of congressional approval.
That most likely gained’t cease the duo from attempting, although. That’s very true for Musk, who was simply given extra management over “reducing the unnecessary footprint of government.” However as Day by day Kos has reported extensively, his plans to date have been short-sighted and will have lethal penalties.
Notably, it doesn’t seem that packages and companies beloved by Republicans are protected from Musk, both. NOTUS reported on Wednesday that Musk and his DOGE staff are eyeing Pentagon spending, which has some Republicans anxious that Musk will contact their stuff.
GOP lawmakers are apparently so determined to guarantee that their treasured {dollars} don’t go bye-bye that they’re placing their religion in alcoholic sexual harasser Pete Hegseth (who additionally leads the Division of Protection), to maintain the DOGE efforts in line.
“While we’re certainly looking for efficiencies, there are security concerns,” Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican of Mississippi, instructed NOTUS. “I hope the administration and Mr. Musk can be mindful of that.”
Trump has ceded a lot energy to Musk, although, that it’s unclear whether or not the president could have a say or just defer to his “first buddy” on what spending ought to be diminished first.
Certainly, Musk’s rising presence was on full show on Tuesday throughout the signing of the DOGE-related government order. Musk, who stood over Trump whereas the president sat behind the Resolute Desk, even answered questions from the press, which certainly must make Trump really feel even smaller than he’s.
When rationalizing his need for extra spending cuts, Musk instructed reporters, “The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what the people are going to get. They’re going to get what they voted for.” Musk, after all, was by no means elected by the general public to get the function he now has.
Certainly, Musk’s energy seize makes Trump look feeble by comparability. As MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell mentioned throughout Tuesday’s joint press convention, Trump was left wanting just like the “most powerless” president ever caught on digicam.
Perhaps the president and Musk’s most up-to-date strikes are as a result of the administration is determined for additional cash and is reportedly operating low on it. In spite of everything, on Tuesday, members of Trump’s administration virtually begged Senate Republicans to search out $175 million so they might fulfill the president’s inhumane border and immigration desires.
Let’s hope Musk and his staff make his plans to intestine extra companies clearer at Wednesday’s subcommittee listening to. The panel, chaired by conspiracy-loving, right-wing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican of Georgia, is ready to debate “stamping out the scourge of improper payments and fraud.”
There’s an irony to the truth that Greene, who, 4 years in the past, was utterly stripped of her committee assignments, now spearheads one of the vital high-profile subcommittees in Congress. However then once more, on condition that Musk appears to make use of a number of the worst folks, she ought to match proper in.
