In a surprising shift in the federal government’s structure, Elon Musk has swiftly gained significant control with support from President Donald Trump. This maneuver involves sidelining career officials and acquiring access to sensitive government databases while also dismantling vital agencies that provide humanitarian assistance. The rapid pace of these changes raises questions about the legalities and authority surrounding presidential actions without congressional endorsement.
In the midst of this upheaval, Musk has been appointed as a special government employee, which affords him more leniency regarding ethics and financial oversight compared to traditional government workers. Trump has allocated office space for Musk within the White House complex, where he leads a team focusing on “Government Efficiency.” Members of this team have been distributed among various federal agencies to collect information and implement directives. Recently, several team members were seen at the Department of Education, an agency Trump has indicated he wants to eliminate.
Republicans are defending Musk’s actions as a fulfillment of Trump’s campaign promises to cut spending and streamline the government. Trump has openly expressed his desire for Musk, the renowned figure behind both Tesla and SpaceX, to play a pivotal role in reshaping federal operations. “Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval,” Trump remarked during a recent press conference, attempting to quell fears regarding potential conflicts of interest stemming from Musk’s extensive business ventures, which are under governmental scrutiny.
Democrats, however, are resoundingly critical of Musk’s accumulation of power, labeling his influence as a covert takeover of the government. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland declared that they would exert every effort in Congress to address what he described as an alarming situation. He indicated that without much bipartisan support, Democrats would pursue legal avenues to uphold the rule of law.
The culmination of Musk’s undertakings occurred when he announced the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Access to the agency was restricted, leaving hundreds of employees locked out of essential computer systems. Musk characterized USAID as irredeemable, suggesting that the overhaul he envisions cannot salvage the agency, expressing, “It’s not an apple with a worm in it; what we have is just a ball of worms.”
As Musk continues his drive for efficiency, he has turned his focus to the General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees federal buildings. An internal message at the agency recently ordered regional managers to initiate the termination of leases for approximately 7,500 federal offices across the country. Nicole Hollander, who seems to be spearheading this initiative, has connections to Musk’s social media enterprise X.
The prevailing atmosphere among federal workers is unsettling, as many feel they are being quietly urged to resign. Over the weekend, there was widespread anxiety among employees about potential lockouts from internal systems that maintain their own employment records. Some supervisors are proactively advising their teams to secure their personnel files on personal devices to ensure they retain proof of employment.
Musk has a history of challenging conventional systems, having acquired significant wealth through ventures like PayPal and his transformation of Twitter into a platform for personal expression and political messaging. Now, he is applying a similar model to the federal government, treating it as though he is enhancing one of his technological innovations. Rob Lalka, a business innovation expert, noted that Musk appears to be implementing a Silicon Valley ethos of disregarding existing norms to instigate disruption.
One of Musk’s notable achievements has been gaining access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment system, which facilitates a staggering 1 billion payments a year, totaling up to $5 trillion. This system includes highly sensitive data relating to financial accounts and Social Security payments. Concerns have arisen about the ramifications of this access, with past Treasury officials expressing disbelief at the allowance of outside access to such a crucial financial resource.
Musk has claimed that identifying inefficiencies in government spending could potentially reduce the federal deficit by up to $1 trillion, a statement that has provoked scrutiny and outrage among some legislative members. Democratic leaders, including Senator Chuck Schumer, have urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to revoke Musk’s access, terming his actions a dangerous seizure of power. Legal challenges have begun, with groups representing workers seeking to prevent the unauthorized sharing of personal information.
This collaboration also reflects Trump’s recognition of Musk’s commitment to his campaign, as Musk previously contributed $250 million to Trump-affiliated efforts, engaging in grassroots campaigning and advertising. Musk’s unwavering support of Trump extends to being openly enthusiastic in his endorsements, asserting that he greatly admires Trump. He characterizes his current role in reforming the federal government as a pivotal opportunity, emphasizing, “This is our shot… If we don’t take advantage of this best hand of cards, it’s never going to happen.”
