WASHINGTON — Elon Musk is swiftly increasing his influence over extensive areas of the federal government, aided by President Donald Trump, which has led to a sidelining of career officials, access to sensitive databases, and the dismantling of critical humanitarian assistance sources.
The rapid pace of these changes is remarkable. Within just over two weeks since Trump’s inauguration, Musk has established an alternate power structure in the federal government aimed at reducing expenses and removing employees. This shift is occurring without any congressional oversight, raising concerns about the constitutional boundaries of presidential power.
Trump has publicly supported Musk, stating that he is effectively working on behalf of the administration.
Musk has been appointed as a special government employee, meaning he is subject to looser ethical and financial disclosure requirements compared to other federal employees. Trump has provided him with office space in the White House complex, where Musk leads a team under the dubious title of the Department of Government Efficiency. This team has been assigned to various federal agencies to gather data and implement directives. Recently, some members were observed at the Department of Education, which Trump has pledged to eliminate.
Supporters within the Republican Party view Musk’s actions as a fulfillment of Trump’s promises to significantly downsize government operations. Trump has been candid about his intention to place Musk—known for founding the electric car company Tesla and the aerospace manufacturer SpaceX—in charge of revamping the federal system.
“Elon cannot do anything without our consent,” Trump remarked to reporters in the Oval Office. Furthermore, the president downplayed worries about potential conflicts of interest stemming from Musk’s control over federal matters while his companies are subject to regulatory scrutiny and hold government contracts. “If we believe there’s a conflict, we won’t allow him to engage with it. He has some excellent ideas,” Trump added.
Democrats have voiced their outrage over Musk’s ascension.
They accuse him of executing an internal coup that allows him to gather unaccountable and possibly unlawful power. “We will utilize all our resources in the Senate and the House to counteract this egregious action,” remarked Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. “In the meantime, lacking support from many Republicans, we are doing everything we can through the courts to uphold the rule of law.”
This past Monday, Musk’s efforts culminated at the Washington headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where police tape blocked access to the lobby, and numerous employees were locked out of their computer systems. Musk indicated that Trump had consented to the agency’s closure. “It’s not merely a worm in an apple; it’s an entire ball of worms,” Musk commented regarding the agency, which is the largest provider of humanitarian aid and development assistance globally. “We need to eliminate it entirely as it is beyond recovery.”
Musk is also focusing on the General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees federal buildings. An email distributed last week from GSA headquarters instructed managers to start terminating leases on about 7,500 federal offices across the nation.
Nicole Hollander, who is leading this initiative, describes herself on LinkedIn as an employee of X, Musk’s social media app. “This has crossed the line. This situation is spiraling out of control,” remarked Keya Chatterjee, director of Free DC, a local advocacy group. She took part in a protest outside the Office of Personnel Management, which is integral to Musk’s plans.
Musk’s activities have caused anxiety among federal employees, who feel pressured to leave their positions. Last Sunday night, fears circulated among staff members that they could be denied access to their internal human resources system, which contains their employment records, including pay history and job qualifications. In some agencies, supervisors have advised employees to save their records, referred to as SF-50, on personal devices to preserve proof of their employment history in case of any disputes.
Musk has a history of innovation and disruption. He started coding as a young boy in South Africa and later became wealthy with the online payment firm PayPal. After purchasing the social media platform Twitter—now rebranded as X—he cut its workforce drastically and transformed it into a powerful political platform.
Currently, Musk is analyzing the federal government’s systems as if they were one of his technological projects. “The Silicon Valley strategy of challenging the status quo by ignoring rules you disagree with is fully operational here,” noted Rob Lalka, a Tulane University expert in business and entrepreneurship.
One of Musk’s major actions was to gain access to the U.S. Treasury payment system, which manages approximately 1 billion payments each year, amounting to $5 trillion. This system contains sensitive information regarding bank details and Social Security payments.
“No one outside of the Treasury staff involved in this function ever requested access to the payment details,” stated Richard Gregg, a former fiscal assistant secretary at the Treasury with 40 years of experience.
It remains unclear what Musk intends to accomplish with this level of access to the payment system. He has claimed the potential to reduce the federal deficit by $1 trillion merely by addressing inefficiencies and malpractices. “This is the largest data breach in history,” declared Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin. “I am appalled by this.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent should revoke Musk’s access to this critical payment system, stating, “We must put an end to this illegal and perilous power grab.”
A lawsuit has been filed against Bessent and the Treasury Department by a group representing retirees and union workers, aiming to stop the sharing of personal and financial data with Musk’s agency.
Musk’s current role may be a reward for his financial contributions and support for Trump during the campaign, where he reportedly spent around $250 million through America PAC, engaging in activities like canvassing and digital advertising. Although the PAC has not yet outlined its future plans, Musk has hinted at endorsing challenges against Republican legislators who oppose Trump’s strategies.
“The more I learn about President Trump, the more I appreciate him,” Musk stated in a live conversation on X. “Honestly, I admire him greatly. He’s exceptional.” Musk has also framed his overhaul of the federal government as a crucial endeavor, asserting that this moment represents a unique opportunity to initiate sweeping changes.
“If it’s not possible now, it will never be possible. This is our moment,” he expressed. “This is the best opportunity we’ll ever have. If we don’t act on this chance, it’s never going to happen.”
