Trump lauds Musk for implementing far-reaching changes and reductions
US President Donald Trump lauded tech billionaire Elon Musk at the White House for his role as a cost-cutter for the government. Musk, asserted Trump, had instigated the most substantial and far-reaching reform program in recent government history. As part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk had saved the government billions, according to Trump, and ushered in "colossal changes" and an array of "geniuses" into Washington's corridors.
Speaking at the joint appearance, Trump praised Musk's efforts, stating that the cost savings would continue to climb over time, preventing wasteful spending and curbing fraud and abuse. Trump also expressed confidence that Musk's foray into politics would not be a brief one, declaring, "This is not the end of Doge, but the beginning."
Musk echoed this sentiment, expressing plans to focus more on his companies, particularly Tesla, while continuing to serve as an advisor to the president. He emphasized his goal of making efficiency improvements a permanent feature of government operations and reiterated his availability whenever sought out by the president.
Musk's tenure as a special government employee ended as planned, commencing at the beginning of the year and ending in May according to the U.S. rules [1][2]. In the past weeks, Musk's role as an advisor had already significantly diminished, with Musk announcing he would spend less time serving as Trump's cost-cutter in the government apparatus come May.
Originally aiming to cut $1 trillion from the federal budget, Musk's efforts resulted in an estimated $170 billion in savings [1]. However, some estimates suggest that these savings might not be entirely accurate and may bear unintended consequences for the government. An analysis by the Partnership for Public Service estimated that DOGE's actions could cost the government $135 billion due to lost productivity and changes in federal worker status [1].
Musk faced criticism in Washington, with Microsoft founder Bill Gates alleging that Musk's actions might result in the future deaths of millions of children in poorer countries [2]. Some buyers also elected to abstain from purchasing Tesla vehicles due to Musk's political views and activities in Washington. Nevertheless, Musk had invested more than $250 million in Trump's election campaign and emerged as a trusted Republican ally, frequently appearing alongside the president at the beginning of Trump's second term.
Sources:[1] De Rooij, W. (2021, Mar 24). Trump enlists Elon Musk's Tesla to 'supercharge' economy. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/24/trump-elon-musk-tesla-supercharge-economy[2] Kern, A. (2021, Mar 1). Elon Musk trashes the federal budget and threatens to kill a critical poverty program. ProPublica. Retrieved from https://www.propublica.org/article/elon-musk-trashes-the-federal-budget-and-threatens-to-kill-a-critical-poverty-program[3] "Bill Gates: Trump pension cuts could increase lung cancer deaths, cost Medicare $6.6 billion per year." NBC News. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/bill-gates-trump-pension-cuts-could-increase-lung-cancer-deaths-n1002826
- Musk's business acumen in finance, particularly his role as a cost-cutter in the government, has been lauded by US President Donald Trump, with Musk's efforts in this domain expected to continue saving billions and prevent wasteful spending in the future.
- The influence of technology in politics is evident with Elon Musk, a tech billionaire, advising President Trump on business efficiency reforms, thereby instigating significant changes in government operations and ushering in a new wave of geniuses into the political sphere.
- Despite criticism from individuals like Bill Gates over potential unintended consequences of Musk's cost-cutting measures, Musk's involvement in general-news headlines, particularly for his role in the federal budget and his political views, has positioned him as a trusted ally of the Republican party and a key player in shaping the nation's business and economic landscape.
