Musk outlines mass layoff plans as Trump’s ‘efficiency’ czar

Washington, United States (AFP) Elon Musk unveiled plans for his new “productivity” czar role on Wednesday; It signaled an attack on federal spending and staffing that would be backed by President-elect Donald Trump’s executive powers and a conservative Supreme Court.

Writing in the Wall Street Journal, the world’s richest man said he was targeting hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending, including public broadcasting and international aid, and a bureaucracy that, to him, represented “an existential balance.” Threat to US democracy”.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who also owns social media platform X, said he and Trump loyalist businessman Vivek Ramaswamy will work to remove federal regulations and make major administrative changes.

“We are entrepreneurs, not politicians. We will serve as outside volunteers, not as federal officials or employees,” Musk and Ramaswamy wrote in their most detailed statement since Trump appointed them as heads of his new so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

They said DOGE, which is expected to function as an advisory group rather than a formal department, would prepare a list of regulations that Trump could unilaterally override.

“When the president overrides thousands of such regulations, critics will argue that the administration is exercising excessive power. “In effect, this will correct executive overreach in thousands of regulations promulgated through executive orders that were never authorized by Congress,” they said.

Musk and Ramaswamy added that a reduction in regulations would pave the way for “collective headcount reductions across the federal bureaucracy” and said DOGE would aim to cut more than $500 billion in government spending.

“With a decisive electoral mandate and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, DOGE has a historic opportunity for structural reductions in the federal government,” they said.

– Supreme Court allies –

Moves against instinctive programs would almost certainly face political backlash, even from Republicans, and lead to legal challenges.

But Musk and Ramaswamy expressed confidence that recent decisions by the conservative-dominated Supreme Court would allow them to implement the ambitious agenda.

“With a decisive electoral mandate and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, DOGE has a historic opportunity for structural reductions in the federal government,” they said.

They said that DOGE’s biggest goal is that the project will not be needed until July 4, 2026, which is defined as the completion date.

Musk became a close ally of Trump during his campaign, reportedly spending more than $100 million to boost his presidential bid and join him at rallies.

However, since all of Musk’s businesses involve varying degrees of interaction with U.S. and foreign governments, his new position also raises concerns about conflicts of interest.

The South African-born billionaire invited Trump to watch his SpaceX test flight on Tuesday, a sign that ties between the two are growing closer.

But their relationship, defined by irascible personalities and some past policy differences, may be subject to friction when the reality of political life sets in.