Much cutting. Very waste. But the Department of Government Efficiency might not have the legal and budgetary chops to actually reduce spending?
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Afewweeksafterthepresidentialelection,ElonMuskandVivekRamaswamymadeaboldpromise:Theywouldteamuptoslashbureaucracyandcuttrillionsofdollarsinfederalspending.
ThroughthenewDepartmentofGovernmentEfficiency(DOGE),thepairpromisedtotackle“thesheermagnitudeofwaste,fraudandabusethatnearlyalltaxpayerswishtoend,”thepairpromisedinajointop-edprintedinTheWallStreetJournal.
“Weareentrepreneurs,notpoliticians,”theyclaimed.“Wewillserveasoutsidevolunteers,notfederalofficialsoremployees.Unlikegovernmentcommissionsoradvisorycommittees,wewon’tjustwritereportsorcutribbons.We’llcutcosts.”
MorethantwoweeksintothesecondTrumpadministration,thesituationhasevolvedconsiderably.Mostobviously,RamaswamyisnolongerattachedtotheDOGEproject,leavingMuskasthesoleleader.Ratherthanbeingavolunteerworkingfromoutsidethegovernment,MusknowhasanofficeintheW