At midnight EST on Monday, Elon Musk took to his social media platform, X, for a live chat to highlight his team’s early strides in dismantling the federal bureaucracy.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla, whom President Donald Trump has tapped to lead a major government overhaul, has spent the first two weeks of the new administration assessing the federal government’s operations and declaring initial successes in his battle against regulations and bureaucrats. His bold moves have already shaken up federal employees, Democrats, and government watchdogs, with many claiming his actions are unprecedented.
For Musk, who envisions a monumental government revamp, this upheaval is precisely the goal.
Following two weeks of significant changes prompted by Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the midnight conversation was yet another signal that this effort goes beyond typical government downsizing.
Musk and the Trump administration have already set in motion large-scale resignations of government personnel, with Musk’s allies taking prominent positions in agencies responsible for government operations, personnel, and spending. The viewers of the early morning chat were treated to Musk’s reflections on what he views as early victories, along with a preview of further cuts to the government.
“President Trump takes improving government efficiency very seriously,” Musk told listeners during Monday’s conversation. “I think DOGE will… have a very serious and significant impact on government waste, fraud, and abuse, which is really astonishing in its scale and scope.”
Musk’s online pep rally for DOGE follows two turbulent weeks for the federal government under Trump’s early administration, with Musk and his allies at the forefront of the disruptions.
“It appears that they’re trying to devastate the federal bureaucracy,” said David Super, an administrative law professor at Georgetown University.
“It’s not unusual for a new administration to target certain programs, but completely dismantling vast sectors is unprecedented,” Super added.
Targeting USAID
DOGE’s latest target: the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Employees at USAID were told to work from home on Monday, as the agency’s Washington headquarters closed that day. This advisory came after Musk announced early Monday, “We’re in the process of shutting down USAID.”
Musk’s team found that the agency was beyond repair. “We’ve actually just got a ball of worms,” Musk stated. “You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing.”
Musk said that Trump supported the plan. “He agreed,” Musk remarked, adding that “we should shut it down.”
Inside the Federal Bureaucracy
Musk’s team started strategizing prior to Trump’s November election. Following Trump’s inauguration, Musk’s team quickly took action in influential but little-known corners of the federal government.
In late January, Musk personally visited the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal government’s human resources agency. His allies have since been appointed as senior advisers to OPM, where they’ve been working to encourage mass resignations of federal employees.
OPM sent out an email titled “Fork in the Road,” urging employees to decide whether to stay or go. The subject line mirrored an email sent to Twitter employees after Musk acquired the platform, which he later rebranded as X.
Musk’s allies in OPM include Amanda Scales, Chief of Staff at OPM, who previously worked at Musk’s company xAI, and other Musk associates with experience from Tesla and SpaceX.
Federal Agencies Under Scrutiny
Musk’s efforts are also targeting the General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal real estate and acquisitions. Musk visited GSA headquarters last week, and Musk ally Steve Davis is focusing on that agency. GSA has already terminated leases on underused office spaces in response to DOGE’s influence.
Internal Resistance and Resignations
These sweeping changes have led to resignations and tensions within federal agencies. Two top officials at USAID were placed on leave after they refused to give Musk’s team access to internal systems. USAID’s Trump-appointed chief of staff resigned just days after starting his new job.
Additionally, Treasury Department officials resigned following disagreements over access to sensitive payment systems. Musk criticized career Treasury officials on X, accusing them of approving fraudulent payments.
Trump’s Support for Musk
Trump has expressed his support for Musk’s efforts. “I think Elon is doing a good job,” Trump said, according to a White House report. “He’s a big cost-cutter. Sometimes we won’t agree with it, and we’ll not go where he wants to go. But I think he’s doing a great job. He’s a smart guy.”
Musk reciprocated the admiration. “The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like him,” Musk said during the live chat. “Frankly, I love the guy. He’s great.”
Ongoing Efforts and Transparency
Musk and his team have vowed to maintain transparency throughout their efforts, although details about DOGE’s structure within the White House remain unclear. Musk has promised recurring live chats on X to keep the public informed, with members of Congress and other stakeholders expected to join in future discussions.
“We’ll be doing this every week,” Musk said, signaling that these live conversations will continue as a way to update the public on the ongoing progress of the DOGE initiative.