130 days after assuming the position, Elon Musk confirmed his departure on Wednesday as “planned” of the Government of Donald Trump in which he led the Dux, the Department of Effectiveness of the Government responsible for reducing US public spending.
The Chief of Tesla had been appointed “special employee of the government”, a status that temporarily exempts him from the rules that govern conflicts of interest, for a period of 130 days, which would expire around May 30. The objective of achieving $ 2,000 billion in savings had been established before reviewing its ambition down, $ 1,000 billion in savings. At the time of the balance, has this mission been fulfilled?
170 billion dollars
According to official figures, Elon Musk’s action at the head of Dux made it possible to reach around $ 170 billion in savings, far from the initial promise. Compared to the objective shown at the beginning of the 2,000 million mandate, the savings made, therefore, represent only 8.5% of this amount.
The businessman himself recognized in early May that the Dux had not achieved its initial objectives, despite the most devastating ads than others, in particular the dismissal of thousands of public officials and the minimum dissolution or reduction of several public agencies.
In total, more than 280,000 federal agents of 2.3 million have or are about to leave their jobs. Whether for a dismissal, or because they accepted an initial voluntary plan, according to a position of the New York Times transmitted by the world.
However, Elon Musk’s desire to act quickly led him to include errors. As when some of the 350 layoffs of essential agents in the American nuclear program had to be canceled.
Obstacles
If Elon Musk could not perform his action as he understood, it was because he found several obstacles on his way. Donald Trump, in particular, forbade him to touch the Federal Distribution Pension Plan, as well as the coverage and health coverage of the poorest. Two extremely expensive but popular programs among Americans.
Several press articles have also reported recurring friction with government ministers. The billionaire has lost several confrontations, especially with Marco Rubbio, head of American diplomacy and Scott Bensent, head of the Treasury, who allegedly criticized the budget cuts requested from his ministry.
Finally, Justice also slowed the burning of the Dux canceling waves of layoffs decided by Elon Musk. In March, a judge had thus ordered six ministries to reintegrate thousands of federal officials unleashed. According to him, justifying these mass layoffs invoking “low performance” constituted “a pretext to avoid legal obligations.”
What future for Doge without a musk?
Despite the withdrawal of its poster head, the Government Efficiency Department will continue its activities at least until the summer of 2026, but on a more modest role, since it will focus on deregulation. Haut-functional, Russell Vought is expected to take the lead. Currently in charge of budget control, he said he wanted to make permanent Dege cuts.
For his part, Elon Musk estimated at Washington’s post, the federal bureaucracy is much worse than (he) thought, “he said. He knew there were problems, but it is actually an obstacle career to try to improve things in Washington,” he added. He also deplored that the Dux is “in the process of becoming the scapegoat of everything.” Somewhere, we are forced to wear the hat for that, even if we have nothing to do with that, “he lamented.
“Disappointed” musk by Trump
Elon Musk also criticized the “big and beautiful law” pushed by his ally Donald Trump, denouncing the excavation of the public deficit he would cause. “I was disappointed to see this massive cost of expenses, frankly, which increases the budget deficit,” he said Tuesday.
The “Big and Bella Law”, as Donald Trump baptized it, is being examined in Congress and aims to implement some of the most important campaign promises of the Republican, such as the extension of his gigantic “Trump fiscal credits”, adopted during his first mandate and expired at the end of the year. According to an analysis of a non -partisan parliamentary agency, the text in the state would result in an increase in the federal deficit of 3,800 billion dollars in the next decade.
Source: BFM TV
