the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Tech mogul Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday to defend the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a controversial initiative aimed at streamlining federal operations. Speaking from the Resolute Desk, Musk addressed concerns over the department’s efforts to dismantle federal agencies, cut government jobs, and take over payment systems within the U.S. Treasury Department.
Musk on Government Reform: ‘That’s What Democracy Is About’
In response to criticism, Musk insisted that the changes under DOGE reflect the will of the people.
“The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what the people are going to get,” Musk stated. “That’s what democracy is all about.”
Musk also dismissed claims that DOGE’s measures are too extreme, arguing for “commonsense controls” rather than “draconian” policies. Addressing concerns over personal conflicts of interest, he assured the public that transparency builds trust.
DOGE’s Controversial Efforts Spark Legal Battles
Since the start of Trump’s presidency, DOGE—led by Musk—has taken significant steps to restructure the federal government, including:
- Dismantling federal agencies
- Offering buyouts to hundreds of thousands of federal employees
- Reforming payment systems within the Treasury Department
These moves have triggered lawsuits and strong opposition from Democratic lawmakers, state officials, and federal employee unions.
Trump and Musk Condemn Government Waste and Fraud
During Tuesday’s address, Musk pointed to examples of alleged wasteful spending, claiming that deceased individuals are still receiving Social Security payments and that certain federal employees have amassed vast wealth at taxpayers’ expense.
“Your tax dollars need to be spent wisely, on things that matter,” Musk argued.
President Trump supported Musk’s stance, calling the amount of fraud uncovered by DOGE “crazy.” He also criticized the judicial system for attempting to block certain DOGE initiatives, stating:
“It seems hard to believe that judges want to stop us. Then we have to look at the judges because I think it’s a very serious violation.”
Federal Judge Blocks DOGE’s Access to Treasury Systems
Over the weekend, a federal judge ruled that DOGE personnel—including Musk—could not access Treasury Department payment systems. However, the court later clarified that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is exempt from this ruling.
Despite the setback, Musk doubled down on DOGE’s efforts, particularly in Treasury reforms, claiming the government continues to pay “terrorist organizations” and “known fraudsters” who should be on a do-not-pay list.
“The stuff we’re doing with the Treasury Department is so basic that you can’t believe it doesn’t exist already,” Musk stated.
What’s Next for DOGE?
After targeting agencies like USAID, DOGE has now set its sights on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), raising further concerns among government watchdogs and legal experts.
Musk acknowledged that not all of his claims may be accurate but emphasized a willingness to accept corrections.
“Some of the things that I say will be incorrect and should be corrected,” he admitted. “We’ll make mistakes and we’ll act quickly to correct them.”
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