Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump, is calling for the elimination of entire federal agencies as part of a broader effort to shrink Washington’s bloated bureaucracy. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Musk warned that unchecked government expansion is eroding democracy and making it harder for elected leaders to serve the people.
“We really have here rule of the bureaucracy as opposed to rule of the people,” Musk stated. “If we don’t remove the roots of the weed, then it’s easy for the weed to grow back.”
Since taking the reins at DOGE, Musk has overseen an aggressive campaign to identify and dismantle wasteful federal agencies, arguing that too many government departments serve no essential function and only drain taxpayer resources. Among the top targets are the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Education, both of which Musk has criticized as inefficient and politically compromised.
In recent months, DOGE has been tasked with identifying agencies and programs that could be consolidated, privatized, or eliminated altogether. Trump’s administration has already enacted an executive order requiring all federal agencies to coordinate with DOGE before making new hires, effectively freezing growth within the federal workforce.
Musk has stated that the goal is not just to cut spending but to ensure that government serves its original purpose—protecting the rights and freedoms of Americans, rather than growing into an uncontrollable machine.
Unsurprisingly, Musk’s proposals have sparked backlash from Washington bureaucrats and career politicians who benefit from an ever-expanding federal government. Critics argue that eliminating agencies would result in job losses and reduced government services, though Musk and his supporters counter that the private sector can handle many functions more efficiently than government ever could.
“Bureaucracy is a cancer on democracy,” Musk remarked. “The bigger it gets, the harder it is to stop. That’s why we need to act now.”
President Trump has fully backed Musk’s vision, calling for a leaner, more accountable government that eliminates unnecessary red tape and puts power back into the hands of the American people.
“The era of bloated government is over,” Trump said in a recent address. “We are cutting waste, we are cutting inefficiency, and we are putting America first.”
With Trump and Musk leading the charge, federal agencies once considered untouchable are now under direct scrutiny, and major reforms are on the horizon. While Washington’s entrenched bureaucrats will fight to maintain the status quo, the administration remains committed to delivering real, lasting change.
The coming months will determine just how deep these cuts will go, but one thing is clear: Musk and Trump are not backing down.