When Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk as the key for transforming the government’s functioning, the tech giant committed to a path of full transparency. Musk insisted there would be no behind-the-scenes activities, instead vowing to make operations as open as maybe even warranting live online broadcasts. Since Trump’s return to the White House three weeks ago, Musk has quickly made his way through various government agencies, maintaining a low profile and staying away from any public analysis of his pursuit.
Although he holds an influential position, he’s maintained a distance from the legislative halls. Musk’s specially formed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has moved along by shifting traditional officials across Washington to the side. This move symbolizes an intense but essential transformation in the normal workings of the federal government, a prospect Trump had promised during his campaign, while demystifying norms of consensus and openness that are considered fundamental to a democratic institution.
Musk refers to his role as the ‘White House tech support’, and seems to have marked his presence in an environment where his influence appears to know no bounds. Musk, together with Trump and their associates, anticipate a positive public opinion towards their mission to eradicate unnecessary expenditure, dismissing any worries about their strategies.
Trump, full of appreciation for Musk, asserted that revelations about rampant corruption, fraud, and resource wastage have been found. Trump specifically praised the actions taken to reduce the U.S. Agency for International Development, with Musk leading the effort to cut back its financial resources.
Musk’s independent manner of proceeding is widely recognized. A self-made billionaire with an impressive portfolio including the online payment service PayPal, electric vehicle giant Tesla and space exploration company SpaceX, Musk has established a reputation for disruptive innovation. His recent acquisition and dramatic modification of Twitter, rebranding it to ‘X’ and altering its workforce and societal ethos, is another bold move in his repertoire.
Musk’s approach to handling the federal system seems to be reflecting a similar stride, revealing little about the anticipated stages. A large section of DOGE’s responsibilities goes on unnoticed behind the curtain. Their presence is never publicly revealed, and regular staff members are often taken by surprise by the influx of unfamiliar faces in the corridors.
The Department of Education is one such venue where DOGE personnel have been stationed, operating from a meeting chamber on the seventh floor, which also accommodates the secretary’s office. While the incumbent staff members are in the throes of uncertainty about their professional future, DOGE associates have been perceived exchanging friendly gestures in the office.
Rumours occasionally arise concerning Musk touring the department, but he usually operates from the White House complex where he has his office arranged. Many from his team were once part of the conglomerate governed by Musk, and the billionaire has made it clear that disclosing their identity constitutes a criminal offence.
Despite resistance from Republican members, Democrats from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have been actively trying to summon Musk for a hearing. Gerald Connolly of Virginia, the leading Democrat on the committee, questioned the colossal power vested in an unelected billionaire who can restructure federal agencies, let personnel go or offer early retirements, and implement extensive changes without the legislative department’s approval or supervision.
Similar sentiments were echoed by the House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, charging Republicans with acting under the influence of an unelected billionaire. Trump, meanwhile, reassures that he maintains control over Musk, guiding him through the process.
Trump expressed his support for Musk’s assertive approach, saying, ‘We have to disassemble some elements to detect the corruption within.’ Although these statements draw attention to an unfolding saga involving powerful figures in politics and tech, how this dynamic partnership will bring about long-lasting and effective change within the system remains to be seen.