Elon Musk’s DOGE: A Grifter’s Guide to Undermining Government
In a recent op-ed, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy propose a plan to combat the influence of unelected civil servants, ironically positioning themselves as outside volunteers who will “cut costs” despite lacking the authority to do so directly. Their plan involves assembling a team within the White House Office of Management and Budget to make recommendations for cost-cutting measures. However, this approach raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest and opportunities for self-enrichment given their lack of accountability. The authors’ proposal essentially advocates for indirect influence, contrasting their volunteer status with the very civil service protections they criticize.
John Q. Hosedrinker