Elon Musk's Plans for Expanding DOGE Staff and Increasing Government Efficiency

Elon Musk, a well-known tech billionaire and adviser to the Trump administration, announced on Monday his intention to double the size of his staff at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He mentioned that DOGE is already operating within nearly every federal agency.

During an interview on Fox Business, Musk discussed the ongoing challenges faced by his budget-cutting team. This team has encountered resistance not just from congressional Democrats and the courts, but also from members of President Donald Trump's Cabinet.

Musk stated that DOGE currently employs around 100 staff members, and he aims to increase this number to approximately 200. He explained, "We're trying to act broadly across all departments, so it's not just one department at a time," in response to questions from Larry Kudlow, a Fox Business host who worked in the Trump administration.

When Kudlow inquired whether DOGE functions in all federal departments, Musk answered, "Pretty much, yeah." Initially, Musk's focus was on implementing budget cuts in only a few government offices, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development. However, this strategy has significantly broadened, leading to several lawsuits from state attorneys general and other plaintiffs who argue that Musk and DOGE have acted beyond their legal authority.

Even though Musk does not hold the official title of DOGE administrator, he has been vocal about the direction of DOGE, despite the White House stating that Amy Gleason serves as the acting administrator. Nonetheless, Trump has publicly acknowledged Musk's oversight of the office.

In the interview, Musk reiterated his critical stance towards Social Security, making claims about fraud that have previously been debunked by reports. He asserted that around 10% of Social Security expenditures are fraudulent, while a report from last year estimated improper payments at less than 1%.

Musk indicated on Fox Business that he does not plan to leave his government position any time soon, despite holding a temporary role known as a "special government employee." This role allows for duties to be performed for no more than 130 days within a 365-day period. When asked by Kudlow if he would continue for another year, Musk confidently replied, "Yeah, I think so."

Since joining the administration, Musk has faced challenges within his business ventures, particularly with Tesla. Following his appointment, Tesla's shares have consistently declined, suffering a more than 15% drop on Monday alone. There have been protests at several Tesla locations against Musk, along with incidents involving fire damage to Tesla Cybertrucks and charging stations.

Regarding the difficulties in managing his businesses, Musk remarked, "With great difficulty," and subsequently acknowledged the significant pressures he faces.

However, he redirected the dialogue back to his governmental role, emphasizing his goal of making government operations more efficient. In a different part of the interview, Musk expressed his belief that disruptions experienced on his social media app, X, were due to a cyberattack potentially linked to Ukrainian IP addresses, though he did not provide any corroborating evidence.Elon, Musk, Government