Trump urges Musk to intensify cost-cutting at government agency
Donald Trump appealed to Elon Musk for more intensive implementation of reforms in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Trump emphasized that he would like Musk to act "more aggressively" in implementing reforms and cutting spending. "ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE," Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform. "REMEMBER, WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE, BUT ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. MAGA!," he added.
Musk at the helm of a new institution
Elon Musk, a well-known businessman and the world's richest person, was appointed by Trump to lead DOGE. The new government institution aims to reduce federal spending.
Musk has already taken action by laying off or announcing layoffs for tens of thousands of administrative workers. Additionally, about 75,000 people were persuaded to take severance packages in exchange for resigning from their positions.
Controversies surrounding savings
Last week, DOGE presented a review of canceled government contracts, claiming that this led to savings of up to $55 billion. However, media outlets, including CNN, challenged these reports, highlighting calculation errors and the inclusion of maximum contract amounts that the government likely did not intend to execute in full.
Musk's actions within DOGE elicit mixed reactions, but his appointment by Trump indicates the president's significant trust in his management skills and ability to implement changes.
