Elon Musk File Photo: Reuters
Elon Musk has begun to wield the baton over the US government. US President Donald Trump has given unprecedented power to the world’s richest man. And there is growing concern about the matter.
South African-born Musk has taken control of the US government’s debt settlement system. It manages billions of dollars.
Musk has single-handedly announced the closure of the US humanitarian aid agency USAID. He has even helped to oust two of the agency’s top officials.
“Elon Musk’s attempted takeover…will not last.”’
Senator Chris Van Hollen
Musk is a man who has always been a strong critic of unelected bureaucrats. But now he himself is pushing the Trump administration to shrink its administration with little accountability.
Asked about the matter in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump tried to play down the issue. “Elon Musk can’t do anything without our approval, he won’t,” he said.
Trump added, “We’ll approve him where it’s appropriate. We won’t approve him where it’s not appropriate.”
“He’s telling the truth,” Trump said of Musk. “He’s very committed to that. I admire him.”
In Trump’s administration, Musk’s power seems almost unlimited. As a result, Democrats have accused Musk and Trump of unconstitutional power grabs.
Elon Musk is a man who always likes to criticize unelected bureaucrats harshly, but now he himself is advancing Trump’s efforts to shrink the US government with almost no accountability.
Musk has not yet been registered as a federal employee or government official. Although US media reported that he has now been registered as a ‘special government employee’.
Critics remind us that Musk was the largest donor to Trump’s election campaign this year. Musk gave about $250 million to Trump’s election rallies and promotions.
There is another issue. And that is, Musk’s companies have huge contracts with the US government.
Initially, the website of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Musk was decorated with a cartoon of a cute dog. But later a dollar sign in a golden circle took its place. It is clear where the attention should be.
Musk’s government efficiency team is formed with people from his own company. They have dramatically taken control of the US government treasury’s debt settlement system. They have occupied important government positions. They are helping to launch an initiative to get federal workers to resign with compensation money. They are helping to run a campaign. And this is done via an email. The email is similar to an email Musk sent to Twitter employees after he bought the company. Musk renamed the social media platform “X” after taking control of it.
Musk personally announced in a live chat on X that USAID was being shut down. He labeled it a “criminal organization.”
The unbridled attitude of Musk and his associates has raised many questions. The standoff has been dramatic since Musk’s associates demanded access to a secure room where USAID’s classified information was kept.
Another incident has come to the fore after the recent controversy. The head of the agency was removed from his post on Trump’s inauguration day after Musk criticized the Federal Aviation Administration’s oversight of rocket launches. A few days later, Trump was forced to rush to appoint a new head of the agency after a terrible plane crash in Washington.
The controversy surrounding Musk’s hand salute on Trump’s inauguration has fueled the recent debate.
Trump has insisted, “If there’s a conflict, we’re not going to let him get anywhere near it.” But even that hasn’t quelled critics.
Democrats have been surprisingly quiet for the past two weeks since Trump took office. But they have been vocal about Musk’s latest moves.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said Musk was not elected.
Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee have called an emergency meeting. The Musk controversy is one of the topics on the agenda.
Democrats have slammed DOGE for its unconstitutional attempts to exercise the president’s power over Congress-authorized funds.
“It’s like letting a tiger into a petting zoo and hoping for something good,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Speaking at a protest by USAID workers, Senator Chris Van Hollen said, “Elon Musk’s attempted takeover…will not last.”
But Washington is closely watching to see if the egos of two men like Trump and Musk can coexist in the same White House for long.
