Is Efficiency So Bad?

Ryan Heshmati

February 14, 2025

Extra, extra, read all about it! Cuts. Elon Musk and DOGE, under the direction of President Trump, have set off a firestorm. With a strategy reliant on shock and awe, Musk’s DOGE has aggressively pursued dismantling government agencies like USAID, to the dismay of many Democratic lawmakers and pundits. Trump has taken a hard line against what he says amounts to billions upon billions of dollars in fraud and abuse at the expense of the American taxpayer. 

DOGE’s stated objective of obtaining a more efficient federal government should be unifying. Democrats and Republicans alike should be able to agree that a significant amount of waste in government probably exists (inefficiency is just the nature of bureaucracies as they grow unchecked over time) and that fighting to limit it is a worthy goal. A conservative ideologue would argue that, with the exception of a few exemplifiers of virtue, without profit motive, government employees have no incentive to act efficiently; consequently, a critical lens to government expenditures might not be unreasonable. 

Execution, however, is where the controversy really intensifies. First, what Musk and Trump believe constitutes waste is likely significantly distinct from the perspective of Democrats. Further, Musk’s pursuit of rapid results, as a businessman known for making extreme cuts when he deems it necessary (like to X’s workforce after acquiring and rebranding Twitter), falls well out of line with the pace of Washington lawmakers. 

Considering his speed and strong hand in pursuing cuts, Musk’s actions have unsurprisingly generated controversy. Some hail Musk as a visionary, with JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon characterizing the billionaire as the Einstein of our time.Progressives, however, criticize the cuts Musk is making and is setting out to make, in addition to raising concerns of conflicts of interest for the businessman as he enters the Washington arena. Just this week, Musk’s X settled a lawsuit with President Trump for $10 million. It is often said that politics makes for strange bedfellows, and the Trump-Musk relationship is certainly no exception.

Americans can agree that rooting out waste and pursuing a more efficient government are noble goals. However, a critique of the Musk-led effort, especially when agencies like the Department of Education are at risk of serious handicapping, is understandable. Less than a month into his second term, President Trump is delivering on his promise to shake up Washington. How far DOGE will be able to go is likely a question American courts will be forced to answer. If the Trump-Musk strategy continues to be a “shoot first, let courts ask questions later” approach, they will certainly have to.