I have been giving a lot of thought to the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to be led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.  The stated objective is to streamline federal operations by cutting wasteful spending and reducing bureaucracy. Am I the only one who finds it incongruous that they’re going to create an entire bureaucracy to improve government efficiency?  How anyone thinks that an entire new government department with all of its attendant rules, regulations, forms, reports and meetings can make things more efficient is beyond me.  This reminds me of a project put in place in the late 1970s when I was still in the Marine Corps. Congress passed a law called the Paperwork Reduction Act. As part of that act, were required to submit monthly reports, you guessed it, on paper documenting our reduction in paperwork.  I was an administrative plans officer for the Fleet Marine Force Pacific at the time, and the Paperwork Reduction Act generated more paper than any other project that crossed my desk.

One of the things that interests me most about this is the current “bromance” between Donald Trump and Elon Musk.  Their personal relationship has had a series of ups and downs over the years.  One must wonder how long the King of Trump World and the Center of the Musk Universe will continue to get along.

In 2016, Trump appointed Musk to his Manufacturing Jobs Initiative  and Strategic and Policy Forum but within six months Musk resigned from these advisory roles in protest of Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement.  By 2022, animosity increased when Trump labeled Musk a “bullshit artist,” alleging that Musk had falsely claimed to have voted for him in 2016. Musk responded by suggesting it was time for Trump to “hang up his hat & sail into the sunset.” 

Despite past disagreements, their relationship improved significantly by 2024. Musk endorsed Trump’s presidential campaign and contributed tens of millions of dollars through America PAC. Leveraging his ownership of X (formerly Twitter), Musk used the platform to promote Trump’s candidacy and engage with supporters, enhancing the campaign’s digital presence.  Following Trump’s election victory, he praised Musk, stating, “We have a new star, a star is born.”

Musk’s leadership of DOGE raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given his companies’ extensive dealings with the federal government.

Musk’s ventures, such as SpaceX and Tesla, have historically benefited from substantial government contracts and subsidies. For instance, SpaceX has secured numerous contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense, including a significant agreement with the National Reconnaissance Office to build a network of spy satellites. Additionally, SpaceX’s Starshield program, designed for government use, received its first contract from the U.S. Space Force in September 2023.

Musk has frequently criticized regulators for what he views as unnecessary investigations hindering his companies.  His role in DOGE could help protect these contracts from potential budget cuts, ensuring they remain exempt from the initiative’s cost-cutting mission.  DOGE’s focus on slashing “excess regulations” could lead to reduced oversight of Musk’s businesses, particularly in areas like Tesla’s self-driving technology safety, labor practices at his companies, and SpaceX’s rocket launch regulations

The very name “DOGE” is, perhaps, a nod to Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency Musk frequently promotes. Attention from this initiative has already caused Dogecoin’s price to increase, potentially benefiting Musk if he holds significant amounts of the currency.

Elon Musk has never been known for his philanthropic endeavors.  Even his charitable giving is significantly directed towards his own business or personal enterprises through the Musk Foundation.

Given these existing relationships, Musk’s role in DOGE could potentially influence decisions that benefit his businesses, such as deregulation in sectors where his companies operate or the redirection of government funds toward projects aligned with his interests. However, it’s important to note that DOGE is proposed as an advisory body without direct authority to implement policies.  Any recommendations from DOGE should require legislative approval, but that may be bypassed as Trump has indicated his willingness to govern by executive order.

In summary, while DOGE’s mission is to improve government efficiency, Musk’s involvement introduces the possibility of decisions that could favor his enterprises.  Perhaps a better name for this organization would be the Department of More Money for Musk.