During a virtual appearance at Dubai’s World Government Summit, Elon Musk called for the U.S. government to “delete entire agencies” to enhance cost efficiency. Responding to a question about the sustainability of his reforms under the Trump administration, Musk argued that partial cuts wouldn’t be enough, comparing them to trimming weeds without removing the roots. “If you don’t remove the roots of the weed, it’s easy for the weed to grow back,” he explained.
Musk emphasized that eliminating entire agencies would lower the baseline of bureaucracy, even if future administrations gradually increase it again. “It’s a step in the right direction,” he noted, adding that while nothing is permanent, these changes could “strengthen the foundations of the United States substantially.”
Appointed by Donald Trump as the head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has been actively pursuing a vision of reducing bureaucracy and regulatory constraints. He projects that these reforms could lead to a $1 trillion reduction in the federal deficit by 2026.
One of Musk’s boldest moves so far has been the substantial downsizing of USAID, the international aid organization. Most of its staff have been furloughed, and funding has been frozen, impacting millions of people in developing countries. The Trump administration recently announced plans to merge USAID into the State Department, a decision that awaits congressional approval.
Musk’s radical approach to streamlining government has sparked intense debate, with supporters praising his drive for efficiency and critics warning about the potential humanitarian consequences of slashing aid programs.