Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and leader of the U.S. federal government restructuring, has the ultimate goal of replacing human-performed tasks with 'technology,' the Washington Post (WP) reported on the 8th (local time).
According to the report, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Musk, is working on inputting government records and data into artificial intelligence (AI). Through this, they are identifying federal programs they wish to discontinue and tasks that can be replaced by AI or robots.
A source cited by WP revealed that this work is particularly active within the General Services Administration (GSA). An official stated, "DOGE's ultimate goal is to replace personnel with machines," adding, "Everything that can be automated by machines will be, and technocrats will replace government bureaucrats."
WP reported, based on statements from more than 20 federal employees and obtained records, that DOGE is exerting influence over various departments in a similar manner. DOGE is said to secure access to departmental information by obtaining the 'submission' of senior executives.
Additionally, two sources told WP that the White House is preparing plans to cut budgets of some departments and agencies by up to 60%.
David Super, a professor at Georgetown University, criticized the Trump administration's vision as a very strong executive branch subordinating the legislative and judicial branches, which contradicts the principle of checks and balances where no one of the three powers should dominate. On the other hand, Avik Roy, founder of the think tank Fair Opportunity Project, pointed out that the deteriorating national fiscal condition and the surge in regulations under the previous administration have led to aggressive restructuring.
Meanwhile, opposition among federal employees to DOGE is spreading day by day. For example, about 100 employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) held a protest in front of the CFPB headquarters, condemning DOGE for improperly accessing the CFPB system and putting sensitive information at risk. The day before, President Trump appointed Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and a 'CFPB abolitionist,' as acting director of the CFPB.
Protests continue against the Trump administration's pressure on federal employees to voluntarily retire under the banner of budget cuts. WP analyzed that President Trump and Musk are using this method to reduce government spending or eliminate agencies without seeking congressional approval to oust civil servants.
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