<p>US President Donald Trump's government has once again intensified its probe into federal consulting firms, including Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp and Accenture Plc, and asked them to describe their work in a simple language without using "jargon or gobbledygook," Bloomberg reported.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Trump administration sent out letters to 10-highest-paid consulting companies serving the government and demanded them to provide information about their billions in government contracts and their plans to "reduce or eliminate spend," Josh Gruenbaum, the General Services Administration&rsquo;s (GSA) new top procurement official wrote the letter.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Do not submit a scorecard that does not identify any waste and spend reduction opportunities,&rdquo; Josh Gruenbaum warned.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-targets-immigration-lawyers-with-new-doj-crackdown-on-frivolous-lawsuits-8880503">'Unreasonable and vexatious': Trump targets immigration lawyers with new DOJ crackdown on &lsquo;frivolous&rsquo; lawsuits</a></strong></p>
<p>Notably, Gruenbaum is leading cost-cutting efforts at the GSA.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Scorecards that do not identify waste and spending reductions will not be deemed credible and your firm will be seen as unaligned with the Administration&rsquo;s cost-cutting goals," he added.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-us-state-secretary-marco-rubio-usaid-programs-elon-musk-doge-8840639">&lsquo;Thank you to DOGE&rsquo;: Trump&rsquo;s State Secy Rubio slashes 83% of USAID programmes, Musk says &lsquo;tough but necessary&rsquo;</a></strong></p>
<h2>'15-year-old should understand'</h2>
<p>Make recommendations on how to reduce pricing by March 31 in language that &ldquo;a 15-year-old should be able to understand," Gruenbaum, the former private equity executive and investment banker at KKR &amp; Co. and Moelis &amp; Co. tapped by Trump for GSA&rsquo;s top procurement role asked the companies.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Earlier on Thursday, Accenture shares tumbled after the company said that its US government work has slowed amid Elon Musk's push to slash the federal workforce and budget through his DOGE.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Accenture Chief Executive Officer Julie Sweet on an earnings call said federal services accounted for about 8% of its global revenue and about 16% of its Americas revenue in the 2024 fiscal year.</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-us-president-donald-trump-pay-out-of-his-pocket-to-nasa-astronauts-sunita-williams-and-butch-wilmore-for-staying-overtime-in-space-heres-what-he-said-8879824">Will Trump pay out of his pocket to Sunita Williams for staying overtime in space? Here's what he said</a></strong></p>
<p>Other firms in GSA&rsquo;s crosshairs include International Business Machines Corp., General Dynamics Corp., Leidos Holdings Inc., Guidehouse LLP, HII Mission Technologies Corp., and CGI Federal.</p>
<p>However, none of the companies responded to the requests for comment on the letter.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-pm-modi-lex-fridman-podcast-lauds-elon-musks-doge-mission-draws-parallels-with-indias-reforms-8859533">&lsquo;Bold changes spark global discussion&rsquo;: Modi lauds Musk&rsquo;s DOGE mission, draws parallels with India&rsquo;s reforms</a></strong></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

World: Trump govt sent letters to 10-highest-paid consulting firms and demanded them to provide information about their billions in government contracts

US President Donald Trump's government has once again intensified its probe into federal consulting firms, including Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp and Accenture Plc, and asked them to describe their work in a simple language without using "jargon or gobbledygook," Bloomberg reported. The Trump administration sent out letters to 10-highest-paid consulting companies serving the government and demanded them to provide information about their billions in government contracts and their plans to "reduce or eliminate spend," Josh Gruenbaum, the General Services Administration’s (GSA) new top procurement official wrote the letter. “Do not submit a scorecard that does not identify any waste and spend reduction opportunities,” Josh Gruenbaum warned. Also read: 'Unreasonable and vexatious': Trump targets immigration lawyers with new DOJ crackdown on ‘frivolous’ lawsuits Notably, Gruenbaum is leading cost-cutting efforts at the GSA. “Scorecards that do not identify waste and spending reductions will not be deemed credible and your firm will be seen as unaligned with the Administration’s cost-cutting goals," he added. Also read: ‘Thank you to DOGE’: Trump’s State Secy Rubio slashes 83% of USAID programmes, Musk says ‘tough but necessary’ '15-year-old should understand' Make recommendations on how to reduce pricing by March 31 in language that “a 15-year-old should be able to understand," Gruenbaum, the former private equity executive and investment banker at KKR & Co. and Moelis & Co. tapped by Trump for GSA’s top procurement role asked the companies. Earlier on Thursday, Accenture shares tumbled after the company said that its US government work has slowed amid Elon Musk's push to slash the federal workforce and budget through his DOGE. Accenture Chief Executive Officer Julie Sweet on an earnings call said federal services accounted for about 8% of its global revenue and about 16% of its Americas revenue in the 2024 fiscal year. Also read: Will Trump pay out of his pocket to Sunita Williams for staying overtime in space? Here's what he said Other firms in GSA’s crosshairs include International Business Machines Corp., General Dynamics Corp., Leidos Holdings Inc., Guidehouse LLP, HII Mission Technologies Corp., and CGI Federal. However, none of the companies responded to the requests for comment on the letter. Also read: ‘Bold changes spark global discussion’: Modi lauds Musk’s DOGE mission, draws parallels with India’s reforms (With inputs from agencies)

'Explain like a 15-year-old can understand': Trump govt sends warning to 10 highest-paid US consulting firms

US President Trump has proposed closing the Department of Education, with Elon Musk set to review its expenditures. The duo aims to cut government spending and restructure several agencies. Watch to know more!

Trump to sign order Thursday aimed at shutting down Education Department

In a significant development, a US federal judge has blocked efforts of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, to shut down USAID, calling it a possible violation of the US constitution in multiple ways.

US federal judge blocks decision to dismantle USAID

US federal judge halts USAID shutdown

<p>The world&rsquo;s richest man, Elon Musk, has publicly addressed the conspiracy to assassinate him and destroy his electric vehicle company, Tesla.</p>
<p>A close aide of US President Donald Trump, the Tesla CEO has recently faced growing controversy for his role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been tasked to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-instructed-elon-musk-to-bring-abandoned-astronauts-sunita-williams-and-butch-wilmore-back-8863553">Trump says he instructed Elon Musk to bring &lsquo;abandoned&rsquo; astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back</a></strong></p>
<h2><strong>Musk claims people &lsquo;want to kill&rsquo; him</strong></h2>
<p>Speaking to Sean Hannity of Fox News, Musk revealed that the reason why certain people &ldquo;want to kill&rdquo; him is the attempts made by him to cut government waste and fraud.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It turns out when you take away people's, you know, the money that they're receiving fraudulently, they get very upset,&rdquo; the billionaire said.</p>
<p>&ldquo;And they basically want to kill me because I'm stopping their fraud and they want to hurt Tesla because we're stopping the terrible waste and corruption in the government. And, well, I guess they're bad people. Bad people do bad things," he added.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-khan-billionaires-doppelganger-goes-viral-in-pakistan-watch-8861309">'Elon Musk Khan': Billionaire's doppelganger goes viral in Pakistan - WATCH</a></strong></p>
<p>Musk reiterated the claims made by conservative lawmakers, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, suggesting that left-wing groups may be behind the protests and attacks on Tesla cars and dealerships.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I think there are larger forces at work as well,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I mean, who&rsquo;s funding and who&rsquo;s coordinating it? Because this is crazy. I&rsquo;ve never seen anything like this.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Tesla is a peaceful company, we&rsquo;ve never done anything harmful. I&rsquo;ve never done anything harmful, I&rsquo;ve only done productive things, so I think we just have a deranged... I think there&rsquo;s some kind of mental illness going on here,&rdquo; he added.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/starship-departs-for-mars-next-year-carrying-humanoid-robot-optimus-elon-musk-8857504">Starship to depart for Mars next year, carrying humanoid robot Optimus: Elon Musk</a></strong></p>
<h2><strong>Protest at Tesla showroom</strong></h2>
<p>Various demonstrations have been staged at Tesla properties across the country, while some Tesla owner&rsquo;s cars have also been vandalised.</p>
<p>In a recent incident, an arsonist attacked five Tesla vehicles at a dealership in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday morning (Mar 19).</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-budget-scraps-organisation-that-helped-find-ukrainian-children-kidnapped-by-russia-8855671">Elon Musk's budget scraps organisation that helped find Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia</a></strong></p>
<p>Last week, around 250 protestors gathered outside a Tesla showroom in New York City, holding anti-Musk signs and shouting, &ldquo;Elon Musk is not elected! Democracy must be protected!&rdquo;. The placards read &lsquo;Block Fascism Now&rsquo; and &lsquo;Musk Must Go&rsquo;.</p>
<p>Trump has backed Musk, saying the demonstrators are &ldquo;harming a great American company.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Let me tell you, you do it to Tesla, and you do it to any company, we&rsquo;re going to catch you, and... you&rsquo;re going to go through hell.&rdquo;</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

World | Trending | Musk reiterated the claims made by conservative lawmakers, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, suggesting that left-wing groups may be behind the protests and attacks on Tesla cars and dealerships.

The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has publicly addressed the conspiracy to assassinate him and destroy his electric vehicle company, Tesla. A close aide of US President Donald Trump, the Tesla CEO has recently faced growing controversy for his role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been tasked to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy. Also read | Trump says he instructed Elon Musk to bring ‘abandoned’ astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back Musk claims people ‘want to kill’ him Speaking to Sean Hannity of Fox News, Musk revealed that the reason why certain people “want to kill” him is the attempts made by him to cut government waste and fraud. “It turns out when you take away people's, you know, the money that they're receiving fraudulently, they get very upset,” the billionaire said. “And they basically want to kill me because I'm stopping their fraud and they want to hurt Tesla because we're stopping the terrible waste and corruption in the government. And, well, I guess they're bad people. Bad people do bad things," he added. Also read | 'Elon Musk Khan': Billionaire's doppelganger goes viral in Pakistan - WATCH Musk reiterated the claims made by conservative lawmakers, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, suggesting that left-wing groups may be behind the protests and attacks on Tesla cars and dealerships. “I think there are larger forces at work as well,” he said. “I mean, who’s funding and who’s coordinating it? Because this is crazy. I’ve never seen anything like this.” “Tesla is a peaceful company, we’ve never done anything harmful. I’ve never done anything harmful, I’ve only done productive things, so I think we just have a deranged... I think there’s some kind of mental illness going on here,” he added. Also read | Starship to depart for Mars next year, carrying humanoid robot Optimus: Elon Musk Protest at Tesla showroom Various demonstrations have been staged at Tesla properties across the country, while some Tesla owner’s cars have also been vandalised. In a recent incident, an arsonist attacked five Tesla vehicles at a dealership in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday morning (Mar 19). Also read | Elon Musk's budget scraps organisation that helped find Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia Last week, around 250 protestors gathered outside a Tesla showroom in New York City, holding anti-Musk signs and shouting, “Elon Musk is not elected! Democracy must be protected!”. The placards read ‘Block Fascism Now’ and ‘Musk Must Go’. Trump has backed Musk, saying the demonstrators are “harming a great American company.” “Let me tell you, you do it to Tesla, and you do it to any company, we’re going to catch you, and... you’re going to go through hell.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘They want to kill me’: Musk claims ‘bad people’ want to assassinate him, ‘hurt’ Tesla

Nearly 20 employees at the National Centers for Environmental Information have resigned or been laid off amid a purge of federal workers by the Trump administration. Watch in for more details!

Job cuts by DOGE makes climate watch difficult

<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about his meeting with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, a close associate of US President Donald Trump, on the Lex Fridman podcast. Modi met Musk during his recent visit to Washington. He also praised Musk&rsquo;s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lex Fridman asked Modi about key takeaways from his meetings in the United States, mentioning notable figures such as Musk, JD Vance, Tulsi Gabbard, and Vivek Ramaswamy.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/when-he-was-shot-pm-modi-praises-trumps-resilience-recalls-special-moment-on-lex-fridman-podcast-8859467">&lsquo;When he was shot&hellip;&rsquo;: PM Modi praises Trump&rsquo;s resilience, recalls &lsquo;special&rsquo; moment on Lex Fridman podcast</a></span></strong></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Modi described a warm and welcoming environment during his interactions with several individuals, including Musk, Gabbard, and Ramaswamy. He recalled his long-standing acquaintance with Musk, dating back to his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. </span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">&ldquo;As for Elon Musk, I&rsquo;ve known him since my time as Chief Minister. He was there with his family and children, so naturally, the atmosphere felt warm and friendly,&rdquo; he said.</span></p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Praise for DOGE&rsquo;s mission</span></strong></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Discussing Musk&rsquo;s current work, Modi said, &ldquo;Now, with his Doge mission, he is incredibly excited about how it's progressing. And honestly, it makes me happy too, because when I took office in 2014, I wanted to free my country from the deep-rooted issues and harmful practices that have crept in</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, and I'll</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> continue striving to eliminate as many of them as I possibly can.&rdquo; </span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Modi linked Musk&rsquo;s mission to his </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">own</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> governance efforts in India, recalling his commitment to tackling inefficiencies and systemic flaws.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">&ldquo;I noticed that the benefits of certain government schemes, especially welfare programmes, were being exploited by so many people who never even existed in real life,&rdquo; he explained.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/power-democracy-war-peace-pm-modi-talks-about-pak-gujarat-riots-in-podcast-with-lex-fridman-key-points-8859137">&lsquo;Power, Democracy, War &amp; Peace&rsquo;: PM Modi talks about Pak, Gujarat riots in podcast with Lex Fridman | Key points</a></span></strong></p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">'Bold changes become global discussions'</span></strong></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Drawing parallels between his governance initiatives and Musk&rsquo;s DOGE mission, Modi said that impactful reforms naturally attract global attention. &ldquo;And naturally, when bold changes happen, just like Doge&rsquo;s mission, they become a </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">topic of discussion worldwide</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">,&rdquo; he said.</span></p>
<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">(With inputs from agencies)</span></em></p>

India News: Indian Prime Minister Modi recalled his long-standing acquaintance with Musk, dating back to his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. World

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about his meeting with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, a close associate of US President Donald Trump, on the Lex Fridman podcast. Modi met Musk during his recent visit to Washington. He also praised Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Lex Fridman asked Modi about key takeaways from his meetings in the United States, mentioning notable figures such as Musk, JD Vance, Tulsi Gabbard, and Vivek Ramaswamy. Also read: ‘When he was shot…’: PM Modi praises Trump’s resilience, recalls ‘special’ moment on Lex Fridman podcast Modi described a warm and welcoming environment during his interactions with several individuals, including Musk, Gabbard, and Ramaswamy. He recalled his long-standing acquaintance with Musk, dating back to his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. “As for Elon Musk, I’ve known him since my time as Chief Minister. He was there with his family and children, so naturally, the atmosphere felt warm and friendly,” he said. Praise for DOGE’s mission Discussing Musk’s current work, Modi said, “Now, with his Doge mission, he is incredibly excited about how it's progressing. And honestly, it makes me happy too, because when I took office in 2014, I wanted to free my country from the deep-rooted issues and harmful practices that have crept in, and I'll continue striving to eliminate as many of them as I possibly can.” Modi linked Musk’s mission to his own governance efforts in India, recalling his commitment to tackling inefficiencies and systemic flaws. “I noticed that the benefits of certain government schemes, especially welfare programmes, were being exploited by so many people who never even existed in real life,” he explained. Also read: ‘Power, Democracy, War & Peace’: PM Modi talks about Pak, Gujarat riots in podcast with Lex Fridman | Key points 'Bold changes become global discussions' Drawing parallels between his governance initiatives and Musk’s DOGE mission, Modi said that impactful reforms naturally attract global attention. “And naturally, when bold changes happen, just like Doge’s mission, they become a topic of discussion worldwide,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Bold changes spark global discussion’: Modi lauds Musk’s DOGE mission, draws parallels with India’s reforms

A US judge has ordered six government agencies to reinstate fired probationary employees, questioning the authority of the Office of Personnel Management. The ruling deals a legal blow to Trump's cost-cutting measures, sparking fresh controversy over federal workforce policies.

Trump faces legal setback as court reinstates fired workers

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has slammed the Trump administration over mass federal workforce cuts, calling them "illegal." A judge has ordered the reinstatement of thousands of employees, while USAID staff were given a 'clap-out' as they packed up. Legal challenges are mounting as the controversy grows.

US federal employee firings spark legal battle and protests

The documents on DOGE would ultimately inform whether Musk has been operating unconstitutionally to the extent Doge’s activities should be halted. Watch to know more!

Federal Court Judge orders Elon Musk and DOGE to produce documents on cost-cutting operations

A new survey reveals that 85% of respondents believe Elon Musk’s political activity is negatively impacting Tesla. With Tesla’s stock on track for its eighth straight week of declines, investors are questioning whether Musk’s focus on politics and Dogecoin is affecting the company’s future. As controversy around Musk makes daily headlines, is Tesla paying the price?

US: Elon Musk’s political activities are hurting Tesla? Survey reveals investor concerns

<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Trump administration is set to eliminate 83% of the programmes under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and shift the remaining ones to the State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday (March 10).</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8379guy-w70a1nej-l3pemksi">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces cancellation of 83% of USAID programs, says some "harmed" US interests <a href="https://t.co/3AnayxvrhX">pic.twitter.com/3AnayxvrhX</a></p>
&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1899106461919428639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">This decision shows the swift dismantling of the US' independent humanitarian agency, which had been on the hit list of both President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. The remaining 1,000 USAID programmes will now be managed under the State Department&rsquo;s oversight.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-australian-prime-minister-malcolm-turnbull-fires-back-after-us-president-donald-trump-calls-him-weak-in-late-night-rant-8840486">&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t give in to bullies&rsquo;: Former Australian PM fires back after Trump calls him 'weak' in late-night rant</a></span></strong></p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Rubio defends cuts</span></strong></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">In a post on X, Rubio said, "After a 6-week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programmes at USAID. The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States."</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">He added, "In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programmes we are keeping (approximately 1000) </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">to </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">now</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> be</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> administered more effectively under the State Department. Thank you to DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform." DOGE, a Musk-backed office, has placed officials in key government roles and played a significant part in reducing federal spending.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-miffed-with-uk-after-king-charles-welcomes-zelensky-trudeau-to-his-home-8837379">&lsquo;Makes him feel less special&rsquo;: Trump miffed with UK after King Charles welcomes Zelensky, Trudeau to his home</a></span></strong></p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Musk reacts</span></strong></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Musk, who had previously clashed with Rubio, responded to the announcement by saying, &ldquo;Tough, but necessary.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">&ldquo;Good working with you. The important parts of USAID should always have been with Dept of State,&rdquo; Musk added. He has long been a vocal critic of USAID, even once suggesting </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">that it</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> should be "fed into a woodchipper."</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-us-president-donald-trump-zelensky-what-to-expect-from-us-ukraine-talks-in-saudi-after-trump-zelensky-fallout-8840380">'Ceasefire in sky and sea': What to expect from US-Ukraine talks in Saudi after Trump, Zelensky fallout</a></span></strong></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A court filing in late February revealed that the administration had already cancelled nearly 5,800 USAID awards. It stated that Rubio had "made a final decision </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">with respect to</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> each award, on an individualised basis, affirmatively electing to either retain the award or terminate it </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">pursuant to</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> the terms of the instrument or independent legal authority as inconsistent with the national interests and foreign policy of the United States."</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The administration&rsquo;s decision to freeze foreign aid payments and dismantle USAID has faced legal opposition. A federal judge permitted the government to proceed with suspending and terminating staff. However, another judge ruled that the administration must pay nearly $2 billion in outstanding fees for humanitarian work.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-wont-negotiate-under-intimidation-as-donald-trump-ramps-up-pressure-8839146">Iran won't negotiate under 'intimidation' as Donald Trump ramps up pressure</a></span></strong></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Supreme Court upheld this ruling last week, though it did not specify when the payments would be made.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">USAID has historically distributed billions of dollars annually to combat poverty, address diseases, and respond to </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">crises such as</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> famines and natural disasters. It also supports democracy-building initiatives, independent media, and social development projects.</span></p>
<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">(With inputs from agencies)</span></em></p>

World: This decision shows the swift dismantling of the US' independent humanitarian agency, which had been on the hit list of both President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.

The Trump administration is set to eliminate 83% of the programmes under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and shift the remaining ones to the State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday (March 10). Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces cancellation of 83% of USAID programs, says some "harmed" US interests pic.twitter.com/3AnayxvrhX — WION (@WIONews) March 10, 2025 This decision shows the swift dismantling of the US' independent humanitarian agency, which had been on the hit list of both President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. The remaining 1,000 USAID programmes will now be managed under the State Department’s oversight. Also read: ‘Don’t give in to bullies’: Former Australian PM fires back after Trump calls him 'weak' in late-night rant Rubio defends cuts In a post on X, Rubio said, "After a 6-week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programmes at USAID. The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States." He added, "In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programmes we are keeping (approximately 1000) to now be administered more effectively under the State Department. Thank you to DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform." DOGE, a Musk-backed office, has placed officials in key government roles and played a significant part in reducing federal spending. Also read: ‘Makes him feel less special’: Trump miffed with UK after King Charles welcomes Zelensky, Trudeau to his home Musk reacts Musk, who had previously clashed with Rubio, responded to the announcement by saying, “Tough, but necessary.” “Good working with you. The important parts of USAID should always have been with Dept of State,” Musk added. He has long been a vocal critic of USAID, even once suggesting that it should be "fed into a woodchipper." Also read: 'Ceasefire in sky and sea': What to expect from US-Ukraine talks in Saudi after Trump, Zelensky fallout A court filing in late February revealed that the administration had already cancelled nearly 5,800 USAID awards. It stated that Rubio had "made a final decision with respect to each award, on an individualised basis, affirmatively electing to either retain the award or terminate it pursuant to the terms of the instrument or independent legal authority as inconsistent with the national interests and foreign policy of the United States." The administration’s decision to freeze foreign aid payments and dismantle USAID has faced legal opposition. A federal judge permitted the government to proceed with suspending and terminating staff. However, another judge ruled that the administration must pay nearly $2 billion in outstanding fees for humanitarian work. Also read: Iran won't negotiate under 'intimidation' as Donald Trump ramps up pressure The Supreme Court upheld this ruling last week, though it did not specify when the payments would be made. USAID has historically distributed billions of dollars annually to combat poverty, address diseases, and respond to crises such as famines and natural disasters. It also supports democracy-building initiatives, independent media, and social development projects. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Thank you to DOGE’: Trump’s State Secy Rubio slashes 83% of USAID programmes, Musk says ‘tough but necessary’

President Donald Trump has stated that Elon Musk is not responsible for recent job cuts, addressing concerns over workforce reductions. Amid backlash over layoffs, Trump met with his cabinet members, emphasizing that secretaries have the final say on staffing and policy decisions. The controversy follows discussions about DOGE-related cuts and economic policies.

Trump says Musk not behind job cuts amid backlash

<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Elon Musk&rsquo;s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has updated its &ldquo;wall of receipts&rdquo;, now claiming to have saved US taxpayers an estimated $105 billion. However, the department&rsquo;s </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">own</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> records show a much smaller amount.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">According to DOGE&rsquo;s figures, the total savings come to about $19 billion. This includes $8 billion from cancelled contracts, $10 billion from </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">grants that were stopped</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, and $660 million from terminated leases. The department also claims that these actions have saved $652.17 per US taxpayer, though this number appears to be much higher than what the data supports.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-guy-doesnt-want-peace-trump-slams-zelenskys-remark-suggesting-ukraine-peace-deal-is-far-away-8775562">&lsquo;This guy doesn&rsquo;t want peace&rsquo;: Trump slams Zelensky&rsquo;s remark suggesting Ukraine peace deal is 'far away'</a></span></strong></p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Concerns over accuracy</span></strong></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Since its launch, DOGE has faced </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">close</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> scrutiny, especially after its first receipts wall contained major errors. One of the biggest mistakes involved a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) contract. DOGE initially claimed it had saved $8 billion, but the </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">actual</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> contract was only worth $8 million.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The department quickly corrected this and other mistakes, but it has not explained why its estimated savings are much higher than what its website can verify. DOGE updates its records weekly and has promised to introduce real-time updates soon.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-claims-hes-the-only-us-president-who-didnt-surrender-ukraines-land-to-putin-russia-zelensky-8775264">Trump claims he&rsquo;s the only US prez who didn&rsquo;t &lsquo;surrender&rsquo; Ukraine&rsquo;s land to Putin, but history says otherwise</a></span></strong></p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Old cancellations counted as new </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">savings</span></strong></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A report by The New York Times found that DOGE has taken credit for contract cancellations from decades ago. One example listed on its website was $53.7 million in savings from a US Coast Guard contract that was </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">actually</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> cancelled in 2005 during George W. Bush&rsquo;s presidency.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The report also suggested that DOGE has been removing incorrect claims only to replace them with new ones. While there are many contracts for taxpayers to keep track of, experts who study government spending have noticed these mistakes.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lisa Shea Mundt, an analyst at The Pulse of GovCon, said many of DOGE&rsquo;s claimed savings do not count as actual savings.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oscars-host-conan-obrien-mocks-us-president-trump-over-ugly-spat-with-zelensky-anora-8775068">&lsquo;Stand up to a powerful Russian&rsquo;: Oscars host Conan O&rsquo;Brien mocks Trump over ugly spat with Zelensky | Watch</a></span></strong></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">&ldquo;These are not savings,&rdquo; she told the Times. &ldquo;The money&rsquo;s been spent. Period. Point blank.&rdquo;</span></p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Questions about the team&rsquo;s experience</span></strong></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Times also raised concerns about whether DOGE&rsquo;s staff </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">are qualified to</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> handle complex government contracts. Many of the department&rsquo;s young employees have ties to Musk&rsquo;s companies, but may not have enough experience with federal budgeting and contracts.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">&ldquo;The mistakes also seem to call into question the team members&rsquo; competence&mdash;whether they understand the government well enough to cut it while avoiding catastrophe,&rdquo; the report stated.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Musk has said that mistakes will happen but will be fixed quickly. However, some of these errors may have serious consequences.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A former USAID official warned that some of DOGE&rsquo;s actions could have </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">put lives at risk</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">. Musk confirmed at a Cabinet meeting last week that DOGE had briefly cut funding for Ebola prevention, though he said the funding was restored quickly.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-ex-national-security-adviser-hr-mcmaster-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelensky-8774646">&lsquo;WEAK, TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE LOSER&rsquo;: Trump rages at ex-security adviser who said he&rsquo;s &lsquo;being played&rsquo; by Putin</a></span></strong></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The department also came under criticism after it was revealed that 400,000 boxes of USAID-branded &ldquo;Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food&rdquo; were stuck in a warehouse in Georgia because of budget cuts. These food packages are meant to help malnourished children in crisis areas.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Jon Favreau, former Barack Obama speechwriter and co-host of Pod Save America, criticised Musk over the issue. &ldquo;Kids will die because Elon Musk starved them of food we already paid for,&rdquo; Favreau wrote.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Musk responded by calling Favreau &ldquo;an imbecilic propagandist who lies to score cheap political points&rdquo; but later admitted the funding cut had happened. He said the decision had been reversed.</span></p>
<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">(With inputs from agencies)</span></em></p>

World: According to DOGE’s figures, the total savings come to about $19 billion. This includes $8 billion from cancelled contracts, $10 billion from grants that were stopped, and $660 million from terminated leases.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has updated its “wall of receipts”, now claiming to have saved US taxpayers an estimated $105 billion. However, the department’s own records show a much smaller amount. According to DOGE’s figures, the total savings come to about $19 billion. This includes $8 billion from cancelled contracts, $10 billion from grants that were stopped, and $660 million from terminated leases. The department also claims that these actions have saved $652.17 per US taxpayer, though this number appears to be much higher than what the data supports. Also read: ‘This guy doesn’t want peace’: Trump slams Zelensky’s remark suggesting Ukraine peace deal is 'far away' Concerns over accuracy Since its launch, DOGE has faced close scrutiny, especially after its first receipts wall contained major errors. One of the biggest mistakes involved a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) contract. DOGE initially claimed it had saved $8 billion, but the actual contract was only worth $8 million. The department quickly corrected this and other mistakes, but it has not explained why its estimated savings are much higher than what its website can verify. DOGE updates its records weekly and has promised to introduce real-time updates soon. Also read: Trump claims he’s the only US prez who didn’t ‘surrender’ Ukraine’s land to Putin, but history says otherwise Old cancellations counted as new savings A report by The New York Times found that DOGE has taken credit for contract cancellations from decades ago. One example listed on its website was $53.7 million in savings from a US Coast Guard contract that was actually cancelled in 2005 during George W. Bush’s presidency. The report also suggested that DOGE has been removing incorrect claims only to replace them with new ones. While there are many contracts for taxpayers to keep track of, experts who study government spending have noticed these mistakes. Lisa Shea Mundt, an analyst at The Pulse of GovCon, said many of DOGE’s claimed savings do not count as actual savings. Also read: ‘Stand up to a powerful Russian’: Oscars host Conan O’Brien mocks Trump over ugly spat with Zelensky | Watch “These are not savings,” she told the Times. “The money’s been spent. Period. Point blank.” Questions about the team’s experience The Times also raised concerns about whether DOGE’s staff are qualified to handle complex government contracts. Many of the department’s young employees have ties to Musk’s companies, but may not have enough experience with federal budgeting and contracts. “The mistakes also seem to call into question the team members’ competence—whether they understand the government well enough to cut it while avoiding catastrophe,” the report stated. Musk has said that mistakes will happen but will be fixed quickly. However, some of these errors may have serious consequences. A former USAID official warned that some of DOGE’s actions could have put lives at risk. Musk confirmed at a Cabinet meeting last week that DOGE had briefly cut funding for Ebola prevention, though he said the funding was restored quickly. Also read: ‘WEAK, TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE LOSER’: Trump rages at ex-security adviser who said he’s ‘being played’ by Putin The department also came under criticism after it was revealed that 400,000 boxes of USAID-branded “Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food” were stuck in a warehouse in Georgia because of budget cuts. These food packages are meant to help malnourished children in crisis areas. Jon Favreau, former Barack Obama speechwriter and co-host of Pod Save America, criticised Musk over the issue. “Kids will die because Elon Musk starved them of food we already paid for,” Favreau wrote. Musk responded by calling Favreau “an imbecilic propagandist who lies to score cheap political points” but later admitted the funding cut had happened. He said the decision had been reversed. (With inputs from agencies)

DOGE ate my savings?: Elon Musk claims his department saved $105bn, but math doesn’t add up

An anticipated mass firing of workers started Thursday at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which could cut more than 10% of the agency’s employees, according to local and national officials.

Hundreds Of NOAA Employees Laid Off As Part Of Federal Workforce Downsizing

<p>During the first Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday (Feb 28), US President Donald Trump and his close aide Elon Musk defended the email sent to federal employees, demanding what they have done in their job recently.</p>
<p>When asked by a reporter whether federal workers who did not respond to the email risk being fired, Musk said that he wants to keep everyone who is doing well, otherwise, they should not be on the public payroll.</p>
<p>The billionaire said that Trump authorised the email. He added that another one is coming.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-anybody-unhappy-with-elon-well-throw-you-out-trump-jokes-about-firing-cabinet-members-8759940">'Is anybody unhappy with Elon? We&rsquo;ll throw you out: Trump Jokes about firing cabinet members</a></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;We want to keep everyone who is essential and doing their job well, otherwise they should not be on the public payroll,&rdquo; he said.</p>
<p>Musk added that anyone who does not respond to the email &ldquo;is presumed dead&rdquo; or is &ldquo;a fraudster&rdquo;.</p>
<h2><strong>&lsquo;Maybe they don't exist&rsquo;</strong></h2>
<p>While Trump said, &ldquo;Maybe they don't exist&rdquo;, referring to more than a million federal employees who have not responded to the email yet.</p>
<p>Trump said during the meeting that those who haven&rsquo;t responded are &ldquo;on the bubble&rdquo;, adding that &ldquo;maybe they&rsquo;re going to be gone.&rdquo;</p>
<p>He also slammed former president Joe Biden, suggesting that his administration did not track their own workforce properly.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-holds-first-cabinet-meeting-confirms-zelenskys-visit-to-us-on-friday-8759830">Confidence in nation at 'all-time high': 10 key takeaways from Trump's first official cabinet meeting</a></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;We're trying to figure out who those people are who haven't responded. We're being a little more surgical in situations where people are doing classified stuff,&rdquo; Trump said.</p>
<p>Trump called on the cabinet members, urging them to &ldquo;do their own DOGE&rdquo; at their respective agencies. He also suggested the Environmental Protection Agency should shrink its workforce by up to 65 per cent.</p>
<p>A day earlier, the White House stated that over one million federal employees had responded to the email.</p>
<h2><strong>Musk&rsquo;s email</strong></h2>
<p>Federal workers were sent an email by Musk&rsquo;s team asking workers, &ldquo;What did you do last week?&rdquo; Musk warned that failing to reply to the email would be taken as their resignation, sparking confusion among the employees.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-orders-federal-agencies-to-prepare-for-job-cuts-8759853">Trump administration orders federal agencies to prepare for job cuts</a></strong></p>
<p>However, FBI Director Kash Patel instructed the staff in his agency to &ldquo;please pause any responses&rdquo;, making clear that &ldquo;no employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>The US Office of Personnel Management also directed agencies that responses to the email were optional.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

World | When asked by a reporter about whether federal workers who did not respond to the email risk being fired, Musk said that he wants to keep everyone who is doing well, otherwise, they should not be on the public payroll.

During the first Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday (Feb 28), US President Donald Trump and his close aide Elon Musk defended the email sent to federal employees, demanding what they have done in their job recently. When asked by a reporter whether federal workers who did not respond to the email risk being fired, Musk said that he wants to keep everyone who is doing well, otherwise, they should not be on the public payroll. The billionaire said that Trump authorised the email. He added that another one is coming. Also read | 'Is anybody unhappy with Elon? We’ll throw you out: Trump Jokes about firing cabinet members “We want to keep everyone who is essential and doing their job well, otherwise they should not be on the public payroll,” he said. Musk added that anyone who does not respond to the email “is presumed dead” or is “a fraudster”. ‘Maybe they don't exist’ While Trump said, “Maybe they don't exist”, referring to more than a million federal employees who have not responded to the email yet. Trump said during the meeting that those who haven’t responded are “on the bubble”, adding that “maybe they’re going to be gone.” He also slammed former president Joe Biden, suggesting that his administration did not track their own workforce properly. Also read | Confidence in nation at 'all-time high': 10 key takeaways from Trump's first official cabinet meeting “We're trying to figure out who those people are who haven't responded. We're being a little more surgical in situations where people are doing classified stuff,” Trump said. Trump called on the cabinet members, urging them to “do their own DOGE” at their respective agencies. He also suggested the Environmental Protection Agency should shrink its workforce by up to 65 per cent. A day earlier, the White House stated that over one million federal employees had responded to the email. Musk’s email Federal workers were sent an email by Musk’s team asking workers, “What did you do last week?” Musk warned that failing to reply to the email would be taken as their resignation, sparking confusion among the employees. Also read | Trump administration orders federal agencies to prepare for job cuts However, FBI Director Kash Patel instructed the staff in his agency to “please pause any responses”, making clear that “no employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command.” The US Office of Personnel Management also directed agencies that responses to the email were optional. (With inputs from agencies)

US federal employees who don’t respond to email are ‘presumed dead’, says Musk

<p>The White House confirmed on Tuesday (Feb 26) that Amy Gleason is serving as the acting administrator for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).&nbsp;</p>
<p>This comes after US President Donald Trump's administration has been facing pressure to disclose the identity of the official formally in charge of DOGE, particularly after court filings clarified that billionaire Elon Musk, whom Trump previously claimed was overseeing the department<span>, had no direct authority over the cost-cutting initiative.</span></p>
<p>A White House official said that Gleason, a former US Digital Service official, will now lead the department that Trump established via executive order after taking office in January.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-20-civil-service-employees-resigned-from-trumps-doge-in-protest-8758303">Over 20 civil service employees resigned from Trump&rsquo;s DOGE in protest</a></strong></p>
<p>Musk is an employee of the &ldquo;White House Office&rdquo; and serves as senior adviser to the president, according to Joshua Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This announcement came after more than 20 members of the former US Digital service, the agency that was renamed the US DOGE service, resigned on Tuesday and gave a letter criticising Musk for working to "dismantle critical public services".&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-love-it-trump-backs-idea-of-sending-some-savings-from-doge-back-to-us-citizens-8741573">&lsquo;I love it&rsquo;: Trump backs idea of sending some savings from DOGE back to US citizens</a></strong></p>
<h2>Who is Amy Gleason?</h2>
<p>Amy Gleason, a former US Digital Service official, is a low-profile executive, who has expertise in healthcare technology.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The 53-year-old also worked in the first Trump administration.&nbsp;</p>
<p>She served in the United States Digital Service from 2018 to 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile.&nbsp;</p>
<p>During that tenure, she worked with the White House on the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, she returned to the agency in January after Trump took office.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-dress-in-t-shirts-trump-mocks-genius-doge-staffers-who-dress-worse-than-elon-musk-8736789">&lsquo;They dress in T-shirts&rsquo;: Trump mocks &lsquo;genius&rsquo; DOGE staffers who dress &lsquo;worse than Elon Musk&rsquo;</a></strong></p>
<p>As she has expertise in healthcare, she served as the vice president for research at the Cure JM Foundation from 2014 to 2018.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Gleason also co-founded and served as an executive of the Florida-based telemedicine startup Care Sync.&nbsp;</p>
<p>She has also advocated for the cure of juvenile myositis, a rare autoimmune illness that causes muscle weakness and a rash in children. Her adult daughter also has this disease.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Currently, she is responsible for driving the DOGE agenda of simplifying government operations through personnel reductions, contract terminations, and budgetary reductions.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-warns-federal-workers-to-return-to-office-or-be-put-on-administrative-leave-8753283">Musk warns federal workers to return to office or be put on administrative leave</a></strong></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

World: White House official said that Gleason now leads the department that Trump established via executive order after taking office in January.

The White House confirmed on Tuesday (Feb 26) that Amy Gleason is serving as the acting administrator for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This comes after US President Donald Trump's administration has been facing pressure to disclose the identity of the official formally in charge of DOGE, particularly after court filings clarified that billionaire Elon Musk, whom Trump previously claimed was overseeing the department, had no direct authority over the cost-cutting initiative. A White House official said that Gleason, a former US Digital Service official, will now lead the department that Trump established via executive order after taking office in January. Also read: Over 20 civil service employees resigned from Trump’s DOGE in protest Musk is an employee of the “White House Office” and serves as senior adviser to the president, according to Joshua Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration. This announcement came after more than 20 members of the former US Digital service, the agency that was renamed the US DOGE service, resigned on Tuesday and gave a letter criticising Musk for working to "dismantle critical public services". Also read: ‘I love it’: Trump backs idea of sending some savings from DOGE back to US citizens Who is Amy Gleason? Amy Gleason, a former US Digital Service official, is a low-profile executive, who has expertise in healthcare technology. The 53-year-old also worked in the first Trump administration. She served in the United States Digital Service from 2018 to 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile. During that tenure, she worked with the White House on the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, she returned to the agency in January after Trump took office. Also read: ‘They dress in T-shirts’: Trump mocks ‘genius’ DOGE staffers who dress ‘worse than Elon Musk’ As she has expertise in healthcare, she served as the vice president for research at the Cure JM Foundation from 2014 to 2018. Gleason also co-founded and served as an executive of the Florida-based telemedicine startup Care Sync. She has also advocated for the cure of juvenile myositis, a rare autoimmune illness that causes muscle weakness and a rash in children. Her adult daughter also has this disease. Currently, she is responsible for driving the DOGE agenda of simplifying government operations through personnel reductions, contract terminations, and budgetary reductions. Also read: Musk warns federal workers to return to office or be put on administrative leave (With inputs from agencies)

Not Elon Musk but Amy Gleason now leads Trump's DOGE. Who is she?

White House on Tuesday named Amy Gleason as acting administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Gleason has a background in healthcare technology and previously worked in the first Trump administration. Watch this report for more details!

White House says Amy Gleason is the acting administrator for Musk's DOGE program

<div>Roughly a third of staffers at Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency have resigned in protest, saying that they will not push through demanded changes that put the country at risk.</div>
<div></div>
<div>"We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations," 21 staffers of DOGE wrote in a letter, seen by AFP on Tuesday, to White House chief of staff Susan Wiles.</div>
<div></div>
<div>"However, it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments," they added.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Also read | <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-judge-blocks-trumps-order-to-transfer-transgender-women-inmates-to-mens-prisons-8758246">US judge blocks Trump&rsquo;s order to transfer transgender women inmates to men's prisons</a></strong></div>
<div></div>
<div>The workers initially worked for the United States Digital Service, which was transformed into DOGE after President Donald Trump took office on January 20th, with Musk effectively taking over the department.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Musk is the political force behind DOGE, with a small group of employees faithful to the multi-billionaire being dispatched across government and working towards gutting federal staffing and spending.</div>
<div></div>
<div>While Musk is not the formal administrator of DOGE, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO is nonetheless directing operations and will even attend Trump's first cabinet meeting on Wednesday.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The world's wealthiest person and a top Trump donor, Musk has no ministerial portfolio or formal decision-making authority but has status as a "special government employee" and "senior adviser to the president."</div>
<div></div>
<div>Also read |<strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musks-canadian-citizenship-at-risk-250000-citizens-sign-petition-to-revoke-it-over-doge-chiefs-ties-to-donald-trump-8758192">Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship at risk? 250,000 citizens sign petition to strip him of Canada passport</a></strong></div>
<div></div>
<div>He downplayed the significance of the departures, saying that the workers were "political holdovers" who worked remotely and refused to return to the office as ordered by Trump.</div>
<div></div>
<div>"They would have been fired had they not resigned," he added on X, the platform he owns.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The signatories describe a chaotic transition process that began on January 21 with hastily conducted interviews by unidentified individuals wearing White House visitor badges.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The interviewers questioned staff about political loyalty, attempted to create division among team members, and displayed "limited technical ability."</div>
<div></div>
<div>Tensions escalated on February 14 when approximately one-third of USDS staff were abruptly terminated via anonymous email.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Also read | <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/four-indian-firms-sanctioned-by-trumps-administration-for-knowingly-engaging-in-irans-oil-trade-8757883">Four Indian firms sanctioned by Trump for 'knowingly engaging' in Iran's oil trade</a></strong></div>
<div></div>
<div>The dismissed employees had been working on modernizing critical government systems including Social Security, veterans' services, tax filing, healthcare, and disaster relief platforms, the letter said.</div>
<div></div>
<div>"Their removal endangers millions of Americans who rely on these services every day. The sudden loss of their technology expertise makes critical systems and Americans' data less safe," the letter stated.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The employees explicitly refused to participate in what they described as efforts to "compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans' sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services."</div>
<h2><strong>Software for firing</strong></h2>
<div>The USDS was established in 2014 during Barack Obama's administration and has historically operated as a non-partisan technology unit tasked with improving government digital services.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The mass resignation came days after Musk engineered a mass email to the federal government's two million workers, ordering them to justify their work in an email or risk being fired.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Also read | <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/indian-origin-tushar-mehta-joins-jeff-bezoss-blue-origin-on-historic-10th-space-tourism-mission-8757725">Indian-origin Tushar Mehta joins Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin on historic 10th space tourism mission</a></strong></div>
<div></div>
<div>Government departments on Monday largely told staff to either ignore the DOGE-inspired email or downplayed the risks of not answering it.</div>
<div></div>
<div>According to Wired magazine, engineers at DOGE are working on new software that could assist mass firings of federal workers across the government.</div>
<div></div>
<div>So far, thousands of mainly probationary workers -- employees who are recently hired, promoted, or otherwise changed roles -- have been terminated since Trump's inauguration.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The new software would streamline the dismissal process, known as a reduction in force, for firing federal workers with stronger civil service protections.&nbsp;</div>
<div></div>
<div><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></div>

World: A significant staff exodus hits Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency as one-third resign, protesting against changes they claim could endanger national security.

Roughly a third of staffers at Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency have resigned in protest, saying that they will not push through demanded changes that put the country at risk. "We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations," 21 staffers of DOGE wrote in a letter, seen by AFP on Tuesday, to White House chief of staff Susan Wiles. "However, it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments," they added. Also read | US judge blocks Trump’s order to transfer transgender women inmates to men's prisons The workers initially worked for the United States Digital Service, which was transformed into DOGE after President Donald Trump took office on January 20th, with Musk effectively taking over the department. Musk is the political force behind DOGE, with a small group of employees faithful to the multi-billionaire being dispatched across government and working towards gutting federal staffing and spending. While Musk is not the formal administrator of DOGE, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO is nonetheless directing operations and will even attend Trump's first cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The world's wealthiest person and a top Trump donor, Musk has no ministerial portfolio or formal decision-making authority but has status as a "special government employee" and "senior adviser to the president." Also read | Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship at risk? 250,000 citizens sign petition to strip him of Canada passport He downplayed the significance of the departures, saying that the workers were "political holdovers" who worked remotely and refused to return to the office as ordered by Trump. "They would have been fired had they not resigned," he added on X, the platform he owns. The signatories describe a chaotic transition process that began on January 21 with hastily conducted interviews by unidentified individuals wearing White House visitor badges. The interviewers questioned staff about political loyalty, attempted to create division among team members, and displayed "limited technical ability." Tensions escalated on February 14 when approximately one-third of USDS staff were abruptly terminated via anonymous email. Also read | Four Indian firms sanctioned by Trump for 'knowingly engaging' in Iran's oil trade The dismissed employees had been working on modernizing critical government systems including Social Security, veterans' services, tax filing, healthcare, and disaster relief platforms, the letter said. "Their removal endangers millions of Americans who rely on these services every day. The sudden loss of their technology expertise makes critical systems and Americans' data less safe," the letter stated. The employees explicitly refused to participate in what they described as efforts to "compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans' sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services." Software for firing The USDS was established in 2014 during Barack Obama's administration and has historically operated as a non-partisan technology unit tasked with improving government digital services. The mass resignation came days after Musk engineered a mass email to the federal government's two million workers, ordering them to justify their work in an email or risk being fired. Also read | Indian-origin Tushar Mehta joins Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin on historic 10th space tourism mission Government departments on Monday largely told staff to either ignore the DOGE-inspired email or downplayed the risks of not answering it. According to Wired magazine, engineers at DOGE are working on new software that could assist mass firings of federal workers across the government. So far, thousands of mainly probationary workers -- employees who are recently hired, promoted, or otherwise changed roles -- have been terminated since Trump's inauguration. The new software would streamline the dismissal process, known as a reduction in force, for firing federal workers with stronger civil service protections. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Over 20 civil service employees resigned from Trump’s DOGE in protest

<p>Elon Musk may soon lose his Canadian citizenship, as over 250,000 Canadians have signed a parliamentary petition asking the nation to revoke the DOGE chief's citizenship and passport.</p>
<h2><strong>What did Musk do to deserve this?</strong></h2>
<p>Musk, one of the biggest allies of US President Donald Trump, has faced the ire of the people of Canada, after sharing an inciting post proclaiming "Canada is not a real country," among other things.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/conman-sukesh-chandrashekhar-writes-to-elon-musk-offers-to-invest-2-billion-in-x-8756607">Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar writes to Elon Musk, offers to invest $2 billion in X</a></strong></p>
<p>The X CEO's "Canada is not a real country," post was his reaction to the news of the petition, and not the reason campaigners are seeking a revocation of his Canadian citizenship. The post has since been removed.</p>
<figure class="image"><img alt="Canada is not a real country: Elon Musk" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/02/26/8x3zNRV2iJYRgoJ3fgSi.png" style="width: 1280px;"><pwa-container-wrapper style="display: flex !important; height: 0px !important;"><pwa-container data-uid="pwa_CF7AB-1FEB6-363EC-DF199-07" class="pwa-container " style="overflow: hidden; position: absolute; box-sizing: content-box; pointer-events: none; margin: 4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: 1280px; height: 22.3958px; z-index: 1;"><pwa data-pwa-id="f72039e4-b823-4e69-b87b-9c98f5ccceb3" data-pwa-hint="Make sure that all of the quotations and brackets in this paragraph are closed." data-pwa-heavy="false" data-pwa-rule-id="STRUCT_PUNCT_PARENTHESES" data-pwa-help-id="STRUCT_PUNCT_PARENTHESES" data-pwa-report="realtime_light_long" data-pwa-category="grammargrammar" data-pwa-suggestions="" data-pwa-help-article-id="1000153" data-pwa-style-color="3" class="pwa-mark" style="position: absolute; top: 1.66675px; left: 819.206px; width: 5.33856px; height: 17.5px;"></pwa><pwa style="position: absolute; top: 99999px; left: 999999px; width: 1px; height: 1px;"></pwa></pwa-container><pwa-container style="overflow: hidden; position: absolute; box-sizing: content-box; pointer-events: none; margin: 4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: 1280px; height: 22.3958px; z-index: 1;"></pwa-container></pwa-container-wrapper>
<figcaption pwa2-uuid="EDITOR-0D8-0B7-BAE0B-31B" pwa-fake-editor="" spellcheck="false">Canada is not a real country: Elon Musk Photograph: (X)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>What irked the Canadian petitioners is Musk's close association with Trump, who since his inauguration on January 20, 2025 has announced his plan to levy a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports starting in March.</p>
<p>The Republican leader has also proposed annexing Canada and making it the 51st state of the US, "against the national interest of Canada," claim petitioners.</p>
<p>Musk is a part of the Trump administration, albeit not an elected one. He is the chief of DOGE or Department of Government Efficiency, a task force created by Musk to cut federal spending. <br><br>In the one month of the Trump 2.0 administration, the SpaceX CEO has been at the forefront of many controversial decisions, and the petition claims: "He has now become a member of a foreign government that is attempting to erase Canadian sovereignty".</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/video-of-donald-trump-sucking-elon-musks-feet-plays-on-govt-screen-watch-8754577">AI video of Donald Trump sucking Elon Musk's feet plays on govt office screens - WATCH</a></strong></p>
<p>It alleges that Musk has "used his wealth and power to influence our elections".</p>
<h2><strong>Musk is a Canadian citizen?</strong></h2>
<p>Elon Musk actually holds South African, Canadian, and American citizenships. He was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and obtained a Canadian citizenship through his mother Maye Musk, who was born in Canada. Later, he obtained a US citizenship after entering the nation on a student visa.</p>
<h2><strong>Can Musk lose his Canadian citizenship?</strong></h2>
<p>The country only revokes citizenship in cases of serious crimes such as treason, espionage, or if an individual is found to have committed fraud or misrepresentation on their immigration or citizenship application.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-warns-federal-workers-to-return-to-office-or-be-put-on-administrative-leave-8753283">Musk warns federal workers to return to office or be put on administrative leave</a></strong></p>
<p>According to Audrey Macklin, a University of Toronto law professor, "Canada does not revoke citizenship that is lawfully obtained".</p>
<p>Talking to CNN, Macklin explained, "there is actually no way of revoking Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship, unless he obtained it by fraud or misrepresentation."</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Trending | World news | Over 250,000 Canadians have signed a petition to revoke Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship due to his close ties with US President Donald Trump.

Elon Musk may soon lose his Canadian citizenship, as over 250,000 Canadians have signed a parliamentary petition asking the nation to revoke the DOGE chief's citizenship and passport. What did Musk do to deserve this? Musk, one of the biggest allies of US President Donald Trump, has faced the ire of the people of Canada, after sharing an inciting post proclaiming "Canada is not a real country," among other things. Also read | Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar writes to Elon Musk, offers to invest $2 billion in X The X CEO's "Canada is not a real country," post was his reaction to the news of the petition, and not the reason campaigners are seeking a revocation of his Canadian citizenship. The post has since been removed. Canada is not a real country: Elon Musk Photograph: (X) What irked the Canadian petitioners is Musk's close association with Trump, who since his inauguration on January 20, 2025 has announced his plan to levy a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports starting in March. The Republican leader has also proposed annexing Canada and making it the 51st state of the US, "against the national interest of Canada," claim petitioners. Musk is a part of the Trump administration, albeit not an elected one. He is the chief of DOGE or Department of Government Efficiency, a task force created by Musk to cut federal spending. In the one month of the Trump 2.0 administration, the SpaceX CEO has been at the forefront of many controversial decisions, and the petition claims: "He has now become a member of a foreign government that is attempting to erase Canadian sovereignty". Also read | AI video of Donald Trump sucking Elon Musk's feet plays on govt office screens - WATCH It alleges that Musk has "used his wealth and power to influence our elections". Musk is a Canadian citizen? Elon Musk actually holds South African, Canadian, and American citizenships. He was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and obtained a Canadian citizenship through his mother Maye Musk, who was born in Canada. Later, he obtained a US citizenship after entering the nation on a student visa. Can Musk lose his Canadian citizenship? The country only revokes citizenship in cases of serious crimes such as treason, espionage, or if an individual is found to have committed fraud or misrepresentation on their immigration or citizenship application. Also read | Musk warns federal workers to return to office or be put on administrative leave According to Audrey Macklin, a University of Toronto law professor, "Canada does not revoke citizenship that is lawfully obtained". Talking to CNN, Macklin explained, "there is actually no way of revoking Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship, unless he obtained it by fraud or misrepresentation." (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship at risk? 250,000 citizens sign petition to strip him of Canada passport

The Trump administration is exploring the ‘DOGE Dividend’ plan, a proposal to return $400 billion to taxpayers, giving each eligible American a $5,000 payout. Spearheaded by James Fishback, the plan aims to provide financial relief while using 20% of the savings to reduce national debt.

Trump administration mulls plan to return $400 billion to taxpayers

Trump administration considers $400 billion ‘DOGE dividend’ taxpayer plan

<p>Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk on Monday (Feb 24) warned federal employees who have not returned to the office that they would be put on administrative leave if they fail to report back.</p>
<p>This comes a month after US President Donald Trump said that government workers must return to office how it was before the pandemic &ldquo;or be terminated.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Those who ignored President Trump&rsquo;s executive order to return to work have now received over a month&rsquo;s warning,&rdquo; Musk wrote in an X post.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Musk&rsquo;s post was a reply to a post by Rep. Ralph Norman, who said that no government agency was occupying even half of their office space.</p>
<p>In January, the president said that he believed very few federal workers would return to the office and &ldquo;therefore our government will get smaller and more efficient.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Trump signed an executive order to end work from home and require employees to return to the office in person. The department heads were ordered to &ldquo;as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis.&rdquo;</p>
<p>All government agencies have given deadlines to employees for when they must return to the office full-time. Employees were offered buyouts in case they did not wish to return to the office.</p>
<h2><strong>Musk&rsquo;s previous email</strong></h2>
<p>Over the weekend, federal workers were sent an email by Musk&rsquo;s team asking workers, &ldquo;What did you do last week?&rdquo; Musk warned that failing to reply to the email would be taken as their resignation.&nbsp;</p>
<p>However, FBI Director Kash Patel instructed the staff in his agency to &ldquo;please pause any responses&rdquo;, making clear that &ldquo;no employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command.&rdquo; This email sparked confusion among the employees.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

World | This comes a month after US President Donald Trump said that government workers must return to office how it was before the pandemic “or be terminated.”

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk on Monday (Feb 24) warned federal employees who have not returned to the office that they would be put on administrative leave if they fail to report back. This comes a month after US President Donald Trump said that government workers must return to office how it was before the pandemic “or be terminated.” “Those who ignored President Trump’s executive order to return to work have now received over a month’s warning,” Musk wrote in an X post. “Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave.” Musk’s post was a reply to a post by Rep. Ralph Norman, who said that no government agency was occupying even half of their office space. In January, the president said that he believed very few federal workers would return to the office and “therefore our government will get smaller and more efficient.” Trump signed an executive order to end work from home and require employees to return to the office in person. The department heads were ordered to “as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis.” All government agencies have given deadlines to employees for when they must return to the office full-time. Employees were offered buyouts in case they did not wish to return to the office. Musk’s previous email Over the weekend, federal workers were sent an email by Musk’s team asking workers, “What did you do last week?” Musk warned that failing to reply to the email would be taken as their resignation. However, FBI Director Kash Patel instructed the staff in his agency to “please pause any responses”, making clear that “no employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command.” This email sparked confusion among the employees. (With inputs from agencies)

Musk warns federal workers to return to office or be put on administrative leave

A judge on Thursday denied a union bid to temporarily halt the firing of thousands of federal employees on probationary status, handing President Donald Trump another legal win in his plan to slash the government workforce. 
A number of IRS employees posted messages on social media saying that they had been abruptly terminated and were seeking other opportunities. Watch this report for more details!

US federal mass layoffs: IRS fires 6,000 employees as Donald Trump slashes US government

Donald Trump's latest move has yet again raised an alarm, this time with the Justice Department as the U.S. president's target. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that he has instructed the Department of Justice to terminate all attorneys appointed during the Biden administration. The U.S. president slammed his predecessor, claiming the justice system has been politicized and that there is an urgent need to "clean the house immediately." Watch in for more details!

US President Trump says, 'Justice system politicized by Biden administration'

<p>During a Fox News interview on Tuesday (Feb 18), Donald Trump poked fun at the way young staffers in his newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) dress.</p>
<p>The former president was speaking with Elon Musk and host Sean Hannity when the topic turned to executive orders and their implementation.</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/absolutely-bewildered-alleged-victims-slam-trump-administration-for-interference-in-andrew-tate-case-8736643" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Absolutely bewildered': Alleged victims slam Trump administration for &lsquo;interference&rsquo; in Andrew Tate case</a></strong></p>
<p>Trump recalled a conversation with Musk about how executive orders are often slow to take effect. &ldquo;This is probably true for all presidents: you write an executive order and you think it&rsquo;s done. You send it out. [But] it doesn&rsquo;t get implemented. Maybe they&rsquo;re from the last administration, and they are in some cases. You try to get them out as fast as you can,&rdquo; Trump said, citing Musk&rsquo;s comments.</p>
<p>&rdquo;As soon as he said that, I said, you know, that&rsquo;s interesting," Trump said.</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-slams-trump-for-living-in-disinformation-bubble-after-false-claim-on-approval-rating-8736468" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Unfortunate': Zelensky slams Trump for living in &lsquo;disinformation bubble&rsquo; after false claim on approval rating</a></strong></p>
<p>Trump then praised Musk&rsquo;s team, calling them &ldquo;geniuses&rdquo; before veering off course. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s got some very brilliant young people working for him that dress much worse than him, actually,&rdquo; Trump said.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;They dress in T-shirts. You wouldn&rsquo;t know they have a 180 IQ,&rdquo; he added</p>
<p>Musk himself was wearing a T-shirt under his jacket and took a moment to show what was written on it. &ldquo;My T-shirt says &lsquo;TECH SUPPORT. Because I&rsquo;m here to provide the president with technology support,&rdquo; he said, prompting laughter from Trump.&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7bx2l3z-b8wdcfbo-cmuqro0r">
<p dir="ltr" lang="zxx"><a href="https://t.co/s3bTYzTemS">pic.twitter.com/s3bTYzTemS</a></p>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1890288333370323327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-and-trump-could-meet-before-end-of-february-says-kremlin-report-8736169" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Putin and Trump could meet before end of February, says Kremlin: Report</a></strong></p>
<p>The interview largely showcased a friendly dynamic between the two. Musk showed strong support for Trump, declaring, &ldquo;I love the president.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>He went on to say, &ldquo;I have spent a lot of time with the president, and not once have I seen him do something that was mean or cruel or wrong. Not once.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-reflects-on-reciprocal-tariff-talks-with-pm-modi-nobody-can-argue-with-me-8735547" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump reflects on reciprocal tariff talks with PM Modi; 'Nobody can argue with me'</a></strong></p>
<p>Trump, in turn, praised Musk as a &ldquo;leader&rdquo; and someone he has &ldquo;always respected.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;I wanted somebody really smart to work with me in terms of the country.&rdquo;</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

World, Trending: “He’s (Elon Musk) got some very brilliant young people working for him that dress much worse than him, actually,” US President Donald Trump said.

During a Fox News interview on Tuesday (Feb 18), Donald Trump poked fun at the way young staffers in his newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) dress. The former president was speaking with Elon Musk and host Sean Hannity when the topic turned to executive orders and their implementation. Also read: 'Absolutely bewildered': Alleged victims slam Trump administration for ‘interference’ in Andrew Tate case Trump recalled a conversation with Musk about how executive orders are often slow to take effect. “This is probably true for all presidents: you write an executive order and you think it’s done. You send it out. [But] it doesn’t get implemented. Maybe they’re from the last administration, and they are in some cases. You try to get them out as fast as you can,” Trump said, citing Musk’s comments. ”As soon as he said that, I said, you know, that’s interesting," Trump said. Also read: 'Unfortunate': Zelensky slams Trump for living in ‘disinformation bubble’ after false claim on approval rating Trump then praised Musk’s team, calling them “geniuses” before veering off course. “He’s got some very brilliant young people working for him that dress much worse than him, actually,” Trump said. “They dress in T-shirts. You wouldn’t know they have a 180 IQ,” he added Musk himself was wearing a T-shirt under his jacket and took a moment to show what was written on it. “My T-shirt says ‘TECH SUPPORT. Because I’m here to provide the president with technology support,” he said, prompting laughter from Trump. pic.twitter.com/s3bTYzTemS — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 14, 2025 Also read: Putin and Trump could meet before end of February, says Kremlin: Report The interview largely showcased a friendly dynamic between the two. Musk showed strong support for Trump, declaring, “I love the president.” He went on to say, “I have spent a lot of time with the president, and not once have I seen him do something that was mean or cruel or wrong. Not once.” Also read: Trump reflects on reciprocal tariff talks with PM Modi; 'Nobody can argue with me' Trump, in turn, praised Musk as a “leader” and someone he has “always respected.” He added, “I wanted somebody really smart to work with me in terms of the country.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘They dress in T-shirts’: Trump mocks ‘genius’ DOGE staffers who dress ‘worse than Elon Musk’

<div>A US judge on Tuesday (Feb 18) declined a request to temporarily block Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from firing federal employees and accessing agency data, a victory for President Donald Trump in his bid to shrink the government workforce.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Fourteen Democratic-ruled states had filed a lawsuit last week contesting Musk's legal authority, but District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied their emergency request to pause his actions.</div>
<div></div>
<div>"Plaintiffs have not carried their burden of showing that they will suffer imminent, irreparable harm absent a temporary restraining order," Chutkan said.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Also read | <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kfc-moving-us-headquarters-from-kentucky-to-texas-8734961">KFC moving US headquarters from Kentucky to Texas</a></strong></div>
<div></div>
<div>DOGE is a free-ranging entity run by Musk, the world's richest person and Trump's biggest donor. The billionaire has taken an assertive role in the new administration, with his agency aiming to cut hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending.</div>
<div></div>
<div>His plans have effectively shuttered some federal agencies, sent thousands of staff members home and sparked legal battles across the country.</div>
<div></div>
<div>In their suit, the 14 states claimed that Musk and DOGE lacked statutory authority for their actions because he had not been formally nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.</div>
<div></div>
<div>"(Musk) exercises virtually unchecked power across the Executive Branch, making decisions about expenditures, contracts, government property, regulations, and the very existence of federal agencies," they said.</div>
<div></div>
<div>In addition, Musk and DOGE have gained access to "sensitive data, information, systems, and technological and financial infrastructure across the federal government," they added.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Also read | <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-will-probably-meet-putin-this-month-dismisses-ukraine-concerns-8734879">Trump says he will &lsquo;probably&rsquo; meet Putin this month; dismisses Ukraine concerns</a></strong></div>
<div></div>
<div>The 14 states had sought to block DOGE from accessing the data systems of the Office of Personnel Management and the Departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation and Commerce, and from terminating any of their employees.</div>
<h2><strong>'Considerable uncertainty'</strong></h2>
<p>Chutkan, in her ruling, said "the court is aware that DOGE's unpredictable actions have resulted in considerable uncertainty and confusion for Plaintiffs and many of their agencies and residents.</p>
<div>"But the 'possibility' that Defendants may take actions that irreparably harm Plaintiffs 'is not enough,'" she said.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Musk's cost-cutting spree has been met with legal pushback on a number of fronts and a mixed bag of rulings.</div>
<div></div>
<div>A different federal judge last week lifted a freeze he had temporarily imposed on a mass buyout plan offered by the Trump administration to federal workers.</div>
<div></div>
<div>In the mass buyout case, labour unions representing federal employees had filed suit to block the scheme masterminded by Musk to slash the size of government by encouraging federal workers to quit.</div>
<div></div>
<div>In an email titled "Fork in the Road," the more than two million US government employees were given an offer to leave with eight months' pay or risk being fired in future culls.</div>
<div></div>
<div>According to the White House, more than 75,000 federal employees signed on to the buyout offer from the Office of Personnel Management.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Trump's executive actions have been challenged in dozens of court cases and the White House has accused "judges in liberal districts" of "abusing their power" to block the president's moves.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The decisions have come from judges nominated by both Republican and Democratic presidents, including Trump himself during his first term.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Chutkan, an appointee of Democratic former president Barack Obama, presided over the now-abandoned case against Trump on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.</div>
<div></div>
<div><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></div>
<div></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>

World: A US judge denies a bid to block Elon Musk and DOGE, a win for Trump in reducing federal workforce, allowing Musk access to agency data despite opposition.

A US judge on Tuesday (Feb 18) declined a request to temporarily block Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from firing federal employees and accessing agency data, a victory for President Donald Trump in his bid to shrink the government workforce. Fourteen Democratic-ruled states had filed a lawsuit last week contesting Musk's legal authority, but District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied their emergency request to pause his actions. "Plaintiffs have not carried their burden of showing that they will suffer imminent, irreparable harm absent a temporary restraining order," Chutkan said. Also read | KFC moving US headquarters from Kentucky to Texas DOGE is a free-ranging entity run by Musk, the world's richest person and Trump's biggest donor. The billionaire has taken an assertive role in the new administration, with his agency aiming to cut hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending. His plans have effectively shuttered some federal agencies, sent thousands of staff members home and sparked legal battles across the country. In their suit, the 14 states claimed that Musk and DOGE lacked statutory authority for their actions because he had not been formally nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. "(Musk) exercises virtually unchecked power across the Executive Branch, making decisions about expenditures, contracts, government property, regulations, and the very existence of federal agencies," they said. In addition, Musk and DOGE have gained access to "sensitive data, information, systems, and technological and financial infrastructure across the federal government," they added. Also read | Trump says he will ‘probably’ meet Putin this month; dismisses Ukraine concerns The 14 states had sought to block DOGE from accessing the data systems of the Office of Personnel Management and the Departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation and Commerce, and from terminating any of their employees. 'Considerable uncertainty' Chutkan, in her ruling, said "the court is aware that DOGE's unpredictable actions have resulted in considerable uncertainty and confusion for Plaintiffs and many of their agencies and residents. "But the 'possibility' that Defendants may take actions that irreparably harm Plaintiffs 'is not enough,'" she said. Musk's cost-cutting spree has been met with legal pushback on a number of fronts and a mixed bag of rulings. A different federal judge last week lifted a freeze he had temporarily imposed on a mass buyout plan offered by the Trump administration to federal workers. In the mass buyout case, labour unions representing federal employees had filed suit to block the scheme masterminded by Musk to slash the size of government by encouraging federal workers to quit. In an email titled "Fork in the Road," the more than two million US government employees were given an offer to leave with eight months' pay or risk being fired in future culls. According to the White House, more than 75,000 federal employees signed on to the buyout offer from the Office of Personnel Management. Trump's executive actions have been challenged in dozens of court cases and the White House has accused "judges in liberal districts" of "abusing their power" to block the president's moves. The decisions have come from judges nominated by both Republican and Democratic presidents, including Trump himself during his first term. Chutkan, an appointee of Democratic former president Barack Obama, presided over the now-abandoned case against Trump on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US Court refuses to block Elon Musk, DOGE from accessing data, firing workers

<p>Elon Musk, in an unprecedented joint interview alongside US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Feb 18), dismissed reports of his growing influence in the Trump 2.0 administration and said he only views his role as facilitating the Republican leader's agenda.</p>
<p>The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief, who donned a "Tech Support" T-shirt for the interview brushed aside the criticism that he was acting as "President Musk" and said: Trump "is the elected representative of the people, so it's representing the will of the people."</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/musk-trump-bromance-shines-in-joint-interview-as-doge-chief-calls-himself-tech-support-for-us-president-8734740">Musk-Trump 'bromance' shines in joint interview as DOGE chief calls himself 'tech support' for US prez</a></strong></p>
<p>Here are some of the other striking things the two men said during their noteworthy appearance on The Sean Hannity Show on Fox News.</p>
<h2><strong>Trump acknowledges his controversial media presence</strong></h2>
<p>Replying to a question about the media's alleged attempts to "divorce" Trump and Musk, the contentious US president claimed that despite doing the "greatest things," he gets "98 per cent bad publicity".</p>
<p>Naming and shaming multiple news outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, PBS, AP and CBS, Trump said that he used to think that the media was good at painting him as the bad guy but that "They're actually bad at it, because if they were good at it, I'd never be president because I &mdash; I think nobody in history has ever gotten more bad publicity than me."</p>
<p>"It's, like, the craziest thing," he remarked, adding "But you know what I have learned...The people are smart. They get it."&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blames-zelensky-for-ukraines-war-with-russia-you-should-have-never-started-it-8734910">Trump blames Zelensky for Ukraine's war with Russia; 'You should have never started it'</a></strong></p>
<h2><strong>Bureaucracy or democracy?</strong></h2>
<p>Portraying himself merely as the executor of Trump's orders, Musk said: "One of the biggest functions of the DOGE team is just making sure that the presidential executive orders are actually carried out."</p>
<p>He also pointed out that "this is a very important thing, because the president is the elected representative of the people, so he's representing the will of the people."</p>
<p>"And if the bureaucracy is fighting the will of the people and preventing the president from implementing what the people want, then what we live in is a bureaucracy and not a democracy," he added.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tesla-posts-13-job-openings-in-india-after-ceo-elon-musks-meeting-with-pm-modi-8730853">Tesla posts 13 job openings in India after CEO Elon Musk's meeting with PM Modi</a></strong></p>
<h2><strong>Twitter/X payout to Trump</strong></h2>
<p>The recent $10 million settlement paid by Musk's X (formerly Twitter) was also discussed. Trump noted that he had "sued from long before he (Musk) had it.</p>
<p>"I mean, they really did a number on me, you know. &nbsp;And I sued, and they had to pay. &nbsp;You know, they paid $10 million settlement."</p>
<p>When asked if he was okay with footing the billions in settlement, the X CEO said, "I mean, I left it up to the lawyers and, you know, the team running Twitter. So, I said, 'You guys do what you think is the right &mdash; makes sense'."</p>
<p>The US president who was once banned from Twitter then joked: "I was looking to get much more money than that," and that he gave Musk a "big discount".</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Trending, World news | Discover Elon Musk's take on claims of being 'President Musk' as he clarifies his role in Trump 2.0 during a joint interview alongside Donald Trump.

Elon Musk, in an unprecedented joint interview alongside US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Feb 18), dismissed reports of his growing influence in the Trump 2.0 administration and said he only views his role as facilitating the Republican leader's agenda. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief, who donned a "Tech Support" T-shirt for the interview brushed aside the criticism that he was acting as "President Musk" and said: Trump "is the elected representative of the people, so it's representing the will of the people." Also read | Musk-Trump 'bromance' shines in joint interview as DOGE chief calls himself 'tech support' for US prez Here are some of the other striking things the two men said during their noteworthy appearance on The Sean Hannity Show on Fox News. Trump acknowledges his controversial media presence Replying to a question about the media's alleged attempts to "divorce" Trump and Musk, the contentious US president claimed that despite doing the "greatest things," he gets "98 per cent bad publicity". Naming and shaming multiple news outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, PBS, AP and CBS, Trump said that he used to think that the media was good at painting him as the bad guy but that "They're actually bad at it, because if they were good at it, I'd never be president because I — I think nobody in history has ever gotten more bad publicity than me." "It's, like, the craziest thing," he remarked, adding "But you know what I have learned...The people are smart. They get it." Also read | Trump blames Zelensky for Ukraine's war with Russia; 'You should have never started it' Bureaucracy or democracy? Portraying himself merely as the executor of Trump's orders, Musk said: "One of the biggest functions of the DOGE team is just making sure that the presidential executive orders are actually carried out." He also pointed out that "this is a very important thing, because the president is the elected representative of the people, so he's representing the will of the people." "And if the bureaucracy is fighting the will of the people and preventing the president from implementing what the people want, then what we live in is a bureaucracy and not a democracy," he added. Also read | Tesla posts 13 job openings in India after CEO Elon Musk's meeting with PM Modi Twitter/X payout to Trump The recent $10 million settlement paid by Musk's X (formerly Twitter) was also discussed. Trump noted that he had "sued from long before he (Musk) had it. "I mean, they really did a number on me, you know. And I sued, and they had to pay. You know, they paid $10 million settlement." When asked if he was okay with footing the billions in settlement, the X CEO said, "I mean, I left it up to the lawyers and, you know, the team running Twitter. So, I said, 'You guys do what you think is the right — makes sense'." The US president who was once banned from Twitter then joked: "I was looking to get much more money than that," and that he gave Musk a "big discount".

Elon Musk dismisses claims of 'President Musk': Key points from joint interview with Donald Trump

DOGE faces legal turmoil as multiple lawsuits target Musk's Department of Government. Democrat Attorney Generals seek to block data access, but a judge has granted partial relief to DOGE in one case. Stay tuned for updates on the ongoing legal battles.

Judge grants relief for DOGE amid multiple musk lawsuits

<p>The acting commissioner of the US Social Security Administration Michelle King has left her job after clashing with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over its bid to access sensitive records, The Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing three people familiar the departure.</p>
<p>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Musk's efforts on Sunday, saying President Donald Trump had directed him and DOGE to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-thinks-vampires-are-real-as-he-shares-doubtful-data-from-us-social-security-database-8729667">Elon Musk thinks vampires are real as he shares doubtful data from US Social Security database</a></strong></p>
<p>"They haven't dug into the books yet, but they suspect that there are tens of millions of deceased people who are receiving fraudulent Social Security payments," she told Fox News.</p>
<p>Leavitt said DOGE was aiming to identify duplicate payments and to end them, identify payments going to dead people and to protect the integrity of the system.</p>
<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

World | White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Musk's efforts on Sunday, saying President Donald Trump had directed him and DOGE to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration.

The acting commissioner of the US Social Security Administration Michelle King has left her job after clashing with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over its bid to access sensitive records, The Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing three people familiar the departure. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Musk's efforts on Sunday, saying President Donald Trump had directed him and DOGE to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration. Also read | Elon Musk thinks vampires are real as he shares doubtful data from US Social Security database "They haven't dug into the books yet, but they suspect that there are tens of millions of deceased people who are receiving fraudulent Social Security payments," she told Fox News. Leavitt said DOGE was aiming to identify duplicate payments and to end them, identify payments going to dead people and to protect the integrity of the system. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Acting commissioner of US Social Security Administration resigns after Musk’s DOGE seeks data access

<p>The US federal tax collection agency is reportedly preparing to give a team of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to personal taxpayer data.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This comes after DOGE requested access to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US tax office's system.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The system contains sensitive information, including detailed financial information about every taxpayer, business, and nonprofit in the US, The Washington Post reported.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The request is currently under review, and if allowed, it would give DOGE officials "broad access to tax-agency systems, property and datasets, including tax returns&rdquo;.</p>
<p>Among them is the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS, which enables tax agency employees to access IRS accounts&mdash;including personal identification numbers&mdash;and bank information."</p>
<p><strong>Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/elon-musk-led-doge-cancels-21-million-intended-for-voter-turnout-in-india-bjp-responds-8725771" rel="dofollow"> Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds</a></strong></p>
<p>Later, a Trump administration official defended the move, saying that DOGE staff are working on a mission to "eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and improve government performance to better serve the people&rdquo;.</p>
<p>This latest move by Elon's DOGE has triggered concern within the government and among privacy experts. They warned that granting access to Musk could be dangerously risky, ABC News reported.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-doge-clock-understanding-the-real-time-tracker-for-government-spending-cuts-8717614" rel="dofollow">What is DOGE Clock? Understanding the real-time tracker for government spending cuts</a></strong></p>
<p>"People who share their most sensitive information with the federal government do so under the understanding that not only will it be used legally, but also handled securely and in ways that minimize risks like identity theft and personal invasion, which this reporting brings into serious question," Elizabeth Laird, a former state privacy officer now with the Center for Democracy and Technology, said.&nbsp;</p>
<p>White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defended the request, saying, "Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it."</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-agencies-trump-musk-and-doge-have-been-trying-to-dismantle-and-downsize-heres-the-full-list-8714727" rel="dofollow">US agencies Trump, Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle and downsize. Here's the full list</a></strong></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

World: Elon Musk's department DOGE is requesting access to a classified IRS system that contains the sensitive personal financial records of millions of Americans.

The US federal tax collection agency is reportedly preparing to give a team of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to personal taxpayer data. This comes after DOGE requested access to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US tax office's system. The system contains sensitive information, including detailed financial information about every taxpayer, business, and nonprofit in the US, The Washington Post reported. The request is currently under review, and if allowed, it would give DOGE officials "broad access to tax-agency systems, property and datasets, including tax returns”. Among them is the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS, which enables tax agency employees to access IRS accounts—including personal identification numbers—and bank information." Also read: Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds Later, a Trump administration official defended the move, saying that DOGE staff are working on a mission to "eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and improve government performance to better serve the people”. This latest move by Elon's DOGE has triggered concern within the government and among privacy experts. They warned that granting access to Musk could be dangerously risky, ABC News reported. Also read: What is DOGE Clock? Understanding the real-time tracker for government spending cuts "People who share their most sensitive information with the federal government do so under the understanding that not only will it be used legally, but also handled securely and in ways that minimize risks like identity theft and personal invasion, which this reporting brings into serious question," Elizabeth Laird, a former state privacy officer now with the Center for Democracy and Technology, said. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defended the request, saying, "Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it." Also read: US agencies Trump, Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle and downsize. Here's the full list (With inputs from agencies)

IRS preparing to give Elon Musk's DOGE access to sensitive taxpayer data: Report

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