Elon Musk’s Doge team is pushing to reduce government spending by $2 trillion by 2026. A new Doge Tracker is logging the proposed cuts and tax-saving initiatives. Can Musk’s leadership achieve this ambitious goal?

Musk's DOGE tracker logs government spending reductions

Can Musk-led doge achieve $2 trillion in cuts by 2026?

Mass firings at US federal agencies have begun with terminations of probationary employees at the Department of Education and the Small Business Administration.
According to a CNN report citing federal employees and union sources, the firings mark the first under President Donald Trump's administration as Elon Musk&rsquo;s Department of Government Efficiency aims to cut the federal workforce. Until now, federal employees across government agencies have only been asked to go on paid leave.
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">US agencies Trump, Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle and downsize. Here's the full list</a>
This comes the same day a federal judge allowed the deferred resignation programme to go into effect. Around 75,000 federal employees accepted the administration&rsquo;s offer to leave their jobs in exchange for eight months' severance.
<h2>Scores of firings at the Department of Education</h2>
The Department of Education employees were informed of their termination through a letter stating, &ldquo;The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest,&rdquo; reported CNN.
The firings at the department have affected employees across the agency, including the general counsel&rsquo;s office, the Federal Student Aid office, and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, a union source told CNN.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-grants-musk-veto-power-over-federal-hirings-orders-agencies-to-comply-with-doge-directives-in-sweeping-executive-order-8712476">Trump grants Musk veto power over federal hirings, orders agencies to comply with DOGE directives</a>
A similar letter was sent to Small Business Administration employees on Tuesday (Feb 11), informing them of their termination.&nbsp;
On Friday (Feb 7) and Monday (Feb 10), probationary employees across the agency received an unsigned draft notice of termination, according to CNN. However, another email was sent advising employees that the draft notice &ldquo;was sent in error - and as such, it is not currently in effect.&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-doge-clock-understanding-the-real-time-tracker-for-government-spending-cuts-8717614">What is DOGE Clock? Understanding the real-time tracker for government spending cuts</a>
&ldquo;If you are in receipt of the initial notice, your employment has not been terminated as was erroneously indicated in the initial notice,&rdquo; the email added.
The probation employees then received the termination notice the following day, according to the union representing the employees.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-doge-staffer-mistakenly-given-edit-access-to-sensitive-treasury-data-8714741">&lsquo;Promptly corrected&rsquo;: Elon Musk&rsquo;s DOGE staffer was &lsquo;mistakenly&rsquo; given &lsquo;edit&rsquo; access to sensitive Treasury data</a>
The firings are part of the administration&rsquo;s plan to downsize the federal workforce. On Tuesday (Feb 11), Trump signed an executive order directing agency heads to start preparing for layoffs and expanding the role of the Department of Government Efficiency.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | The firings mark the first under President Donald Trump's administration as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency aims to cut the federal workforce.

Mass firings at US federal agencies have begun with terminations of probationary employees at the Department of Education and the Small Business Administration. According to a CNN report citing federal employees and union sources, the firings mark the first under President Donald Trump's administration as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency aims to cut the federal workforce. Until now, federal employees across government agencies have only been asked to go on paid leave. Also read | US agencies Trump, Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle and downsize. Here's the full list This comes the same day a federal judge allowed the deferred resignation programme to go into effect. Around 75,000 federal employees accepted the administration’s offer to leave their jobs in exchange for eight months' severance. Scores of firings at the Department of Education The Department of Education employees were informed of their termination through a letter stating, “The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest,” reported CNN. The firings at the department have affected employees across the agency, including the general counsel’s office, the Federal Student Aid office, and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, a union source told CNN. Also read | Trump grants Musk veto power over federal hirings, orders agencies to comply with DOGE directives A similar letter was sent to Small Business Administration employees on Tuesday (Feb 11), informing them of their termination. On Friday (Feb 7) and Monday (Feb 10), probationary employees across the agency received an unsigned draft notice of termination, according to CNN. However, another email was sent advising employees that the draft notice “was sent in error - and as such, it is not currently in effect.” Also read | What is DOGE Clock? Understanding the real-time tracker for government spending cuts “If you are in receipt of the initial notice, your employment has not been terminated as was erroneously indicated in the initial notice,” the email added. The probation employees then received the termination notice the following day, according to the union representing the employees. Also read | ‘Promptly corrected’: Elon Musk’s DOGE staffer was ‘mistakenly’ given ‘edit’ access to sensitive Treasury data The firings are part of the administration’s plan to downsize the federal workforce. On Tuesday (Feb 11), Trump signed an executive order directing agency heads to start preparing for layoffs and expanding the role of the Department of Government Efficiency. (With inputs from agencies)

Mass firings begin as Trump and Musk plan to shrink US federal workforce

US President Donald Trump has been taking actions to cut staff at the federal bureaucracy and also dismantling several agencies. Trump on Tuesday (Feb 11) signed a new executive order to limit new hiring and commence a "critical transformation" of government.&nbsp;
Trump has some specific targets, including, foreign aid workers, inspectors general, Jan. 6 investigators, and diversity, equity, and inclusion workers.&nbsp;
Moreover, he has also given wide powers to his close Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has cracked down on more than a dozen agencies in search of spending and layoffs.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-fires-usaid-inspector-general-report-8714191">US President Donald Trump fires USAID inspector general: Report</a>
However, the US federal courts have temporarily halted some of the administration's efforts but many more layoffs across the government are expected in the weeks ahead.&nbsp;
<h2>List of agencies that have been under Trump's radar:</h2>
<h3>United States Agency for International Development (USAID)</h3>
Elon Musk on February 2 announced to shut down USAID, which is responsible for humanitarian efforts across the world. However, the agency's website was taken down before the announcement, which left many aid groups across the globe in the dark.&nbsp;
In the beginning, the Trump administration put nearly 60 senior staffers on leave. &ldquo;We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper,&rdquo; Musk posted on X on Feb 3.
Later, the administration said it would reduce the aid agency's workforce from more than 10,000 to hundreds of staffers. However, a judge temporarily halted the effort for more than 2,000 employees.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/close-it-down-trump-says-nothing-can-be-done-now-as-he-orders-usaid-to-cut-staff-from-10000-to-300-8700543">'Close it down': Trump says 'nothing can be done now' as he orders USAID to cut staff from 10,000 to 300</a>
<h3>Consumer Financial Protection Bureau&nbsp;</h3>
Elon Musk posted on Feb 7 on X, saying that the employees of the financial industry watchdog, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, may be next. &ldquo;CFPB RIP,&rdquo; he posted on X.&nbsp;
The next day, the acting director of the bureau told the staff of more than 1,700 to effectively halt work.
Employees were asked "not to perform any work tasks" starting Feb 10, and the agency's DC offices are expected to be closed all week.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hopes-linda-mcmahon-puts-herself-out-of-job-by-shutting-down-education-department-8693248">Trump hopes Linda McMahon 'puts herself out of job' by shutting down education&nbsp;department</a>
<h3>Centres of Medicare and Medicaid Services</h3>
The CMS, a subagency of the Department of Health and Human Services, has also been collaborating with DOGE since February 5.&nbsp;
Musk took to X, tweeting a Wall Street Journal article reporting thing, and said, "Yeah, this is where the big money fraud is happening."
<h3>Department of Education</h3>
Musk's DOGE gained access to the Department of Education, which Trump has promised to dismantle despite such an action needing congressional approval, Democratic leaders said.&nbsp;
DOGE reduced the number of employees at the Department of Education, slashing 89 independent research contracts at the department's Institute of Education Sciences worth nearly $900 million.&nbsp;
<h3>Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)</h3>
The Department of Homeland Security on February 11 fired four FEMA officials. This comes a day after Musk posted on X, claiming that he found tens of millions of dollars had been spent by the agency to lodge migrants in New York hotels.&nbsp;
Among the terminated officials were FEMA's chief financial officer, two program analysts, and a grant specialist, according to DHS.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-fema-agency-trump-threatened-to-get-rid-of-during-his-visit-to-north-carolina-8653405">What is FEMA, agency Trump threatened to get rid of during his visit to North Carolina?</a>
<h3>Federal Aviation Administration</h3>
The Department of Transportation and Musk announced earlier this month that he had access to FAA technologies to make "rapid safety upgrades", Musk posted on X.&nbsp;
The next day, Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, arguing that it was a &ldquo;conflict of interest for someone whose company is regulated by the federal government to be involved in anything that affects his personal financial interest, his company, or his competitors.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World: Trump has some specific targets, including, foreign aid workers, inspectors general, Jan. 6 investigators, and diversity, equity, and inclusion workers.

US President Donald Trump has been taking actions to cut staff at the federal bureaucracy and also dismantling several agencies. Trump on Tuesday (Feb 11) signed a new executive order to limit new hiring and commence a "critical transformation" of government. Trump has some specific targets, including, foreign aid workers, inspectors general, Jan. 6 investigators, and diversity, equity, and inclusion workers. Moreover, he has also given wide powers to his close Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has cracked down on more than a dozen agencies in search of spending and layoffs. Also read: US President Donald Trump fires USAID inspector general: Report However, the US federal courts have temporarily halted some of the administration's efforts but many more layoffs across the government are expected in the weeks ahead. List of agencies that have been under Trump's radar: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Elon Musk on February 2 announced to shut down USAID, which is responsible for humanitarian efforts across the world. However, the agency's website was taken down before the announcement, which left many aid groups across the globe in the dark. In the beginning, the Trump administration put nearly 60 senior staffers on leave. “We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper,” Musk posted on X on Feb 3. Later, the administration said it would reduce the aid agency's workforce from more than 10,000 to hundreds of staffers. However, a judge temporarily halted the effort for more than 2,000 employees. Also read: 'Close it down': Trump says 'nothing can be done now' as he orders USAID to cut staff from 10,000 to 300 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Elon Musk posted on Feb 7 on X, saying that the employees of the financial industry watchdog, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, may be next. “CFPB RIP,” he posted on X. The next day, the acting director of the bureau told the staff of more than 1,700 to effectively halt work. Employees were asked "not to perform any work tasks" starting Feb 10, and the agency's DC offices are expected to be closed all week. Also read: Trump hopes Linda McMahon 'puts herself out of job' by shutting down education department Centres of Medicare and Medicaid Services The CMS, a subagency of the Department of Health and Human Services, has also been collaborating with DOGE since February 5. Musk took to X, tweeting a Wall Street Journal article reporting thing, and said, "Yeah, this is where the big money fraud is happening." Department of Education Musk's DOGE gained access to the Department of Education, which Trump has promised to dismantle despite such an action needing congressional approval, Democratic leaders said. DOGE reduced the number of employees at the Department of Education, slashing 89 independent research contracts at the department's Institute of Education Sciences worth nearly $900 million. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) The Department of Homeland Security on February 11 fired four FEMA officials. This comes a day after Musk posted on X, claiming that he found tens of millions of dollars had been spent by the agency to lodge migrants in New York hotels. Among the terminated officials were FEMA's chief financial officer, two program analysts, and a grant specialist, according to DHS. Also read: What is FEMA, agency Trump threatened to get rid of during his visit to North Carolina? Federal Aviation Administration The Department of Transportation and Musk announced earlier this month that he had access to FAA technologies to make "rapid safety upgrades", Musk posted on X. The next day, Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, arguing that it was a “conflict of interest for someone whose company is regulated by the federal government to be involved in anything that affects his personal financial interest, his company, or his competitors. (With inputs from agencies)

US agencies Trump, Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle and downsize. Here's the full list

A staff member from Elon Musk&rsquo;s DOGE team was mistakenly granted permissions to edit a highly sensitive Treasury payments system but did not use them, according to court documents released on Tuesday (Feb 11).
Joseph Gioeli III, Deputy Commissioner for Transformation and Modernisation at the Treasury Department&rsquo;s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, detailed the error in a nine-page affidavit.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-will-control-gaza-palestinians-will-be-living-beautifully-elsewhere-says-trump-as-he-meets-jordan-king-8712212">'US will control Gaza, Palestinians will be living beautifully elsewhere,' says Trump as he meets&nbsp;Jordan&nbsp;king</a>
He said that Marko Elez, a 25-year-old DOGE staffer, was &ldquo;mistakenly&rdquo; given &ldquo;read/write&rdquo; access to a section of the Treasury payment system responsible for handling trillions of dollars annually. However, the mistake was &ldquo;promptly corrected,&rdquo; and a review confirmed that Elez had not made any changes to the database during the time he had access, according to Gioeli.
Previously, the Treasury Department had said that Elez had only been granted &ldquo;read-only&rdquo; access to the system.
Elez resigned from his Treasury role last week following the reports of his racist social media posts. Despite this, Musk has said that Elez will be reinstated. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also supported Elez&rsquo;s return.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/its-essential-elon-musk-says-us-will-go-bankrupt-without-budget-cuts-8712825" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'It's essential': Elon Musk says US will go 'bankrupt' without budget cuts</a>
&ldquo;The initial investigation confirmed that all of Elez&rsquo;s interactions &hellip; occurred within the supervised, walk-through session and that no unauthorised actions had taken place. His access was promptly corrected to read-only, and he did not log into the system again,&rdquo; Gioeli&rsquo;s affidavit read.
The affidavits were filed in a federal court case brought by the New York attorney general and more than a dozen Democratic attorneys general, who are seeking to limit DOGE&rsquo;s access to the Treasury system.
On Tuesday, US District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas upheld an earlier ruling that bars unauthorised access to the payment system.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-fbi-pick-kash-patel-accused-of-sercretly-arranging-firings-before-confirmation-8712232">'Lied under oath': Trump&rsquo;s FBI pick Kash Patel accused of 'secretly' arranging firings before confirmation</a>
Officials from the Trump administration argue that their goal is to prevent fraudulent or wasteful payments and to enforce the president&rsquo;s executive order halting foreign aid spending.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s just common sense, it&rsquo;s not draconian or radical,&rdquo; Musk said during an Oval Office appearance with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/donald-trump" rel="dofollow">Trump</a> on Tuesday, defending his DOGE team&rsquo;s involvement with the Treasury payments system.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s really just saying, let&rsquo;s look at each of these expenditures and say, is this actually in the best interest of the people? And if it is, it&rsquo;s approved, but if it&rsquo;s not, we should think about it,&rdquo; he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Elez resigned from his Treasury role last week following the reports of his racist social media posts. Despite this, Musk has said that Elez will be reinstated.

A staff member from Elon Musk’s DOGE team was mistakenly granted permissions to edit a highly sensitive Treasury payments system but did not use them, according to court documents released on Tuesday (Feb 11). Joseph Gioeli III, Deputy Commissioner for Transformation and Modernisation at the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, detailed the error in a nine-page affidavit. Also read: 'US will control Gaza, Palestinians will be living beautifully elsewhere,' says Trump as he meets Jordan king He said that Marko Elez, a 25-year-old DOGE staffer, was “mistakenly” given “read/write” access to a section of the Treasury payment system responsible for handling trillions of dollars annually. However, the mistake was “promptly corrected,” and a review confirmed that Elez had not made any changes to the database during the time he had access, according to Gioeli. Previously, the Treasury Department had said that Elez had only been granted “read-only” access to the system. Elez resigned from his Treasury role last week following the reports of his racist social media posts. Despite this, Musk has said that Elez will be reinstated. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also supported Elez’s return. Also read: 'It's essential': Elon Musk says US will go 'bankrupt' without budget cuts “The initial investigation confirmed that all of Elez’s interactions … occurred within the supervised, walk-through session and that no unauthorised actions had taken place. His access was promptly corrected to read-only, and he did not log into the system again,” Gioeli’s affidavit read. The affidavits were filed in a federal court case brought by the New York attorney general and more than a dozen Democratic attorneys general, who are seeking to limit DOGE’s access to the Treasury system. On Tuesday, US District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas upheld an earlier ruling that bars unauthorised access to the payment system. Also read: 'Lied under oath': Trump’s FBI pick Kash Patel accused of 'secretly' arranging firings before confirmation Officials from the Trump administration argue that their goal is to prevent fraudulent or wasteful payments and to enforce the president’s executive order halting foreign aid spending. “It’s just common sense, it’s not draconian or radical,” Musk said during an Oval Office appearance with Trump on Tuesday, defending his DOGE team’s involvement with the Treasury payments system. “I think it’s really just saying, let’s look at each of these expenditures and say, is this actually in the best interest of the people? And if it is, it’s approved, but if it’s not, we should think about it,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Promptly corrected’: Elon Musk’s DOGE staffer was ‘mistakenly’ given ‘edit’ access to sensitive Treasury data

Elon Musk made his debut public appearance with Donald Trump at the White House to announce new powers to oversee the US government. Standing behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office, Musk defended his involvement in the reduction of federal agencies and warned that the United States would go bankrupt without these cuts. Watch in for more details!

Musk defends cost-cutting efforts in Oval Office appearance

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk brushed off concerns over his increasing influence within the administration as US President Donald Trump signed a new executive order handing him more power. The executive order, as per reports, instructs federal agencies to cooperate with DOGE's directives on cutting their workforces and limiting hiring while giving the Musk-led agency veto power over new hiring.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-defends-growing-influence-in-trump-20-administration-describes-doge-as-unelected-fourth-branch-of-govt-donald-trump-8712396">Elon Musk defends growing influence in Trump 2.0 administration, describes DOGE as 'unelected' fourth branch of govt</a>
<h2>Trump hands Musk more power with sweeping executive order</h2>
Musk's authority is set to expand further following Trump's signing of a new executive order that forces federal agencies to comply with DOGE's directives.&nbsp;
As per a Guardian report, the White House order said that it "commences a critical transformation of the Federal bureaucracy. By eliminating waste, bloat, and insularity, my Administration will empower American families, workers, taxpayers, and our system of Government itself."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deloitte-orders-us-staff-to-remove-gender-pronouns-from-email-amid-trumps-crackdown-on-transgenders-8712132">Deloitte orders US staff to remove gender pronouns from email amid Trump's crackdown on transgenders</a>
<h2>What new powers does DOGE have?</h2>
The order states that agency heads "will undertake plans for large-scale reductions in force and determine which agency components (or agencies themselves) may be eliminated or combined because their functions aren't required by law".
Under the directive, agencies are required to "initiate large-scale reductions", potentially eliminating entire divisions deemed non-essential and can hire only one new employee for every four who leave. Furthermore, Musk's team has been granted oversight and veto in fresh hiring decisions.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-not-for-sale-sam-altman-calls-elon-musk-competitor-who-is-not-able-to-beat-us-8711753">'OpenAI not for sale': Sam Altman calls Elon Musk 'competitor who is not able to beat us'</a>
The order stipulates that agencies "shall not fill any vacancies for career appointments that the DOGE Team Lead assesses should not be filled unless the Agency Head determines the positions should be filled."
Moreover, each agency will have a DOGE Team Lead, that "shall provide the United States DOGE Service (USDS) Administrator with a monthly hiring report for the agency".
(With inputs from agencies)

World news | Discover how President Trump's executive order grants Elon Musk significant influence over federal hiring, empowering DOGE directives to reshape government workforce policies.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk brushed off concerns over his increasing influence within the administration as US President Donald Trump signed a new executive order handing him more power. The executive order, as per reports, instructs federal agencies to cooperate with DOGE's directives on cutting their workforces and limiting hiring while giving the Musk-led agency veto power over new hiring. Also read | Elon Musk defends growing influence in Trump 2.0 administration, describes DOGE as 'unelected' fourth branch of govt Trump hands Musk more power with sweeping executive order Musk's authority is set to expand further following Trump's signing of a new executive order that forces federal agencies to comply with DOGE's directives. As per a Guardian report, the White House order said that it "commences a critical transformation of the Federal bureaucracy. By eliminating waste, bloat, and insularity, my Administration will empower American families, workers, taxpayers, and our system of Government itself." Also read | Deloitte orders US staff to remove gender pronouns from email amid Trump's crackdown on transgenders What new powers does DOGE have? The order states that agency heads "will undertake plans for large-scale reductions in force and determine which agency components (or agencies themselves) may be eliminated or combined because their functions aren't required by law". Under the directive, agencies are required to "initiate large-scale reductions", potentially eliminating entire divisions deemed non-essential and can hire only one new employee for every four who leave. Furthermore, Musk's team has been granted oversight and veto in fresh hiring decisions. Also read | 'OpenAI not for sale': Sam Altman calls Elon Musk 'competitor who is not able to beat us' The order stipulates that agencies "shall not fill any vacancies for career appointments that the DOGE Team Lead assesses should not be filled unless the Agency Head determines the positions should be filled." Moreover, each agency will have a DOGE Team Lead, that "shall provide the United States DOGE Service (USDS) Administrator with a monthly hiring report for the agency". (With inputs from agencies)

Trump grants Musk veto power over federal hirings, orders agencies to comply with DOGE directives

Elon Musk made his debut public appearance with Donald Trump at the White House to announce new powers to oversee the US government. Standing behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office, Musk defended his involvement in the reduction of federal agencies and warned that the United States would go bankrupt without these cuts.

Elon Musk says US would go 'bankrupt' without spending cuts

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, on Tuesday (Feb 11) joined US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office and took questions from reporters for the first time since he joined the Trump 2.0 administration as a "special" government employee.
Standing behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Musk brushed off concerns over his increasing influence within the Trump administration, defending his oversight of sweeping federal agency cuts as part of the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). Instead, he assured reporters that his role was in line with the will of the American people.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-not-for-sale-sam-altman-calls-elon-musk-competitor-who-is-not-able-to-beat-us-8711753">'OpenAI not for sale': Sam Altman calls Elon Musk 'competitor who is not able to beat us'</a>
<h2>'Special' government employee Elon Musk</h2>
Referring to DOGE as the "unelected" fourth branch, Musk said, "The people voted for major government reform and that's what the people are going to get".
"That's what democracy is all about," he added.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-offers-to-buy-openai-for-nearly-100bn-sam-altman-says-would-rather-buy-twitter-for-8709155">Elon Musk offers to buy OpenAI for nearly $100bn, Sam Altman says would rather buy 'Twitter' for...</a>
Critics argue Musk's involvement presents obvious conflicts of interest, as multiple federal agencies he is now reshaping have active investigations into his various business ventures. However, Musk dismissed the controversy, saying he is committed to transparency and joked that the scrutiny was like a "daily proctology exam".
"Transparency is what builds trust," Musk claimed, even as federal judges have ordered some of his budget cuts for congressionally approved programs to be halted.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hell-expose-billions-of-dollars-of-fraud-trump-defends-terrific-elon-musks-government-overhaul-8705625">'He'll expose billions of dollars of fraud': Trump defends 'terrific' Elon Musk&rsquo;s government overhaul</a>
"Your tax dollars need to be spent wisely, on things that matter," Musk insisted, defending the cuts. His remarks came just days after a judge blocked the administration&rsquo;s attempt to slash billions in medical research funding.
President Donald Trump, seated nearby, backed Musk's approach and claimed that his administration had already uncovered widespread "fraud and abuse" in government spending&mdash;though he provided no fresh evidence. Trump also accused past administrations of engaging in "kickbacks" when awarding federal contracts.
(With inputs from agencies)

World news | Musk refers to DOGE as the unelected fourth branch of government, emphasising that his role aligns with the American people's call for government reform.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, on Tuesday (Feb 11) joined US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office and took questions from reporters for the first time since he joined the Trump 2.0 administration as a "special" government employee. Standing behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Musk brushed off concerns over his increasing influence within the Trump administration, defending his oversight of sweeping federal agency cuts as part of the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). Instead, he assured reporters that his role was in line with the will of the American people. Also read | 'OpenAI not for sale': Sam Altman calls Elon Musk 'competitor who is not able to beat us' 'Special' government employee Elon Musk Referring to DOGE as the "unelected" fourth branch, Musk said, "The people voted for major government reform and that's what the people are going to get". "That's what democracy is all about," he added. Also read | Elon Musk offers to buy OpenAI for nearly $100bn, Sam Altman says would rather buy 'Twitter' for... Critics argue Musk's involvement presents obvious conflicts of interest, as multiple federal agencies he is now reshaping have active investigations into his various business ventures. However, Musk dismissed the controversy, saying he is committed to transparency and joked that the scrutiny was like a "daily proctology exam". "Transparency is what builds trust," Musk claimed, even as federal judges have ordered some of his budget cuts for congressionally approved programs to be halted. Also read | 'He'll expose billions of dollars of fraud': Trump defends 'terrific' Elon Musk’s government overhaul "Your tax dollars need to be spent wisely, on things that matter," Musk insisted, defending the cuts. His remarks came just days after a judge blocked the administration’s attempt to slash billions in medical research funding. President Donald Trump, seated nearby, backed Musk's approach and claimed that his administration had already uncovered widespread "fraud and abuse" in government spending—though he provided no fresh evidence. Trump also accused past administrations of engaging in "kickbacks" when awarding federal contracts. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk defends growing influence in Trump 2.0 administration, describes DOGE as 'unelected' fourth branch of govt

Elon Musk claimed on Monday (Feb 10) that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allocated $59 million last week to luxury hotels in New York City to accommodate illegal migrants.
In an early morning post on X, US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/donald-trump" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Donald Trump's</a> aide said that the emergency funds had been "just discovered" by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His revelation came as Trump advocated for a complete restructuring of FEMA, even suggesting the agency could be disbanded.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-elon-musks-doge-us-treasury-department-shakeup-could-be-biggest-security-breach-in-us-history-8704805" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: &lsquo;Massive risks&rsquo;: How Elon Musk&rsquo;s Treasury shakeup could be &lsquo;biggest security breach in US history&rsquo;</a>
&ldquo;Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President&rsquo;s executive order,&rdquo; Musk wrote.
&ldquo;That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high-end hotels for illegals,&rdquo; he continued.
&ldquo;A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds,&rdquo; the billionaire added.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hell-expose-billions-of-dollars-of-fraud-trump-defends-terrific-elon-musks-government-overhaul-8705625" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: 'He'll expose billions of dollars of fraud': Trump defends 'terrific' Elon Musk&rsquo;s government overhaul</a>
Last month, President Trump issued an executive order establishing a council to examine FEMA&rsquo;s operations, citing &ldquo;serious concerns of political bias&rdquo; within the agency. The president has called for the council&rsquo;s first meeting within 90 days and expects to receive a report on its findings within 180 days of that initial gathering.
This came after Trump met with survivors of Hurricane Helene, many of whom remain homeless four months after the disaster. During this appearance, he floated the idea of a comprehensive overhaul of FEMA. Criticising the agency&rsquo;s effectiveness, Trump said that FEMA was &ldquo;not on the ball&hellip; and we&rsquo;re going to turn it all around.&rdquo;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/most-corrupt-least-competent-elon-musk-demands-impeachment-of-judge-who-blocked-doge-treasury-access-8705333" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: &lsquo;Most corrupt, least competent&rsquo;: Elon Musk demands &lsquo;impeachment&rsquo; of judge who blocked DOGE&rsquo;s Treasury access</a>
Speaking at a roundtable with federal and local officials, the president announced plans to sign an executive order aimed at fundamentally reforming FEMA or potentially dismantling it altogether. &ldquo;I think, frankly, that FEMA&rsquo;s not good,&rdquo; he said.
Trump also accused the agency of mishandling emergency response efforts, arguing that federal aid should be provided directly to US states in the aftermath of disasters instead of being distributed through FEMA.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: In an early morning post on X, US President Donald Trump's aide said that the emergency funds had been "just discovered" by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Elon Musk claimed on Monday (Feb 10) that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allocated $59 million last week to luxury hotels in New York City to accommodate illegal migrants. In an early morning post on X, US President Donald Trump's aide said that the emergency funds had been "just discovered" by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His revelation came as Trump advocated for a complete restructuring of FEMA, even suggesting the agency could be disbanded. Also read: ‘Massive risks’: How Elon Musk’s Treasury shakeup could be ‘biggest security breach in US history’ “Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President’s executive order,” Musk wrote. “That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high-end hotels for illegals,” he continued. “A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds,” the billionaire added. Also read: 'He'll expose billions of dollars of fraud': Trump defends 'terrific' Elon Musk’s government overhaul Last month, President Trump issued an executive order establishing a council to examine FEMA’s operations, citing “serious concerns of political bias” within the agency. The president has called for the council’s first meeting within 90 days and expects to receive a report on its findings within 180 days of that initial gathering. This came after Trump met with survivors of Hurricane Helene, many of whom remain homeless four months after the disaster. During this appearance, he floated the idea of a comprehensive overhaul of FEMA. Criticising the agency’s effectiveness, Trump said that FEMA was “not on the ball… and we’re going to turn it all around.” Also read: ‘Most corrupt, least competent’: Elon Musk demands ‘impeachment’ of judge who blocked DOGE’s Treasury access Speaking at a roundtable with federal and local officials, the president announced plans to sign an executive order aimed at fundamentally reforming FEMA or potentially dismantling it altogether. “I think, frankly, that FEMA’s not good,” he said. Trump also accused the agency of mishandling emergency response efforts, arguing that federal aid should be provided directly to US states in the aftermath of disasters instead of being distributed through FEMA. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Gross insubordination’: Musk claims FEMA sent $59mn to luxury hotels to ‘house illegal migrants’

Elon Musk has called for the impeachment of federal judge Paul Engelmayer following a ruling on Saturday morning that restricts his Department of Government Efficiency's (<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/doge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DOGE</a>) access to the Treasury Department&rsquo;s payment systems. 
The judge's decision mandates that only civil servants with a direct need for access in their job roles may use the systems. The ruling explicitly bars special government employees and those temporarily assigned from external departments from accessing these systems.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-elon-musks-doge-us-treasury-department-shakeup-could-be-biggest-security-breach-in-us-history-8704805" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Massive risks&rsquo;: How Elon Musk&rsquo;s Treasury shakeup could be &lsquo;biggest security breach in US history&rsquo;</a>
US District Judge Paul Engelmayer, appointed by former president Barack Obama, also asked that anyone already blocked from access immediately destroy any materials they may have downloaded from the Treasury&rsquo;s system.
Judge Engelmayer justified the decision by arguing that Musk&rsquo;s cost-cutting measures within the government presented a significant risk. He said that these initiatives increased &ldquo;the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information&rdquo; and made Treasury systems &ldquo;more vulnerable than before to hacking.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-great-american-guessing-game-who-runs-the-country-trump-or-musk-8703842">The great American guessing game: who runs the country, Trump or Musk?</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6xr8ohm-nmli2kld-mtfucbrr">
I&rsquo;d like to propose that the worst 1% of appointed judges, as determined by elected bodies, be fired every year. This will weed out the most corrupt and least competent.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1888589047129329675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic state attorneys general, who voiced concerns over Musk and his team&rsquo;s level of access to sensitive financial information.
<h2>'A corrupt judge protecting corruption'</h2>
Musk appeared irked by the decision and took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent his frustration.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6xr856c-owj6rtwz-xt7tk1d5">
A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached NOW! <a href="https://t.co/zgnwZuOz2Y">https://t.co/zgnwZuOz2Y</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1888485948121366871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
&ldquo;A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached NOW,&rdquo; Musk wrote in one post.
In another post, the Tesla CEO and close ally of President Trump suggested, &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to propose that the worst 1% of appointed judges, as determined by elected bodies, be fired every year. This will weed out the most corrupt and least competent.&rdquo;
Musk, who leads DOGE, had earlier responded with &ldquo;it&rsquo;s time&rdquo; to a post calling for the impeachment of judges who have ruled against actions taken by the Trump administration.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-to-reinstate-doge-staffer-ousted-over-racist-posts-after-trump-vance-back-him-8703410">&lsquo;To err is human&rsquo;: Musk to reinstate DOGE staffer ousted over racist posts after Trump, Vance back him</a>
Judge Engelmayer&rsquo;s ruling remains in place until at least Friday, when another judge, permanently assigned to oversee the case, is scheduled to hold a hearing in New York to determine whether to extend the order.
&ldquo;The Court&rsquo;s firm assessment is that, for the reasons stated by the States, they will face irreparable harm in the absence of injunctive relief,&rdquo; Engelmayer wrote in his decision.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Elon Musk suggested, “I’d like to propose that the worst 1% of appointed judges, as determined by elected bodies, be fired every year.”

Elon Musk has called for the impeachment of federal judge Paul Engelmayer following a ruling on Saturday morning that restricts his Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) access to the Treasury Department’s payment systems. The judge's decision mandates that only civil servants with a direct need for access in their job roles may use the systems. The ruling explicitly bars special government employees and those temporarily assigned from external departments from accessing these systems. Also read: ‘Massive risks’: How Elon Musk’s Treasury shakeup could be ‘biggest security breach in US history’ US District Judge Paul Engelmayer, appointed by former president Barack Obama, also asked that anyone already blocked from access immediately destroy any materials they may have downloaded from the Treasury’s system. Judge Engelmayer justified the decision by arguing that Musk’s cost-cutting measures within the government presented a significant risk. He said that these initiatives increased “the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information” and made Treasury systems “more vulnerable than before to hacking.” Also read: The great American guessing game: who runs the country, Trump or Musk? I’d like to propose that the worst 1% of appointed judges, as determined by elected bodies, be fired every year. This will weed out the most corrupt and least competent. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 9, 2025 The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic state attorneys general, who voiced concerns over Musk and his team’s level of access to sensitive financial information. 'A corrupt judge protecting corruption' Musk appeared irked by the decision and took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent his frustration. A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached NOW! https://t.co/zgnwZuOz2Y — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 9, 2025 “A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached NOW,” Musk wrote in one post. In another post, the Tesla CEO and close ally of President Trump suggested, “I’d like to propose that the worst 1% of appointed judges, as determined by elected bodies, be fired every year. This will weed out the most corrupt and least competent.” Musk, who leads DOGE, had earlier responded with “it’s time” to a post calling for the impeachment of judges who have ruled against actions taken by the Trump administration. Also read: ‘To err is human’: Musk to reinstate DOGE staffer ousted over racist posts after Trump, Vance back him Judge Engelmayer’s ruling remains in place until at least Friday, when another judge, permanently assigned to oversee the case, is scheduled to hold a hearing in New York to determine whether to extend the order. “The Court’s firm assessment is that, for the reasons stated by the States, they will face irreparable harm in the absence of injunctive relief,” Engelmayer wrote in his decision. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Most corrupt, least competent’: Elon Musk demands ‘impeachment’ of judge who blocked DOGE’s Treasury access

A federal judge issued an order on Saturday (Feb 9) requiring Elon Musk&rsquo;s team to temporarily halt its activities involving the Treasury Department&rsquo;s payment systems. But this has not quelled fears that Musk's Department of Government&nbsp;Efficiency might be creating a significant cyber and national security risk.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-claims-us-treasury-annually-pays-100-billion-to-unidentified-individuals-8704233" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: Musk claims US Treasury annually pays $100 billion to unidentified individuals</a>
<h2>'Treasury&rsquo;s systems more vulnerable than before to hacking'</h2>
In his ruling, Judge Paul A. Engelmayer stressed that Musk&rsquo;s cost-cutting initiative within the government posed a serious risk of &ldquo;the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information&rdquo; and had made the Treasury&rsquo;s systems &ldquo;more vulnerable than before to hacking.&rdquo;
<h2>Cybersecurity experts raise alarm</h2>
For the past ten days, cybersecurity experts have been raising alarms as Musk&rsquo;s team of young coders sought access to the Treasury&rsquo;s most restricted systems. Scott Bessent, the newly appointed Treasury secretary, eventually approved this access.
According to a Washington Post report, a subcontractor working for Booz Allen Hamilton, the firm responsible for much of the Treasury&rsquo;s threat detection operations, had issued a formal warning about the risks. This warning was later withdrawn after its details were leaked.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/judge-blocks-musks-doge-from-accessing-us-treasury-department-sensitive-personal-data-8702676">Judge blocks Musk's DOGE from accessing US Treasury Department's sensitive personal data</a>
Cybersecurity specialists have warned of the potential consequences of allowing outsiders into such a tightly controlled system. Possible risks include personal data breaches, unauthorised redirection of payments, and the misuse of information by political opponents.
Bruce Schneier, a cybersecurity expert from Harvard, described Musk&rsquo;s intervention as &ldquo;the most consequential security breach&rdquo; in American history. Speaking to The New York Times, Schneier said that the breach did not result from &ldquo;a sophisticated cyberattack or an act of foreign espionage, but through official orders by a billionaire with a poorly defined government role.&rdquo;
James Goldgeier and Elizabeth N. Saunders, writing in Foreign Affairs on Friday, pointed out the Treasury Department&rsquo;s crucial role in US foreign policy, particularly in enforcing sanctions. They said that the main targets of these sanctions&mdash;China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea&mdash;are also America's primary cyber adversaries.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-treasury-department-claims-chinese-hack-beijing-rejects-allegations-of-sponsoring-cyber-attacks" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: US Treasury Department Claims Chinese Hack; Beijing Rejects Allegations Of Sponsoring Cyber Attacks</a>
&ldquo;If Musk&rsquo;s team has access to and can rewrite the code directing US government payments, the cybersecurity and privacy risks would be massive. Hostile intelligence services are likely already at work trying to assess which Musk team members might be sloppy with their digital devices or vulnerable to entrapment or coercion,&rdquo; they wrote.
The government has insisted that Musk&rsquo;s team has only been permitted to review &ldquo;read-only&rdquo; data within the Treasury Department&rsquo;s systems. 
<h2>Previous cyberattacks on US Treasury&nbsp;</h2>
In December, the Treasury Department disclosed in a letter to Congress that a Chinese intelligence group had infiltrated its systems and stolen unclassified data. While the full extent of the damage has not been revealed, the incident shows that the agency is a prime target for Beijing.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-team-has-read-only-access-to-payments-data-says-us-treasury-department-8694317">Musk team has 'read-only' access to payments data, says US Treasury department</a>
During the Obama administration, Chinese intelligence operatives breached the Office of Personnel Management&rsquo;s database, accessing security clearance records for over 20 million Americans. US officials believe that Chinese agents have since merged this data with stolen records from Starwood hotels and Anthem health systems to map officials&rsquo; movements and associations.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: In his ruling, Judge Paul A. Engelmayer stressed that Musk’s cost-cutting initiative within the government posed a serious risk of “the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information”.

A federal judge issued an order on Saturday (Feb 9) requiring Elon Musk’s team to temporarily halt its activities involving the Treasury Department’s payment systems. But this has not quelled fears that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency might be creating a significant cyber and national security risk. Also read: Musk claims US Treasury annually pays $100 billion to unidentified individuals 'Treasury’s systems more vulnerable than before to hacking' In his ruling, Judge Paul A. Engelmayer stressed that Musk’s cost-cutting initiative within the government posed a serious risk of “the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information” and had made the Treasury’s systems “more vulnerable than before to hacking.” Cybersecurity experts raise alarm For the past ten days, cybersecurity experts have been raising alarms as Musk’s team of young coders sought access to the Treasury’s most restricted systems. Scott Bessent, the newly appointed Treasury secretary, eventually approved this access. According to a Washington Post report, a subcontractor working for Booz Allen Hamilton, the firm responsible for much of the Treasury’s threat detection operations, had issued a formal warning about the risks. This warning was later withdrawn after its details were leaked. Also read: Judge blocks Musk's DOGE from accessing US Treasury Department's sensitive personal data Cybersecurity specialists have warned of the potential consequences of allowing outsiders into such a tightly controlled system. Possible risks include personal data breaches, unauthorised redirection of payments, and the misuse of information by political opponents. Bruce Schneier, a cybersecurity expert from Harvard, described Musk’s intervention as “the most consequential security breach” in American history. Speaking to The New York Times, Schneier said that the breach did not result from “a sophisticated cyberattack or an act of foreign espionage, but through official orders by a billionaire with a poorly defined government role.” James Goldgeier and Elizabeth N. Saunders, writing in Foreign Affairs on Friday, pointed out the Treasury Department’s crucial role in US foreign policy, particularly in enforcing sanctions. They said that the main targets of these sanctions—China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—are also America's primary cyber adversaries. Also read: US Treasury Department Claims Chinese Hack; Beijing Rejects Allegations Of Sponsoring Cyber Attacks “If Musk’s team has access to and can rewrite the code directing US government payments, the cybersecurity and privacy risks would be massive. Hostile intelligence services are likely already at work trying to assess which Musk team members might be sloppy with their digital devices or vulnerable to entrapment or coercion,” they wrote. The government has insisted that Musk’s team has only been permitted to review “read-only” data within the Treasury Department’s systems. Previous cyberattacks on US Treasury In December, the Treasury Department disclosed in a letter to Congress that a Chinese intelligence group had infiltrated its systems and stolen unclassified data. While the full extent of the damage has not been revealed, the incident shows that the agency is a prime target for Beijing. Also read: Musk team has 'read-only' access to payments data, says US Treasury department During the Obama administration, Chinese intelligence operatives breached the Office of Personnel Management’s database, accessing security clearance records for over 20 million Americans. US officials believe that Chinese agents have since merged this data with stolen records from Starwood hotels and Anthem health systems to map officials’ movements and associations. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Massive risks’: How Elon Musk’s Treasury shakeup could be ‘biggest security breach in US history’

A day after a Treasury Department employee linked to Elon Musk&rsquo;s DOGE cost-cutting initiative stepped down following a Wall Street Journal report exposing his racist social media activity, the Trump administration has pledged to reinstate him.
&ldquo;He will be brought back,&rdquo; Musk announced on X. &ldquo;To err is human, to forgive divine.&rdquo;
Musk&rsquo;s statement came after both Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump showed support for the return of 25-year-old software engineer Marko Elez.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-donald-trumps-tremendous-resentment-for-japan-fueled-his-tariff-obsession-8703283">How Donald Trump's 'tremendous resentment for Japan' fueled his tariff obsession</a>
Vice President Vance publicly defended Elez, one of two government employees associated with Musk who had been granted access to sensitive taxpayer data.
"Here's my view: I obviously disagree with some of Elez's posts, but I don't think stupid social media activity should ruin a kid's life," Vance wrote.
During a press conference on Friday, Trump was asked about the demands for Elez&rsquo;s reinstatement. He indicated that he supported Vance&rsquo;s position.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/american-transgenders-woe-as-passport-process-gets-complicated-for-them-amid-trumps-new-policy-8703305">American Transgenders woe as passport process gets complicated for them amid Trump's new policy</a>
&ldquo;Well, I don&rsquo;t know about that particular thing, but if the vice president said that,&rdquo; Trump stated, before turning to Vance, who was present at the event, and confirming his stance. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m with the vice president.&rdquo;
Elez was one of only two individuals linked to DOGE who had been permitted by a federal court to access the Treasury Department system, which oversees the distribution of over $5 trillion annually. A US federal judge on Saturday (Feb 8) blocked DOGE from accessing Treasury Department records which contain sensitive personal data, including Social Security and bank account numbers for millions of Americans.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-appoint-himself-chairman-of-washingtons-top-cultural-venue-the-kennedy-center-8700987">Trump to appoint himself chairman of Washington's top cultural venue, the Kennedy Center</a>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-donald-trumps-tremendous-resentment-for-japan-fueled-his-tariff-obsession-8703283"></a>Earlier on Friday, Musk conducted a poll on X, asking users whether Elez should be reinstated. The results showed that 78% supported his return to the Department of Government Efficiency.
Elez resigned on Thursday after the Wall Street Journal revealed his past racist social media comments. According to the report, one of his posts from July read: "Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-intention-to-absorb-canada-into-us-is-real-thing-8700778">Trudeau says Trump's threat to absorb Canada into US is a 'real thing'</a>
Other posts reportedly included statements such as "Normalize Indian hate" and "You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity."
Before his brief tenure in the federal government, Elez had worked at two of Musk&rsquo;s private companies&mdash;SpaceX and X.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Musk’s statement came after both Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump showed support for the return of 25-year-old software engineer Marko Elez.

A day after a Treasury Department employee linked to Elon Musk’s DOGE cost-cutting initiative stepped down following a Wall Street Journal report exposing his racist social media activity, the Trump administration has pledged to reinstate him. “He will be brought back,” Musk announced on X. “To err is human, to forgive divine.” Musk’s statement came after both Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump showed support for the return of 25-year-old software engineer Marko Elez. Also read: How Donald Trump's 'tremendous resentment for Japan' fueled his tariff obsession Vice President Vance publicly defended Elez, one of two government employees associated with Musk who had been granted access to sensitive taxpayer data. "Here's my view: I obviously disagree with some of Elez's posts, but I don't think stupid social media activity should ruin a kid's life," Vance wrote. During a press conference on Friday, Trump was asked about the demands for Elez’s reinstatement. He indicated that he supported Vance’s position. Also read: American Transgenders woe as passport process gets complicated for them amid Trump's new policy “Well, I don’t know about that particular thing, but if the vice president said that,” Trump stated, before turning to Vance, who was present at the event, and confirming his stance. “I’m with the vice president.” Elez was one of only two individuals linked to DOGE who had been permitted by a federal court to access the Treasury Department system, which oversees the distribution of over $5 trillion annually. A US federal judge on Saturday (Feb 8) blocked DOGE from accessing Treasury Department records which contain sensitive personal data, including Social Security and bank account numbers for millions of Americans. Also read: Trump to appoint himself chairman of Washington's top cultural venue, the Kennedy Center Earlier on Friday, Musk conducted a poll on X, asking users whether Elez should be reinstated. The results showed that 78% supported his return to the Department of Government Efficiency. Elez resigned on Thursday after the Wall Street Journal revealed his past racist social media comments. According to the report, one of his posts from July read: "Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool." Also read: Trudeau says Trump's threat to absorb Canada into US is a 'real thing' Other posts reportedly included statements such as "Normalize Indian hate" and "You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity." Before his brief tenure in the federal government, Elez had worked at two of Musk’s private companies—SpaceX and X. (With inputs from agencies)

‘To err is human’: Musk to reinstate DOGE staffer ousted over racist posts after Trump, Vance back him

A US federal judge on Saturday (Feb 8) blocked Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department records which contain sensitive personal data, including Social Security and bank account numbers for millions of Americans.&nbsp;
District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer issued the preliminary injunction after 19 Democratic attorneys general sued US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-in-a-poll-on-x-asks-if-he-should-rehire-doge-staffer-who-resigned-over-racist-tweets-8700501" rel="dofollow">Musk in a poll on X asks if he should rehire DOGE staffer who resigned over racist tweets</a>
The payment system handles several domains, including tax refunds, Social Security benefits, and veterans' benefits, sending out trillions of dollars every year while containing an expansive network of Americans' personal and financial data.&nbsp;
According to the case filed in federal court in New York City, the Trump administration allegedly allowed Musk's team access to the Treasury Department's central payment system in violation of federal law.&nbsp;
The district judge, Engelmayer, was appointed by former President Barack Obama. He said that anyone prohibited from having access to the sensitive information since January 20 this year, must immediately destroy all copies of material downloaded from Treasury Department systems.&nbsp;
Engelmayer set a hearing for February 14.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/normalise-indian-hate-elon-musks-highly-trained-doge-employee-resigns-after-questions-on-racist-posts-online-8697917" rel="dofollow">'Normalise Indian hate': Elon Musk's 'highly trained' DOGE employee resigns after questions on racist posts online</a>
Earlier, the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit being filed.&nbsp;
Musk's DOGE was created to discover and eliminate what the Trump administration has considered wasteful government spending.&nbsp;
Notably, DOGE's access to Treasury records has triggered widespread concern among critics over the increasing power of Musk in Trump's administration, while supporters have cheered at the idea of reining in bloated government finances.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-hints-at-leash-on-elon-musk-as-doge-ramps-up-government-purge-8690491" rel="dofollow">&lsquo;Can&rsquo;t do anything without our approval&rsquo;: Trump hints at leash on Musk as DOGE ramps up govt purge</a>
New York Attorney General Letitia James's office filed the lawsuit, saying DOGE's access to the Treasury Department's data raises security problems and the possibility of an illegal freeze in federal funds.&nbsp;
"This unelected group, led by the world's richest man, is not authorized to have this information, and they explicitly sought this unauthorized access to illegally block payments that millions of Americans rely on, payments for health care, child care, and other essential programs," James said in a video message on Friday.&nbsp;
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doge-digging-its-own-grave-internet-slams-billionaire-elon-musk-over-doges-long-work-hours-remark-8689072" rel="dofollow"> &lsquo;DOGE digging its own grave&rsquo;: Internet slams billionaire Elon Musk over DOGE&rsquo;s long work hours remark</a>
The suit alleged that DOGE's access to the Treasury records could interfere with funding already appropriated by Congress, which would exceed the Treasury Department's statutory authority.&nbsp;
The case further argued that the DOGE access violates federal administrative law and the US Constitution's separation of powers doctrine.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer issued the preliminary injunction after 19 Democratic attorneys general sued US President Donald Trump. 

A US federal judge on Saturday (Feb 8) blocked Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department records which contain sensitive personal data, including Social Security and bank account numbers for millions of Americans. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer issued the preliminary injunction after 19 Democratic attorneys general sued US President Donald Trump. Also read: Musk in a poll on X asks if he should rehire DOGE staffer who resigned over racist tweets The payment system handles several domains, including tax refunds, Social Security benefits, and veterans' benefits, sending out trillions of dollars every year while containing an expansive network of Americans' personal and financial data. According to the case filed in federal court in New York City, the Trump administration allegedly allowed Musk's team access to the Treasury Department's central payment system in violation of federal law. The district judge, Engelmayer, was appointed by former President Barack Obama. He said that anyone prohibited from having access to the sensitive information since January 20 this year, must immediately destroy all copies of material downloaded from Treasury Department systems. Engelmayer set a hearing for February 14. Also read: 'Normalise Indian hate': Elon Musk's 'highly trained' DOGE employee resigns after questions on racist posts online Earlier, the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit being filed. Musk's DOGE was created to discover and eliminate what the Trump administration has considered wasteful government spending. Notably, DOGE's access to Treasury records has triggered widespread concern among critics over the increasing power of Musk in Trump's administration, while supporters have cheered at the idea of reining in bloated government finances. Also read: ‘Can’t do anything without our approval’: Trump hints at leash on Musk as DOGE ramps up govt purge New York Attorney General Letitia James's office filed the lawsuit, saying DOGE's access to the Treasury Department's data raises security problems and the possibility of an illegal freeze in federal funds. "This unelected group, led by the world's richest man, is not authorized to have this information, and they explicitly sought this unauthorized access to illegally block payments that millions of Americans rely on, payments for health care, child care, and other essential programs," James said in a video message on Friday. Also read: ‘DOGE digging its own grave’: Internet slams billionaire Elon Musk over DOGE’s long work hours remark The suit alleged that DOGE's access to the Treasury records could interfere with funding already appropriated by Congress, which would exceed the Treasury Department's statutory authority. The case further argued that the DOGE access violates federal administrative law and the US Constitution's separation of powers doctrine. (With inputs from agencies)

Judge blocks Musk's DOGE from accessing US Treasury Department's sensitive personal data

American billionaire Elon Musk on Friday posted a poll on his social media X, asking users if he should rehire the staffer at Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who resigned over his social media posts advocating for racism and eugenics.&nbsp;
Tesla CEO Musk posted, "Bring back @DOGE staffer who made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym?&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bring back <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> staffer who made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym?
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1887867644814020902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
The post had nearly 2.9 million views and more than 2,32,000 votes. Notably, more than 80 per cent of users who answered the poll, replied "yes".&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/normalise-indian-hate-elon-musks-highly-trained-doge-employee-resigns-after-questions-on-racist-posts-online-8697917" rel="dofollow">'Normalise Indian hate': Elon Musk's 'highly trained' DOGE employee resigns after questions on racist posts online</a>
25-year-old Marko Elez resigned on Thursday (Feb 6) after questions were raised about his connection with a social media account promoting racism against various ethnicities, including Indians.&nbsp;
Elez had a profile on Elon Musk's social media platform, where he supported "eugenic immigration policy." He also called for the repeal of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-team-has-read-only-access-to-payments-data-says-us-treasury-department-8694317" rel="dofollow">Musk team has 'read-only' access to payments data, says US Treasury department</a>
In one of his posts in September 2024, Elez reportedly said one "can not pay" him for marrying outside his ethnicity.&nbsp;
In another post, he referred to the Indian nationals working in the technology sector in Silicon Valley and encouraged others to "normalise Indian hate".&nbsp;
Elez also had a post in which he said, "Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool", according to the Wall Street Journal.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-judge-delays-deadline-for-elon-musks-resign-or-be-fired-buyout-scheme-for-federal-employees-8697881" rel="dofollow">US judge delays deadline for Musk's 'resign or be fired' buyout scheme for federal employees</a>
On Thursday, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed his resignation.&nbsp;
Moreover, he also commented on the Israel-Hamas conflict, saying, &ldquo;I would not mind at all if Gaza and Israel were both wiped off the face of the Earth.&rdquo;
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-hints-at-leash-on-elon-musk-as-doge-ramps-up-government-purge-8690491" rel="dofollow"> &lsquo;Can&rsquo;t do anything without our approval&rsquo;: Trump hints at leash on Musk as DOGE ramps up govt purge</a>
However, it is not clear whether Musk will reinstate Elez based on the outcome of the X poll.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: The post had nearly 2.9 million views and more than 2,32,000 votes. Notably, more than 80 per cent of users who answered the poll, replied "yes". 

American billionaire Elon Musk on Friday posted a poll on his social media X, asking users if he should rehire the staffer at Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who resigned over his social media posts advocating for racism and eugenics. Tesla CEO Musk posted, "Bring back @DOGE staffer who made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym?” Bring back @DOGE staffer who made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym? — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 7, 2025 The post had nearly 2.9 million views and more than 2,32,000 votes. Notably, more than 80 per cent of users who answered the poll, replied "yes". Also read: 'Normalise Indian hate': Elon Musk's 'highly trained' DOGE employee resigns after questions on racist posts online 25-year-old Marko Elez resigned on Thursday (Feb 6) after questions were raised about his connection with a social media account promoting racism against various ethnicities, including Indians. Elez had a profile on Elon Musk's social media platform, where he supported "eugenic immigration policy." He also called for the repeal of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Also read: Musk team has 'read-only' access to payments data, says US Treasury department In one of his posts in September 2024, Elez reportedly said one "can not pay" him for marrying outside his ethnicity. In another post, he referred to the Indian nationals working in the technology sector in Silicon Valley and encouraged others to "normalise Indian hate". Elez also had a post in which he said, "Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool", according to the Wall Street Journal. Also read: US judge delays deadline for Musk's 'resign or be fired' buyout scheme for federal employees On Thursday, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed his resignation. Moreover, he also commented on the Israel-Hamas conflict, saying, “I would not mind at all if Gaza and Israel were both wiped off the face of the Earth.” Also read: ‘Can’t do anything without our approval’: Trump hints at leash on Musk as DOGE ramps up govt purge However, it is not clear whether Musk will reinstate Elez based on the outcome of the X poll. (With inputs from agencies)

Musk in a poll on X asks if he should rehire DOGE staffer who resigned over racist tweets

A 25-year-old staff member of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) resigned on Thursday (Feb 6) after questions were raised about his connection with a social media account promoting racism against various ethnicities, including Indians.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-hints-at-leash-on-elon-musk-as-doge-ramps-up-government-purge-8690491">&lsquo;Can&rsquo;t do anything without our approval&rsquo;: Trump hints at leash on Musk as DOGE ramps up govt purge</a>
The White House was questioned about Marko Elez, one of the two department staff members who gained access to the US Treasury's payment system. The second employee to have access is&nbsp;Tom Krause, the chief executive of Cloud Software Group Inc.&nbsp;
Elez had a profile on Elon Musk's social media platform, where he supported "eugenic immigration policy."&nbsp;He also called for the repeal of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doge-digging-its-own-grave-internet-slams-billionaire-elon-musk-over-doges-long-work-hours-remark-8689072">&lsquo;DOGE digging its own grave&rsquo;: Internet slams billionaire Elon Musk over DOGE&rsquo;s long work hours remark</a>
In one of his posts in September 2024, Elez reportedly said one "can not pay" him for marrying outside his ethnicity.&nbsp;
In another post, he referred to the Indian nationals working in the technology sector in Silicon Valley and encouraged others to "normalise Indian hate".&nbsp;
According to the Wall Street Journal, Elez had a post in which he said, "Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool."&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-akash-bobba-22-year-old-indian-origin-tech-prodigy-hired-by-musks-doge-8688462">Who is Akash Bobba, 22-year-old Indian-origin tech prodigy hired by Musk's DOGE?</a>
US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed his resignation.&nbsp;
As per WSJ, Elez posted in December 2024 that Indian workers in the US on H1B visas are "going back, don't worry guys."&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-and-trumps-doge-under-ethics-watchdogs-radar-over-record-keeping-violations-american-oversight-says-clearly-efforts-underway-to-conceal-information-using-auto-delete-8649440">Elon Musk and Donald Trump's 'Doge' agency under ethics watchdog's radar. Here's why</a>
Commenting on the Israel-Hamas conflict, the ex-DOGE member said, &ldquo;I would not mind at all if Gaza and Israel were both wiped off the face of the Earth.&rdquo;
This came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Bloomberg that he had personally reviewed the background of both employees of Musk's DOGE team.&nbsp;
WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/musks-doge-adopts-ai-first-strategy-will-it-help-save-taxpayers-money-8691623">Musk's Doge adopts 'AI first' strategy: will it help save taxpayers money?</a>
"These are highly trained professionals," he said in the interview.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending | This incident has sparked broader discussions on the responsibility of tech leaders to ensure ethical conduct among employees and the impact of social media misuse.

A 25-year-old staff member of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) resigned on Thursday (Feb 6) after questions were raised about his connection with a social media account promoting racism against various ethnicities, including Indians. Also read: ‘Can’t do anything without our approval’: Trump hints at leash on Musk as DOGE ramps up govt purge The White House was questioned about Marko Elez, one of the two department staff members who gained access to the US Treasury's payment system. The second employee to have access is Tom Krause, the chief executive of Cloud Software Group Inc. Elez had a profile on Elon Musk's social media platform, where he supported "eugenic immigration policy." He also called for the repeal of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Also read: ‘DOGE digging its own grave’: Internet slams billionaire Elon Musk over DOGE’s long work hours remark In one of his posts in September 2024, Elez reportedly said one "can not pay" him for marrying outside his ethnicity. In another post, he referred to the Indian nationals working in the technology sector in Silicon Valley and encouraged others to "normalise Indian hate". According to the Wall Street Journal, Elez had a post in which he said, "Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool." Also read: Who is Akash Bobba, 22-year-old Indian-origin tech prodigy hired by Musk's DOGE? US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed his resignation. As per WSJ, Elez posted in December 2024 that Indian workers in the US on H1B visas are "going back, don't worry guys." Also read: Elon Musk and Donald Trump's 'Doge' agency under ethics watchdog's radar. Here's why Commenting on the Israel-Hamas conflict, the ex-DOGE member said, “I would not mind at all if Gaza and Israel were both wiped off the face of the Earth.” This came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Bloomberg that he had personally reviewed the background of both employees of Musk's DOGE team. WATCH: Musk's Doge adopts 'AI first' strategy: will it help save taxpayers money? "These are highly trained professionals," he said in the interview. (With inputs from agencies)

'Normalise Indian hate': Elon Musk's 'highly trained' DOGE employee resigns after questions on racist posts online

Elon Musk's scheme to slash the size of the US government by instilling "panic" and encouraging federal workers to quit through a mass buyout instead of facing future culling was suspended by a judge on Thursday (Feb 6). This comes as 40,000 people have already taken up the offer, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/some-of-these-aliens-donald-trump-administration-sues-chicago-over-sanctuary-laws-8697819">'Some of these aliens...': Donald Trump administration sues Chicago over 'sanctuary' laws</a>
A federal judge in the state of Massachusetts has ordered a temporary injunction that delays the plan's deadline from Thursday midnight to Monday (Feb 10). The decision was delivered by US District Judge George O'Toole during a hearing in an appeal brought by US labour unions.
<h2>What was going to happen on midnight Thursday?</h2>
Thursday (Feb 7) midnight was the earlier deadline by which more than two million federal government employees were supposed to decide whether they'll resign with eight months' pay or risk being fired in future culls.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-slaps-sanctions-on-icc-over-israeli-pm-benjamin-netanyahus-baseless-arrest-warrant-8697704">Trump slaps sanctions on ICC over 'baseless' arrest warrant against Netanyahu</a>
Already, over 40,000 staff have accepted the buyout deal, reports AFP. However, unions representing around 800,000 civil servants and Democratic members of the US Congress are resisting the scheme and have challenged the legality of the Trump administration's threat to fire them.
<h2>What does Musk have to do with this?</h2>
Musk, a close Donald Trump ally was roped in to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump 2.0 administration and is believed to be the mastermind behind this money-cutting scheme.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-team-has-read-only-access-to-payments-data-says-us-treasury-department-8694317">Musk team has 'read-only' access to payments data, says US Treasury department</a>
(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;
&nbsp;

A US judge has temporarily halted Elon Musk's controversial buyout plan for federal employees, delaying the deadline aimed at reducing government workforce size.

Elon Musk's scheme to slash the size of the US government by instilling "panic" and encouraging federal workers to quit through a mass buyout instead of facing future culling was suspended by a judge on Thursday (Feb 6). This comes as 40,000 people have already taken up the offer, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Also read | 'Some of these aliens...': Donald Trump administration sues Chicago over 'sanctuary' laws A federal judge in the state of Massachusetts has ordered a temporary injunction that delays the plan's deadline from Thursday midnight to Monday (Feb 10). The decision was delivered by US District Judge George O'Toole during a hearing in an appeal brought by US labour unions. What was going to happen on midnight Thursday? Thursday (Feb 7) midnight was the earlier deadline by which more than two million federal government employees were supposed to decide whether they'll resign with eight months' pay or risk being fired in future culls. Also read | Trump slaps sanctions on ICC over 'baseless' arrest warrant against Netanyahu Already, over 40,000 staff have accepted the buyout deal, reports AFP. However, unions representing around 800,000 civil servants and Democratic members of the US Congress are resisting the scheme and have challenged the legality of the Trump administration's threat to fire them. What does Musk have to do with this? Musk, a close Donald Trump ally was roped in to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump 2.0 administration and is believed to be the mastermind behind this money-cutting scheme. Also read | Musk team has 'read-only' access to payments data, says US Treasury department (With inputs from agencies)

US judge delays deadline for Musk's 'resign or be fired' buyout scheme for federal employees

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has hired a team of six young engineers aged between 19 to 24. Some are fresh out of college, while one is still a student. Among them is a 22-year-old engineer of Indian origin, Akash Bobba. According to his now-deleted LinkedIn account, Akash is a graduate of the University of California, where he was a part of the Management and Technology program.

Musk-led DOGE hires team of six young engineers

The protesters gathered all across the US to protest President Donald Trump's administration's actions, from his immigration crackdown to the taking away of transgender rights and proposal to forcibly transfer Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;
The demonstrators were protesting in 50 states across the country on Wednesday. They were seen taking part in the 50501 Movement.&nbsp;
The 50501 Movement, as it is being called, refers to "50 protests in 50 states on one day."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-signs-order-banning-transgender-athletes-from-womens-sports-in-teh-us-to-push-for-similar-ban-in-olympics-next-8694512">'War on women sports'? Donald Trump signs order banning transgender athletes from women's sports</a>
The protesters in Philadelphia and at state capitols in California, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, and beyond waved signs criticising President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, the leader of Trump&rsquo;s new Department of Government Efficiency; and Project 2025, a hard-right playbook for American government and society.
<h2>What is the 50501 movement?</h2>
The movement is a grassroots initiative mobilising mass protests against US President Trump's policies.&nbsp;
The organisers of the movement included moderators of the 50501 movement. They also collaborated with Political Revolution, a PAC and volunteer-based activist group that emerged following Senator Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/trumps-gaza-takeover-plan-and-non-nuclear-iran-a-game-changer-or-a-political-fantasy-8695161">Trump&rsquo;s Gaza Takeover Plan and Non-Nuclear Iran: A Game-Changer or a Political Fantasy?</a>
The 50501 Movement and Political Revolution, in a joint press release, called for the removal or resignation of Trump, investigations into his appointees, including Elon Musk, repeal of &ldquo;oppressive&rdquo; executive orders, and the restoration of frameworks for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
"Our goal is to unite the American people against our common enemy: the Trump administration, anyone involved in dismantling our democracy, and anyone who wishes to divide us by our differences instead of unite us by what makes us American," the joint press release read.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rights-groups-sue-trump-against-order-banning-transgender-service-members-8673272">Rights groups sue Trump against order banning transgender service members</a>
<h2>What is happening at the protest?</h2>
The organisers of the protest described the movement as a "decentralized rapid response to the anti-democratic, destructive, and, in many cases, illegal actions being undertaken by the Trump administration and his plutocrats."
Margaret Wilmeth, a protester from Ohio, said she is appalled by democracy's changes in the last, specifically two weeks, but it started a long time ago.&nbsp;
&ldquo;So I&rsquo;m just trying to put a presence into resistance," she said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/palestinians-in-gaza-reject-trumps-take-over-plan-we-will-remain-steadfast-in-our-homeland-8694651">Palestinians in Gaza reject Trump's takeover plan: 'We will remain steadfast in our homeland'</a>
A crowd of hundreds of people were gathered outside the state capital in Lansing, Michigan, in freezing temperatures.&nbsp;
Catie Miglietti, from the Ann Arbor area, said Musk&rsquo;s access to Treasury Department data was especially concerning.&nbsp;
&ldquo;If we don&rsquo;t stop it and get Congress to do something, it&rsquo;s an attack on democracy,&rdquo; Miglietti said.
Another protester was seen slamming Musk's DOGE. "DOGE is not legit,&rdquo; read one poster on the state Capitol steps in Jefferson City, Missouri. &ldquo;Why does Elon have your Social Security info???&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: The demonstrators were protesting in 50 states across the country on Wednesday. They were seen taking part in the 50501 Movement, which refers to "50 protests in 50 states on one day."

The protesters gathered all across the US to protest President Donald Trump's administration's actions, from his immigration crackdown to the taking away of transgender rights and proposal to forcibly transfer Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The demonstrators were protesting in 50 states across the country on Wednesday. They were seen taking part in the 50501 Movement. The 50501 Movement, as it is being called, refers to "50 protests in 50 states on one day." Also read: 'War on women sports'? Donald Trump signs order banning transgender athletes from women's sports The protesters in Philadelphia and at state capitols in California, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, and beyond waved signs criticising President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, the leader of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency; and Project 2025, a hard-right playbook for American government and society. What is the 50501 movement? The movement is a grassroots initiative mobilising mass protests against US President Trump's policies. The organisers of the movement included moderators of the 50501 movement. They also collaborated with Political Revolution, a PAC and volunteer-based activist group that emerged following Senator Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign. Also read: Trump’s Gaza Takeover Plan and Non-Nuclear Iran: A Game-Changer or a Political Fantasy? The 50501 Movement and Political Revolution, in a joint press release, called for the removal or resignation of Trump, investigations into his appointees, including Elon Musk, repeal of “oppressive” executive orders, and the restoration of frameworks for diversity, equity, and inclusion. "Our goal is to unite the American people against our common enemy: the Trump administration, anyone involved in dismantling our democracy, and anyone who wishes to divide us by our differences instead of unite us by what makes us American," the joint press release read. Also read: Rights groups sue Trump against order banning transgender service members What is happening at the protest? The organisers of the protest described the movement as a "decentralized rapid response to the anti-democratic, destructive, and, in many cases, illegal actions being undertaken by the Trump administration and his plutocrats." Margaret Wilmeth, a protester from Ohio, said she is appalled by democracy's changes in the last, specifically two weeks, but it started a long time ago. “So I’m just trying to put a presence into resistance," she said. Also read: Palestinians in Gaza reject Trump's takeover plan: 'We will remain steadfast in our homeland' A crowd of hundreds of people were gathered outside the state capital in Lansing, Michigan, in freezing temperatures. Catie Miglietti, from the Ann Arbor area, said Musk’s access to Treasury Department data was especially concerning. “If we don’t stop it and get Congress to do something, it’s an attack on democracy,” Miglietti said. Another protester was seen slamming Musk's DOGE. "DOGE is not legit,” read one poster on the state Capitol steps in Jefferson City, Missouri. “Why does Elon have your Social Security info???” (With inputs from agencies)

What is 50501 movement? Protesters rally across US against Trump's policies

22-year-old engineer, Akash Bobba joins Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. Before joining DOGE, Bobba interned at Meta, Palantir while working in AI, data analytics. Bobba’s genius in coding gained viral attention after a post by his Berkeley classmate. Watch in for more details!

22-year-old engineer, Akash Bobba joins Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency

US President Donald Trump has stated that Elon Musk, who has been given the responsibility of reducing government expenditure, is under his direct supervision and cannot take any action without approval.&nbsp;
"Elon has got access only to letting people go that he thinks are no good if we agree with him, and it&rsquo;s only if we agree with him. Elon can&rsquo;t do and won&rsquo;t do anything without our approval," Trump said.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-wants-ukraine-to-repay-us-aid-with-rare-earths-what-are-rare-earth-elements-8689845" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: Trump wants Ukraine to repay US aid with 'rare earths': What are they and why does he want them?</a>
"Sometimes we won&rsquo;t agree with it, and we&rsquo;ll not go where he wants to go. But I think he&rsquo;s doing a great job," Trump told reporters.
His comments come amid growing concerns over the level of access granted to Musk&rsquo;s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) within the government&rsquo;s financial system, following the billionaire&rsquo;s decision to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
<h2>'Won&rsquo;t let him go near a conflict': Donald Trump</h2>
Speaking at the White House, Trump clarified that Musk would not be allowed access to areas where conflicts exist.
&ldquo;And we&rsquo;ll give him the approval where appropriate, and where not appropriate, we won&rsquo;t; where we think there&rsquo;s a conflict, we won&rsquo;t let him go near it,&rdquo; Trump said.
"But he reports in and he, it&rsquo;s something that he feels very strongly about, and I&rsquo;m impressed because he&rsquo;s running, obviously, a big company," Trump added.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-sued-by-diversity-officers-in-an-attempt-to-block-anti-diversity-orders-8690162" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: Trump sued by diversity officers in an attempt to block anti-diversity orders</a>
The US president's comments came shortly after a team led by Musk effectively shut down USAID. Over the weekend, Musk publicly criticised the agency, calling it &ldquo;evil&rdquo; and &ldquo;a criminal organisation,&rdquo; adding that it was &ldquo;time for it to die.&rdquo; On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was appointed as the agency&rsquo;s interim head, stating he would consult with Congress on its future.
Initially, Trump had announced that Musk would co-chair the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. However, several individuals involved in the initiative, including the other co-chair, have already left, leaving Musk with considerable authority.
Musk had initially sought volunteers to join DOGE without pay. However, since the department is now part of the government, there is uncertainty over whether staff are being paid and whether they are permitted to hold external jobs that might create conflicts of interest.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-deletes-irs-direct-file-programme-team-is-free-tax-filing-at-risk-in-us-8689371" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: Elon Musk &lsquo;deletes&rsquo; IRS Direct File programme team: Is free tax filing at risk in US?</a>
<h2>'Special government employee'</h2>
As a designated &ldquo;special government employee,&rdquo; Musk holds a temporary position, allowing him to work at the White House for up to 130 days without needing to file financial disclosure forms, which are mandatory for permanent employees. This mechanism has previously been used by both political parties to bring in advisers with complex financial backgrounds.
On Monday, Trump reiterated that Musk would not be permitted to interfere in areas where conflicts arise. &ldquo;If there&rsquo;s a conflict, then we won&rsquo;t let him get near it,&rdquo; he said. However, he did not clarify who would enforce these restrictions or whether Musk had already been barred from any governmental departments.
Democratic lawmakers have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to Musk&rsquo;s involvement in government affairs, particularly his moves to either dismantle agencies or significantly reduce government employment.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doge-digging-its-own-grave-internet-slams-billionaire-elon-musk-over-doges-long-work-hours-remark-8689072" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: &lsquo;DOGE digging its own grave&rsquo;: Internet slams billionaire Elon Musk over DOGE&rsquo;s long work hours remark</a>
&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have a fourth branch of government called Elon Musk, and that&rsquo;s going to become real clear,&rdquo; stated Representative Jamie Raskin during a protest outside USAID. &ldquo;This illegal, unconstitutional interference with congressional power is threatening lives all over the world,&rdquo; he added.
Musk and his White House team have been taking swift action to overhaul government operations. They have already accessed financial system data within the Treasury Department and reviewed staffing records at the Office of Personnel Management.&nbsp;
On Monday, a coalition of labour unions filed a lawsuit against the Treasury Department, alleging that the transfer of information to DOGE was unlawful and violated federal privacy protections affecting millions of citizens.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: "Elon has got access only to letting people go that he thinks are no good. Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval," Trump said.

US President Donald Trump has stated that Elon Musk, who has been given the responsibility of reducing government expenditure, is under his direct supervision and cannot take any action without approval. "Elon has got access only to letting people go that he thinks are no good if we agree with him, and it’s only if we agree with him. Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval," Trump said. Also read: Trump wants Ukraine to repay US aid with 'rare earths': What are they and why does he want them? "Sometimes we won’t agree with it, and we’ll not go where he wants to go. But I think he’s doing a great job," Trump told reporters. His comments come amid growing concerns over the level of access granted to Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) within the government’s financial system, following the billionaire’s decision to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID). 'Won’t let him go near a conflict': Donald Trump Speaking at the White House, Trump clarified that Musk would not be allowed access to areas where conflicts exist. “And we’ll give him the approval where appropriate, and where not appropriate, we won’t; where we think there’s a conflict, we won’t let him go near it,” Trump said. "But he reports in and he, it’s something that he feels very strongly about, and I’m impressed because he’s running, obviously, a big company," Trump added. Also read: Trump sued by diversity officers in an attempt to block anti-diversity orders The US president's comments came shortly after a team led by Musk effectively shut down USAID. Over the weekend, Musk publicly criticised the agency, calling it “evil” and “a criminal organisation,” adding that it was “time for it to die.” On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was appointed as the agency’s interim head, stating he would consult with Congress on its future. Initially, Trump had announced that Musk would co-chair the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. However, several individuals involved in the initiative, including the other co-chair, have already left, leaving Musk with considerable authority. Musk had initially sought volunteers to join DOGE without pay. However, since the department is now part of the government, there is uncertainty over whether staff are being paid and whether they are permitted to hold external jobs that might create conflicts of interest. Also read: Elon Musk ‘deletes’ IRS Direct File programme team: Is free tax filing at risk in US? 'Special government employee' As a designated “special government employee,” Musk holds a temporary position, allowing him to work at the White House for up to 130 days without needing to file financial disclosure forms, which are mandatory for permanent employees. This mechanism has previously been used by both political parties to bring in advisers with complex financial backgrounds. On Monday, Trump reiterated that Musk would not be permitted to interfere in areas where conflicts arise. “If there’s a conflict, then we won’t let him get near it,” he said. However, he did not clarify who would enforce these restrictions or whether Musk had already been barred from any governmental departments. Democratic lawmakers have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to Musk’s involvement in government affairs, particularly his moves to either dismantle agencies or significantly reduce government employment. Also read: ‘DOGE digging its own grave’: Internet slams billionaire Elon Musk over DOGE’s long work hours remark “We don’t have a fourth branch of government called Elon Musk, and that’s going to become real clear,” stated Representative Jamie Raskin during a protest outside USAID. “This illegal, unconstitutional interference with congressional power is threatening lives all over the world,” he added. Musk and his White House team have been taking swift action to overhaul government operations. They have already accessed financial system data within the Treasury Department and reviewed staffing records at the Office of Personnel Management. On Monday, a coalition of labour unions filed a lawsuit against the Treasury Department, alleging that the transfer of information to DOGE was unlawful and violated federal privacy protections affecting millions of citizens. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Can’t do anything without our approval’: Trump hints at leash on Musk as DOGE ramps up govt purge

Billionaire Elon Musk has joined a similar suit of business leaders who support long working hours.
In a post shared on his social media platform X, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has said that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees work 120 hours a week. Musk is leading the department, which is aimed at cutting federal spending.
Musk&rsquo;s remarks imply that DOGE employees work at least 17 hours every day in a week, sparking a debate on work-life balance.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-akash-bobba-22-year-old-indian-origin-tech-prodigy-hired-by-musks-doge-8688462">Who is Akash Bobba, 22-year-old Indian-origin tech prodigy hired by Musk's DOGE?</a>
&ldquo;DOGE is working 120 hour a week. Our bureaucratic opponents optimistically work 40 hours a week. That is why they are losing so fast,&rdquo; Musk posted on X, replying to a post attacking Democrats.
<h2>Internet divided over Musk's opinion on working hours</h2>
Several people commented on the post about the reported unrealistic working hours of DOGE employees.
&ldquo;While working for fed gov, I learned that it's illegal to work unauthorized overtime. Doing so obligates the government to pay, because slavery is illegal,&rdquo; a user wrote raising questions about the legality of the long working hours. &ldquo;So how are federal staff in DOGE legally putting in these hours? Multiple shifts?&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-donald-trump-agrees-usaid-needs-to-be-shut-down-elon-musk-8686790">President Donald Trump agrees USAID needs to be &lsquo;shut down&rsquo;: Elon Musk</a>
&ldquo;Elon Musk has no actual authority to be able to access every American's private financial and personal information. I doubt MAGAs know or understand the impact of what you are doing,&rdquo; another commented on the billionaire&rsquo;s post.
A user who found it &ldquo;hard to believe", wrote, &ldquo;You have, 5.46 hrs remaining daily to drive home to office, to take a bath, to eat and to sleep, to take care of your family.&rdquo; He asked, &ldquo;Do you think someone can spend that time to work for at least 6 months?&rdquo; A user replied to this by saying, &ldquo;You have obviously never worked in surgery. I routinely worked 100-120 a week. Did it at one job for 10 years. It&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;ve been working optional since my late 40s.&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-speaks-to-trudeau-as-us-tariffs-ignite-trade-war-ontario-scraps-agreement-with-musks-starlink-8687500">Trump speaks to Trudeau as US tariffs ignite trade war; Ontario scraps agreement with Musk&rsquo;s Starlink</a>
Another criticised Musk&rsquo;s remarks saying, &ldquo;120-hour weeks? That's not a flex, it's a red flag. Overworked devs make mistakes. Quality &gt; quantity in crypto. DOGE might be digging its own grave.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending | Billionaire Elon Musk’s remarks imply that DOGE employees work at least 17 hours every day, sparking a debate on work-life balance.

Billionaire Elon Musk has joined a similar suit of business leaders who support long working hours. In a post shared on his social media platform X, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has said that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees work 120 hours a week. Musk is leading the department, which is aimed at cutting federal spending. Musk’s remarks imply that DOGE employees work at least 17 hours every day in a week, sparking a debate on work-life balance. Also read | Who is Akash Bobba, 22-year-old Indian-origin tech prodigy hired by Musk's DOGE? “DOGE is working 120 hour a week. Our bureaucratic opponents optimistically work 40 hours a week. That is why they are losing so fast,” Musk posted on X, replying to a post attacking Democrats. Internet divided over Musk's opinion on working hours Several people commented on the post about the reported unrealistic working hours of DOGE employees. “While working for fed gov, I learned that it's illegal to work unauthorized overtime. Doing so obligates the government to pay, because slavery is illegal,” a user wrote raising questions about the legality of the long working hours. “So how are federal staff in DOGE legally putting in these hours? Multiple shifts?” Also read | President Donald Trump agrees USAID needs to be ‘shut down’: Elon Musk “Elon Musk has no actual authority to be able to access every American's private financial and personal information. I doubt MAGAs know or understand the impact of what you are doing,” another commented on the billionaire’s post. A user who found it “hard to believe", wrote, “You have, 5.46 hrs remaining daily to drive home to office, to take a bath, to eat and to sleep, to take care of your family.” He asked, “Do you think someone can spend that time to work for at least 6 months?” A user replied to this by saying, “You have obviously never worked in surgery. I routinely worked 100-120 a week. Did it at one job for 10 years. It’s why I’ve been working optional since my late 40s.” Also read | Trump speaks to Trudeau as US tariffs ignite trade war; Ontario scraps agreement with Musk’s Starlink Another criticised Musk’s remarks saying, “120-hour weeks? That's not a flex, it's a red flag. Overworked devs make mistakes. Quality > quantity in crypto. DOGE might be digging its own grave.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘DOGE digging its own grave’: Internet slams billionaire Elon Musk over DOGE’s long work hours remark

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has employed six young engineers despite them being inexperienced in government affairs.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-speaks-to-trudeau-as-us-tariffs-ignite-trade-war-ontario-scraps-agreement-with-musks-starlink-8687500">Trump speaks to Trudeau as US tariffs ignite trade war; Ontario scraps agreement with Musk&rsquo;s Starlink</a>
The appointment of the young minds, all aged from 19 to 24, barely out of college and one still in college, has sparked concerns among experts about their qualifications to handle government work and access to sensitive government data.&nbsp;
Among the chosen young minds is an Indian-origin engineer who has worked as an intern at Meta, Akash Bobba.&nbsp;
As per a report by WIRED and the now-deleted LinkedIn profile of Bobba, he attended UC Berkeley as part of the prestigious Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology programme, and has experience working as an intern at tech giants Meta and Palantir.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-donald-trump-agrees-usaid-needs-to-be-shut-down-elon-musk-8686790">President Donald Trump agrees USAID needs to be &lsquo;shut down&rsquo;: Elon Musk</a>
A social media user shared photos of four of the employed young engineers on X and wrote, "Wait my moot is running the treasury what."&nbsp;
Charis Zhang, an alumnus of UC Berkeley responded to the post narrating his interaction with Bobba and how he fixed his problem in a swift way.&nbsp;
"Let me tell you something about Akash. During a project at Berkeley, I accidentally deleted our entire codebase 2 days before the deadline. I panicked. Akash just stared at the screen, shrugged, and rewrote everything from scratch in one night&mdash;better than before. We submitted early and got first in the class. Many such stories. I trust him with everything I own," Zhang wrote on the social media platform X.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/feels-like-a-hostile-takeover-federal-employees-concerned-as-trump-aide-musks-allies-lock-them-out-of-key-systems-8682197">'Feels like a hostile takeover': Federal employees 'concerned' as Musk allies lock them out&nbsp;of&nbsp;key&nbsp;systems</a>
In internal government records, Bobba is called an "expert" &nbsp;at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). He used to report to Amanda Scales, the new chief of staff who was previously involved in hiring at Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, the report by WIRED stated.&nbsp;
<h2>Other young minds&nbsp;</h2>
Along with Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran were also hired by Musk's department.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-turns-washingtons-doge-office-into-his-bedroom-8678366">Elon Musk turns Washington's DOGE office into his bedroom</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

Trending | World |  Bobba has attended UC Berkeley as part of the prestigious Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology programme, and has experience working as an intern at tech giants Meta and Palantir.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has employed six young engineers despite them being inexperienced in government affairs. Also read: Trump speaks to Trudeau as US tariffs ignite trade war; Ontario scraps agreement with Musk’s Starlink The appointment of the young minds, all aged from 19 to 24, barely out of college and one still in college, has sparked concerns among experts about their qualifications to handle government work and access to sensitive government data. Among the chosen young minds is an Indian-origin engineer who has worked as an intern at Meta, Akash Bobba. As per a report by WIRED and the now-deleted LinkedIn profile of Bobba, he attended UC Berkeley as part of the prestigious Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology programme, and has experience working as an intern at tech giants Meta and Palantir. Also read: President Donald Trump agrees USAID needs to be ‘shut down’: Elon Musk A social media user shared photos of four of the employed young engineers on X and wrote, "Wait my moot is running the treasury what." Charis Zhang, an alumnus of UC Berkeley responded to the post narrating his interaction with Bobba and how he fixed his problem in a swift way. "Let me tell you something about Akash. During a project at Berkeley, I accidentally deleted our entire codebase 2 days before the deadline. I panicked. Akash just stared at the screen, shrugged, and rewrote everything from scratch in one night—better than before. We submitted early and got first in the class. Many such stories. I trust him with everything I own," Zhang wrote on the social media platform X. Also read: 'Feels like a hostile takeover': Federal employees 'concerned' as Musk allies lock them out of key systems In internal government records, Bobba is called an "expert" at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). He used to report to Amanda Scales, the new chief of staff who was previously involved in hiring at Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, the report by WIRED stated. Other young minds Along with Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran were also hired by Musk's department. Also read: Elon Musk turns Washington's DOGE office into his bedroom (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Akash Bobba, 22-year-old Indian-origin tech prodigy hired by Musk's DOGE?

Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team have been granted access to the US Treasury Department's payment systems, The New York Times reported.&nbsp;
It comes after a standoff between Musk's team and a top Treasury official David Lebryk, who refused to give access to the department's payment system.&nbsp;
The official was later put on leave and then retired after the dispute.&nbsp;
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-turns-washingtons-doge-office-into-his-bedroom-8678366" rel="dofollow"> Elon Musk turns Washington's DOGE office into his bedroom</a>
US Senator Ron Wyden (Democrat) confirmed the news in a post on Bluesky, saying, "Sources tell my office that Treasury Secretary Bessent has granted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/doge" rel="dofollow">DOGE </a>*full* access to this system. Social Security and Medicare benefits, grants, and payments to government contractors, including those that compete directly with Musk's own companies. All of it."&nbsp;
The billionaire's allies, who were granted access to the payment systems, were reportedly made employees of the department and underwent government vetting and received security clearances.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doge-chief-musk-wants-to-delete-irs-and-people-agree-with-him-779792" rel="dofollow">DOGE chief Musk wants to 'delete' IRS, and people agree with him</a>
The Treasury Payments system controls more than USD 6 trillion annually and handles key functions including Social Security benefits, tax refunds and federal employee salaries.&nbsp;
As the Musk team has now access to the system, the Trump administration could restrict the disbursement of money approved by Congress for specific purposes, according to a New York Times report.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-and-ramaswamy-led-doge-plan-to-stop-work-from-home-for-federal-employees-777953" rel="dofollow">Musk and Ramaswamy led DOGE plan to stop work-from-home for federal employees</a>
<h2>Critics react&nbsp;</h2>
Democrats have criticised the move, stressing political interference in the Treasury's payment systems.&nbsp;
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) in a letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent said, "To put it bluntly, these payment systems simply cannot fail, and any politically motivated meddling in them risks severe damage to our country and the economy."
Meanwhile, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) called for an investigation into the matter, pointing to the dangers of allowing Musk's team to oversee payments that affect millions of US citizens.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: It comes after a standoff between Musk's team and a top Treasury official David Lebryk, who refused to give access to the department's payment system. 

Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team have been granted access to the US Treasury Department's payment systems, The New York Times reported. It comes after a standoff between Musk's team and a top Treasury official David Lebryk, who refused to give access to the department's payment system. The official was later put on leave and then retired after the dispute. Also read: Elon Musk turns Washington's DOGE office into his bedroom US Senator Ron Wyden (Democrat) confirmed the news in a post on Bluesky, saying, "Sources tell my office that Treasury Secretary Bessent has granted DOGE *full* access to this system. Social Security and Medicare benefits, grants, and payments to government contractors, including those that compete directly with Musk's own companies. All of it." The billionaire's allies, who were granted access to the payment systems, were reportedly made employees of the department and underwent government vetting and received security clearances. Also read: DOGE chief Musk wants to 'delete' IRS, and people agree with him The Treasury Payments system controls more than USD 6 trillion annually and handles key functions including Social Security benefits, tax refunds and federal employee salaries. As the Musk team has now access to the system, the Trump administration could restrict the disbursement of money approved by Congress for specific purposes, according to a New York Times report. Also read: Musk and Ramaswamy led DOGE plan to stop work-from-home for federal employees Critics react Democrats have criticised the move, stressing political interference in the Treasury's payment systems. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) in a letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent said, "To put it bluntly, these payment systems simply cannot fail, and any politically motivated meddling in them risks severe damage to our country and the economy." Meanwhile, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) called for an investigation into the matter, pointing to the dangers of allowing Musk's team to oversee payments that affect millions of US citizens. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk team now can access US Treasury's payment system? What does it mean

Billionaire Elon Musk has taken his dedication to work in US President Donald Trump's administration, to new heights, as he is reportedly living in the Department of Government Efficiency's (<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/doge" rel="dofollow">DOGE</a>) headquarters in Washington DC, according to the American magazine WIRED.&nbsp;
Tesla and X CEO Musk has been living at DOGE's offices in the &nbsp;Eisenhower Executive Office Building, just some steps away from the White House.&nbsp;
Musk also claimed that he was invited to spend the night in the White House's Lincoln Bedroom, however, he chose to stay in the DOGE headquarters.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-administration-pulls-plug-on-funding-of-condoms-in-gaza-elon-musk-reacts-8664246" rel="dofollow">Donald Trump administration pulls plug on 'funding condoms in Gaza', Elon Musk reacts</a>
Reportedly, he made this decision to avoid a more formal relationship with Trump's team, after Chief of Staff Susie Wiles denied him office space in the West Wing, Daily Mail reported.&nbsp;
The world's richest man has been constantly showing dedication and commitment toward newly-sworn in president Trump and his administration.&nbsp;
He is also known for his 'hardcore' work habits and for demanding the same work ethics from his employees.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-doge-sued-soon-after-trumps-inauguration-8639018" rel="dofollow">Elon Musk's DOGE sued soon after Trump's inauguration</a>
Musk's primary role with the DOGE is to reduce unnecessary government spending. 'DOGE is saving the Federal Government approx. $1 billion/day, mostly from stopping the hiring of people into unnecessary positions, deletion of DEI and stopping improper payments to foreign organizations, all consistent with the President&rsquo;s Executive Orders,' DOGE said in a statement. 'A good start, though this number needs to increase to &gt; $3 billion/day.'
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doge-chief-musk-wants-to-delete-irs-and-people-agree-with-him-779792" rel="dofollow">DOGE chief Musk wants to 'delete' IRS, and people agree with him</a>
<h2>Musk slept at Tesla factory&nbsp;</h2>
During the early days of Tesla, Musk slept on the factory floor during busy days, saying that it allowed his employees to see their leader's dedication.&nbsp;
"This is important because if the team thinks their leader is off somewhere having a good time, drinking Mai Tais on a tropical island... they knew I was there, and that made a huge difference," he said.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World, trending: Tesla and X CEO Musk has been living at DOGE's offices in the  Eisenhower Executive Office Building, just some steps away from the White House. 

Billionaire Elon Musk has taken his dedication to work in US President Donald Trump's administration, to new heights, as he is reportedly living in the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) headquarters in Washington DC, according to the American magazine WIRED. Tesla and X CEO Musk has been living at DOGE's offices in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, just some steps away from the White House. Musk also claimed that he was invited to spend the night in the White House's Lincoln Bedroom, however, he chose to stay in the DOGE headquarters. Also read: Donald Trump administration pulls plug on 'funding condoms in Gaza', Elon Musk reacts Reportedly, he made this decision to avoid a more formal relationship with Trump's team, after Chief of Staff Susie Wiles denied him office space in the West Wing, Daily Mail reported. The world's richest man has been constantly showing dedication and commitment toward newly-sworn in president Trump and his administration. He is also known for his 'hardcore' work habits and for demanding the same work ethics from his employees. Also read: Elon Musk's DOGE sued soon after Trump's inauguration Musk's primary role with the DOGE is to reduce unnecessary government spending. 'DOGE is saving the Federal Government approx. $1 billion/day, mostly from stopping the hiring of people into unnecessary positions, deletion of DEI and stopping improper payments to foreign organizations, all consistent with the President’s Executive Orders,' DOGE said in a statement. 'A good start, though this number needs to increase to > $3 billion/day.' Also read: DOGE chief Musk wants to 'delete' IRS, and people agree with him Musk slept at Tesla factory During the early days of Tesla, Musk slept on the factory floor during busy days, saying that it allowed his employees to see their leader's dedication. "This is important because if the team thinks their leader is off somewhere having a good time, drinking Mai Tais on a tropical island... they knew I was there, and that made a huge difference," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk turns Washington's DOGE office into his bedroom

American Oversight, a prominent ethics watchdog has raised alarms about Elon Musk's involvement in Donald Trump&rsquo;s newly proposed "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge). The group alleges that Doge's use of encrypted messaging apps, such as Signal with auto-delete features, could breach the Federal Records Act (FRA). &nbsp;
Doge, an agency Trump plans to establish to implement drastic government cuts, has sparked ethical concerns due to Musk's significant business interests. American Oversight claims Musk's leadership could create "potential conflicts of interest," given Musk's business empire and Doge's potential influence over federal agencies.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-was-sworn-in-as-president-metas-ai-bewildered-following-trump-inauguration-8649229">&lsquo;Biden was sworn in as president,&rsquo; Meta&rsquo;s AI bewildered following Trump inauguration</a>&nbsp;
<h2>Encrypted messaging concerns</h2>
Reports that Doge members are using Signal's auto-delete feature prompted the watchdog to send warnings on Wednesday (Jan 22) to Musk, Doge, and various federal departments, including Defence, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) was also notified &mdash; the watchdog has reportedly urged the archivist to pursue legal action if records are unlawfully destroyed or removed. &nbsp;
The FRA mandates that agencies preserve records that document federal activities, decisions, and policies. American Oversight insists all communications related to Doge, both pre-and post-Trump's inauguration earlier this week, are federal records subject to preservation. &nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/algorithm-sucks-musk-says-he-will-lose-his-mind-over-nazi-salute-posts-on-his-x-feed-8648774">&lsquo;Algorithm sucks,&rsquo; Musk says he will &lsquo;lose his mind&rsquo; over &lsquo;Nazi salute&rsquo; posts on his X feed</a>
<h2>Transparency demands</h2>
Chioma Chukwu, American Oversight's interim executive director, criticised what she described as attempts to conceal Doge's activities.&nbsp;
"Efforts are clearly underway to conceal information that would expose the Trump administration&rsquo;s plans to gut critical services that benefit the American people, and Doge &ndash; led by unelected billionaires poised to benefit from their self-serving machinations &ndash; is no exception," she alleged, as reported by The Guardian.
She warned that "Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lets-call-a-spade-a-fking-spade-musks-transgender-daughter-reacts-to-fathers-nazi-salute-claims-8647360">Let's call a spade a f***king spade: Musk's transgender daughter reacts to father's 'Nazi salute' claims</a>
"That is why we have put the administration on notice: comply with your obligation to preserve all Doge-related records, or defend that secrecy in court," she stated. &nbsp;
This is not the first time American Oversight has clashed with Trump's administration. The group has previously sued Trump's administration over documents tied to Rudy Giuliani's Ukraine communications and preventable immigrant deaths under ICE custody.
(With inputs from agencies)

Explore the ethical concerns raised by American Oversight about Elon Musk's role in Trump's proposed Department of Government Efficiency, known as Doge.

American Oversight, a prominent ethics watchdog has raised alarms about Elon Musk's involvement in Donald Trump’s newly proposed "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge). The group alleges that Doge's use of encrypted messaging apps, such as Signal with auto-delete features, could breach the Federal Records Act (FRA). Doge, an agency Trump plans to establish to implement drastic government cuts, has sparked ethical concerns due to Musk's significant business interests. American Oversight claims Musk's leadership could create "potential conflicts of interest," given Musk's business empire and Doge's potential influence over federal agencies. Also read | ‘Biden was sworn in as president,’ Meta’s AI bewildered following Trump inauguration Encrypted messaging concerns Reports that Doge members are using Signal's auto-delete feature prompted the watchdog to send warnings on Wednesday (Jan 22) to Musk, Doge, and various federal departments, including Defence, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) was also notified — the watchdog has reportedly urged the archivist to pursue legal action if records are unlawfully destroyed or removed. The FRA mandates that agencies preserve records that document federal activities, decisions, and policies. American Oversight insists all communications related to Doge, both pre-and post-Trump's inauguration earlier this week, are federal records subject to preservation. Also read | ‘Algorithm sucks,’ Musk says he will ‘lose his mind’ over ‘Nazi salute’ posts on his X feed Transparency demands Chioma Chukwu, American Oversight's interim executive director, criticised what she described as attempts to conceal Doge's activities. "Efforts are clearly underway to conceal information that would expose the Trump administration’s plans to gut critical services that benefit the American people, and Doge – led by unelected billionaires poised to benefit from their self-serving machinations – is no exception," she alleged, as reported by The Guardian. She warned that "Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable." Also read | Let's call a spade a f***king spade: Musk's transgender daughter reacts to father's 'Nazi salute' claims "That is why we have put the administration on notice: comply with your obligation to preserve all Doge-related records, or defend that secrecy in court," she stated. This is not the first time American Oversight has clashed with Trump's administration. The group has previously sued Trump's administration over documents tied to Rudy Giuliani's Ukraine communications and preventable immigrant deaths under ICE custody. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk and Donald Trump's 'Doge' agency under ethics watchdog's radar. Here's why

The White House said on Monday (Jan 20) that Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will no longer co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside billionaire Elon Musk, reported news agency Associated Press.
It comes after earlier media reports suggested that Vivek may have to exit DOGE to run for Ohio governor.
Washington Post newspaper had earlier reported that Vivek is expected to replace the term-limited Republican state leader Mike DeWine.
CBS News reported that the move to remove Vivek from DOGE may have been a "result of friction" between him and the incoming agency staff.
The US channel claimed some officials were frustrated with Vivek because of his "lack of participation in the heavy lifting."
A New York Times report had earlier claimed that Musk himself had been critical of Vivek in private conversations.
<h2>Vivek confirms exit</h2>
Vivek later took to X to confirm his exit from the DOGE, saying it was his honour to help support the creation of the new department.&nbsp;
"I&rsquo;m confident that Elon &amp; team will succeed in streamlining government. I&rsquo;ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio. Most importantly, we&rsquo;re all-in to help President Trump make America great again!" he wrote in his X post.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m65p3y7u-ck42988r-lj5lr5rw">
It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE. I&rsquo;m confident that Elon &amp; team will succeed in streamlining government. I&rsquo;ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio. Most importantly, we&rsquo;re all-in to help President Trump make America great again! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/f1YFZm8X13">https://t.co/f1YFZm8X13</a>
&mdash; Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) <a href="https://twitter.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1881482161565618648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
The governor&rsquo;s seat in Ohio will be up for grabs in November 2026.&nbsp;
It's because the current Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine is term-limited and has named his deputy Jon Husted would fill the Senate seat being vacated by Vice President JD Vance.
Interestingly, Vivek was also a contender for the vacancy, and Trump himself told him that he would be a good fit.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | CBS news reported that the move to remove Vivek from DOGE may have been caused by alleged friction between him and the incoming agency staff.

The White House said on Monday (Jan 20) that Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will no longer co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside billionaire Elon Musk, reported news agency Associated Press. It comes after earlier media reports suggested that Vivek may have to exit DOGE to run for Ohio governor. Washington Post newspaper had earlier reported that Vivek is expected to replace the term-limited Republican state leader Mike DeWine. CBS News reported that the move to remove Vivek from DOGE may have been a "result of friction" between him and the incoming agency staff. The US channel claimed some officials were frustrated with Vivek because of his "lack of participation in the heavy lifting." A New York Times report had earlier claimed that Musk himself had been critical of Vivek in private conversations. Vivek confirms exit Vivek later took to X to confirm his exit from the DOGE, saying it was his honour to help support the creation of the new department. "I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining government. I’ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio. Most importantly, we’re all-in to help President Trump make America great again!" he wrote in his X post. It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining government. I’ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio. Most importantly, we’re all-in to help President Trump make America great again! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/f1YFZm8X13 — Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 20, 2025 The governor’s seat in Ohio will be up for grabs in November 2026. It's because the current Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine is term-limited and has named his deputy Jon Husted would fill the Senate seat being vacated by Vice President JD Vance. Interestingly, Vivek was also a contender for the vacancy, and Trump himself told him that he would be a good fit. (With inputs from agencies)

Result of friction? White House confirms Vivek Ramaswamy won't serve in DOGE

Within minutes after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/donald-trump-0" rel="dofollow">Donald Trump</a> took oath as the 47th President of the United States, at least three lawsuits were filed in federal courts to halt Elon Musk&rsquo;s &ldquo;Department of Government Efficiency&rdquo; until it meets transparency requirements for governmental advisory bodies.
Kicking off a legal battle as US President Donald Trump kicks off his presidency, it becomes the first challenge Trump has to face as he takes office.&nbsp;
In a 30-page complaint obtained by The Washington Post newspaper ahead of its filing, the public interest law firm National Security Counselors said that the nongovernmental DOGE panel is breaking a 1972 law that requires advisory committees to the executive branch to follow certain rules on disclosure, hiring and other practices.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doge-chief-musk-wants-to-delete-irs-and-people-agree-with-him-779792" rel="dofollow">DOGE chief Musk wants to 'delete' IRS, and people agree with him</a>
Musk's department was sued by a trio of organisations, including nonprofit watchdog Public Citizen, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), and the left-wing nonprofit State Democracy Defenders Fund.
<h2>'Not abiding law's transparency requirements'</h2>
According to the plaintiffs, DOGE has been operating like an advisory committee without abiding by the law&rsquo;s transparency requirements.&nbsp;
Earlier in November, Trump declared that Vivek and Elon would be spearheading the DOGE arm of his government. &nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamys-doge-seeks-super-high-iq-candidates-776485" rel="dofollow">Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy&rsquo;s DOGE seeks &lsquo;super-high IQ&rsquo; candidates</a>
Trump in a statement said, &ldquo;It will become, potentially, &lsquo;The Manhattan Project&rsquo; of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of &lsquo;DOGE&rsquo; for a very long time.&rdquo;
Trump while announcing the DOGE, aimed that the department will work as a non-government body that will make recommendations for cutting federal spending.&nbsp;
It was expected to work with the Office of Management and Budget, which has also been named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed on Monday in federal court in the District of Columbia.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/congress-and-constitution-experts-claim-musks-doge-plan-may-face-real-obstacles-776310" rel="dofollow">Congress and Constitution: Experts claim Musk&rsquo;s DOGE plan may face real obstacles</a>
&ldquo;My administration will establish the brand new Department of Government Efficiency,&rdquo; Trump said Monday, adding that DOGE has been in the works, and hiring, since November.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: DOGE was sued by a trio of organisations, which alleged that it has been operating like an advisory committee without abiding by the law’s transparency requirements. 

Within minutes after Donald Trump took oath as the 47th President of the United States, at least three lawsuits were filed in federal courts to halt Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” until it meets transparency requirements for governmental advisory bodies. Kicking off a legal battle as US President Donald Trump kicks off his presidency, it becomes the first challenge Trump has to face as he takes office. In a 30-page complaint obtained by The Washington Post newspaper ahead of its filing, the public interest law firm National Security Counselors said that the nongovernmental DOGE panel is breaking a 1972 law that requires advisory committees to the executive branch to follow certain rules on disclosure, hiring and other practices. Also read: DOGE chief Musk wants to 'delete' IRS, and people agree with him Musk's department was sued by a trio of organisations, including nonprofit watchdog Public Citizen, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), and the left-wing nonprofit State Democracy Defenders Fund. 'Not abiding law's transparency requirements' According to the plaintiffs, DOGE has been operating like an advisory committee without abiding by the law’s transparency requirements. Earlier in November, Trump declared that Vivek and Elon would be spearheading the DOGE arm of his government. Also read: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s DOGE seeks ‘super-high IQ’ candidates Trump in a statement said, “It will become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time.” Trump while announcing the DOGE, aimed that the department will work as a non-government body that will make recommendations for cutting federal spending. It was expected to work with the Office of Management and Budget, which has also been named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed on Monday in federal court in the District of Columbia. Also read: Congress and Constitution: Experts claim Musk’s DOGE plan may face real obstacles “My administration will establish the brand new Department of Government Efficiency,” Trump said Monday, adding that DOGE has been in the works, and hiring, since November. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's DOGE sued soon after Trump's inauguration

Vivek Ramaswamy, Donald Trump's choice to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with entrepreneur Elon Musk, is expected to step away from the task force soon. Watch this report for more details!

Vivek Ramaswamy to step down from 'doge'?

SpaceX flew its latest test flight of its Starship mega-rocket on Tuesday, with President-elect Donald Trump joining Elon Musk to witness the spectacle firsthand in the latest sign of their ever-closer ties.

SpaceX flew its latest test flight of its Starship mega-rocket on Tuesday, with President-elect Donald Trump joining Elon Musk to witness the spectacle firsthand in the latest sign of their ever-closer ties. But the Republican leader was deprived of the chance to see the descending first stage caught in the launch tower's "chopstick" arms, an engineering marvel demonstrated by the company last month and one he personally lauded during his election victory speech. Instead, the massive Super Heavy booster made a more subdued splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. Company representatives cited unmet technical criteria, dampening the triumph of an event attended by an array of Trump-world figures. Space X founder and CEO Musk has been a constant presence at Trump's side since the incoming president's election victory, joining him at a meeting with Argentina's President Javier Milei and even at a UFC bout. Trump's decision to travel to Musk's home turf was the latest sign of the burgeoning bond between the billionaire duo, which has raised questions over possible conflicts of interest given SpaceX's lucrative contracts with NASA and the Pentagon. Also read | What Trump’s victory means for future of Big Tech Flying in from his Mar-a-Lago home, Trump greeted Musk warmly on Tuesday afternoon, sporting a red MAGA hat as the pair headed off to watch from the control tower of the company's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, where Starship blasted off at 4:00 pm (2200 GMT). Tuesday's launch marked the quickest turnaround between test flights for the world's most powerful rocket, a gleaming, 400-foot-tall (121-meter) stainless steel colossus central to Musk's ambition of colonizing Mars and making humanity a multi-planetary species. Musk aims to launch the first uncrewed missions to the Red Planet as early as 2026, coinciding with the next "Mars transfer window" -- a period when the journey between Earth and Mars is at its shortest. NASA is also counting on a specialized version of Starship to ferry astronauts to the lunar surface later this decade under its Artemis program. Stuffed banana Flight six of Starship was seen as a test of whether SpaceX's first booster catch was pure precision or relied on a stroke of luck after Musk -- perhaps inadvertently -- disclosed how close the last flight came to disaster. In a clip posted to X showcasing his gaming chops in "Diablo IV," sharp-eared fans caught an employee briefing him that the Super Heavy booster was "one second away" from a system failure that could have spelt catastrophe. Starship's upper stage meanwhile made a partial orbit of Earth, reentered the atmosphere and splashed down in the Indian Ocean around an hour and five minutes after launch. SpaceX employees erupted in cheers during a live feed watched by nearly nine million viewers, as the upper stage executed a near-vertical daylight splashdown off Australia's northwest coast, sending up a towering plume of water vapour before tipping over. Also read | Russia-Ukraine war | Amid shifting political winds Zelensky warns Ukraine 'will lose' without US aid Key milestones included reigniting Starship's Raptor engines for the first time in space and trialling new heat shield materials. The flight also carried Starship's first-ever payload, a stuffed banana, and served as a swan song for the current generation of Starship prototypes. With twice the thrust of the Saturn V rockets that powered Apollo missions, Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built. Musk has already teased that its successor, Starship V3, will be "3X more powerful" and could take flight in about a year. The flight comes as Musk is riding high on Trump's November 5 White House win, having campaigned extensively for the returning Republican leader, as well as donating staggering sums from his own fortune to the cause. His loyalty has paid off. Musk has been tapped to co-lead a new "Department of Government Efficiency" -- or DOGE, a cheeky nod to the meme-based cryptocurrency Musk loves to promote. That in turn has led to concerns Musk could engage in "self-dealing" as the CEO is poised to straddle the line between government insider and corporate titan. 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.

SpaceX fails to repeat Starship booster catch, as Trump watches on

Elon Musk has hinted at the possibility of ending Daylight Savings Time. On a post regarding the same on social media, Musk commented in the affirmative. Under Donald Trump, the SpaceX CEO has been assigned to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

DOGE is meant to cut costs where possible and help the government work more efficiently. It is an outside role and not an official part of the government. Musk has been talking about bringing in big changes and regularly posts about the government's plans once Trump assumes the role of president next year.

Musk's plans also include getting rid of Daylight Savings Time.&nbsp;

A user on X posted, "I hope that D.O.G.E can delete daylight savings time."

To this, Musk replied, "Yes."

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Yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1856528175855014090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Daylight Savings Time is a method to utilise more daylight not just in the United States, but several other countries as well. It begins on the second Sunday of March every year in the US when people move their clocks forward one hour.&nbsp;

It ends on the first Sunday of November when people are required to move their clocks back by an hour again.

The topic has been a constant point of stress for several Americans. People argue that the change makes managing things harder, besides affecting their sleep cycles. But the main idea behind DST was to utilise daylight for a longer time when the sun sets later.

<h2>Daylight Savings Time has divided people</h2>

DST was first used in the US during the First World War. Officials felt the need to conserve energy during the war years and so came up with the idea of changing clock cycles in summer and winter.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/onlyfans-model-wants-to-become-the-first-mother-on-mars-she-has-approached-musk-777282">Model wants to have Musk's baby on Mars. She has already approached him</a>

While a lot of people want it to be completely removed, others argue making it a permanent fixture. This way only one cycle is followed all year round while getting in more light.

Musk might be going all out with ideas to change things in the US. But people are sceptical about the power he holds, considering DOGE is not even an official wing of the government.&nbsp;

A social media user wrote, "DST starts and ends with an act of Congress, so nothing D.O.G.E can do about it."

The proposal to end daylight savings has reached Congress in the past. A 2022 measure would have made daylight saving time permanent. However, it could not reach a conclusion.&nbsp;

A 2022 CBS News/YouGov poll found that nearly 80 per cent of Americans wanted to change the current format. About 46 per cent of them wanted to make DST permanent, while 33 per cent wanted it to end.

Some states and territories in the US do not follow daylight saving time. Hawaii and most of Arizona are among those. American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands also don't observe daylight saving time.

Elon Musk has hinted at the possibility of ending Daylight Savings Time. On a post regarding the same on social media, Musk commented in the affirmative. Under Donald Trump, the SpaceX CEO has been assigned to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Elon Musk has hinted at the possibility of ending Daylight Savings Time. On a post regarding the same on social media, Musk commented in the affirmative. Under Donald Trump, the SpaceX CEO has been assigned to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE is meant to cut costs where possible and help the government work more efficiently. It is an outside role and not an official part of the government. Musk has been talking about bringing in big changes and regularly posts about the government's plans once Trump assumes the role of president next year. Musk's plans also include getting rid of Daylight Savings Time. A user on X posted, "I hope that D.O.G.E can delete daylight savings time." To this, Musk replied, "Yes." Yes — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 13, 2024 × Daylight Savings Time is a method to utilise more daylight not just in the United States, but several other countries as well. It begins on the second Sunday of March every year in the US when people move their clocks forward one hour. It ends on the first Sunday of November when people are required to move their clocks back by an hour again. The topic has been a constant point of stress for several Americans. People argue that the change makes managing things harder, besides affecting their sleep cycles. But the main idea behind DST was to utilise daylight for a longer time when the sun sets later. Daylight Savings Time has divided people DST was first used in the US during the First World War. Officials felt the need to conserve energy during the war years and so came up with the idea of changing clock cycles in summer and winter. Also Read: Model wants to have Musk's baby on Mars. She has already approached him While a lot of people want it to be completely removed, others argue making it a permanent fixture. This way only one cycle is followed all year round while getting in more light. Musk might be going all out with ideas to change things in the US. But people are sceptical about the power he holds, considering DOGE is not even an official wing of the government. A social media user wrote, "DST starts and ends with an act of Congress, so nothing D.O.G.E can do about it." The proposal to end daylight savings has reached Congress in the past. A 2022 measure would have made daylight saving time permanent. However, it could not reach a conclusion. A 2022 CBS News/YouGov poll found that nearly 80 per cent of Americans wanted to change the current format. About 46 per cent of them wanted to make DST permanent, while 33 per cent wanted it to end. Some states and territories in the US do not follow daylight saving time. Hawaii and most of Arizona are among those. American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands also don't observe daylight saving time.

Musk might go after daylight savings time as part of DOGE, throws shade at it on X

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