The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk, has marked a week of significant achievements, securing key legal wins, uncovering hidden budget lines, and exposing questionable spending practices within the federal government.
Legal Victories Pave the Way for DOGE
A federal judge dismissed a request from labor unions to halt the Trump administration's dismissal of federal employees, directing them to pursue their claims through the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute. In a separate ruling, another judge denied a request to restrict DOGE's access to data systems across multiple federal agencies, allowing the department to continue its operations unimpeded. A third judge further solidified DOGE's authority by allowing access to data from the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, rejecting union and nonprofit attempts to block access.
Elon Musk's DOGE celebrated several legal wins this week.
Unmasking Hidden Budgets and Questionable Spending
DOGE unearthed a nearly untraceable budget line item responsible for almost $4.7 trillion in payments, revealing that the Treasury Access Symbol (TAS) field, crucial for linking payments to specific budget items, was frequently left blank. This discovery highlights a significant transparency issue within government spending. DOGE also revealed how schools misspent nearly $200 billion in COVID relief funds on non-educational expenses, including Las Vegas hotel rooms, a Major League Baseball stadium rental, swimming pool passes, and even an ice cream truck.
Discussions are underway about how to allocate savings generated by DOGE.
Collaboration and Future Cuts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed his support for DOGE's efforts within the Department of Defense, aiming to eliminate wasteful spending on non-essential programs. DOGE also disclosed the existence of over 4 million active government credit cards responsible for approximately 90 million transactions totaling $40 billion in fiscal year 2024. Elon Musk, in a speech to conservatives, celebrated DOGE's progress, symbolizing the drive for government spending cuts.
Elon Musk with President Donald Trump at the White House.
DOGE has exposed questionable spending of COVID relief funds by schools.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth collaborates with DOGE to identify areas for cuts within the Department of Defense.
Elon Musk and President Donald Trump observe a SpaceX Starship rocket launch.
