Government Efficiency (2 Viewers)

[RobF]

I think this topic deserves its own thread, both to discuss generally the topic of government efficiency, and specifically the so-called 'Department of Government Efficiency' and the incoming Trump administration's aims to "dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure Federal Agencies".

The announcements have been covered in the The Trump Cabinet and key post thread, but to recap, Trump has announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will work together on a not-actually-an-official-government-Department of Government Efficiency, which is intended to work with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to "drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before," with the 'Department' to conclude its work "no later than July 4, 2026."

Musk has previously said that the federal budget could be reduced by "at least $2 trillion", and Ramaswarmy, during his presidential campaign, said he would fire more than 75% of the federal work force and disband agencies including the Department of Education and the FBI.

 

[bird]

So now the American taxpayer are paying for the security of the richest man in the world. There is no greater mooch off of the government tit than a billionaire. Especially those two butt crevasses. But the rubes continue their support.

What the actual fork???

 

[Sendai]

So now the American taxpayer are paying for the security of the richest man in the world. There is no greater mooch off of the government tit than a billionaire. Especially those two butt crevasses. But the rubes continue their support.

Nothing in that article or the additional articles I’ve read have indicated the feds are paying for his security. They’ve been deputized. Now They can carry guns on federal property. I’m sure Spacex and Tesla are paying for his security.

 

[Eeyore]

We'll all forget about this soon.

 

[bird]

Nothing in that article or the additional articles I’ve read have indicated the feds are paying for his security. They’ve been deputized. Now They can carry guns on federal property. I’m sure Spacex and Tesla are paying for his security.

Don’t give a flying fork at a rolling doughnut about who is paying for it.

There is zero need to deputize them.

 

[bird]

We'll all forget about this soon.

Just go cut a chunk out of his brain. He isn’t using it anyway.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

This administration is treating the legitimate question, about all the fraud they have found, as a gotcha question.

Then again, they might not have known that fraud was a criminal act. There's no telling where they could have gotten that idea.

 

[MT15]

Nothing in that article or the additional articles I’ve read have indicated the feds are paying for his security. They’ve been deputized. Now They can carry guns on federal property. I’m sure Spacex and Tesla are paying for his security.

Why are you sure? There’s nothing about Musk to indicate he wouldn’t at least try to get the taxpayer to foot his bills. He’s been doing it for decades.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Donald Trump’s administration could rack up a “monumental” bill and is breaking the law by firing government workers on spurious grounds, according to a top labor lawyer.

Officials have cited “poor performance” when terminating thousands of federal workers. In many cases it’s not true, according to employees embroiled in the blitz, many of whom are now seeking legal advice.

Jacob Malcom was acting deputy assistant secretary for policy and environmental management, and director of the office of policy analysis at the US Department of the Interior – until this week, when he resigned in protest against the mass firings of probationary employees.


“This is being done under the guise of ‘poor performance’ or ‘skills not aligned with needs’ but neither are true,” he told the Guardian. “First, no evidence was provided that would suggest that poor performance; in fact, I know some of the individuals that were down my chain of supervision and know they were among the best performers.

“Second, [there has been] no evidence or analysis of a lack of alignment with needs. Some of the people terminated in my chain actually work on performance and efficiency, so they literally work on the public argument of the Doge.”

The so-called “department of government efficiency”, a unit led by billionaire tycoon Elon Musk, has been permitted by Trump to conduct a wide-ranging blitz across the federal government in the name of improving efficiency.

But Suzanne Summerlin, a labor attorney, said an “astounding” level of “fraud, waste and abuse” had been occurring as the Trump administrationsought to overhaul a string of departments and agencies.

“These firings they’re conducting without following the law will result in hundreds of thousands of former federal employees being owed back pay, plus interest, plus benefits, plus attorneys fees,” said Summerlin. “When the bill comes it will be monumental.”…….

Trump administration’s mass firings could leave federal government with ‘monumental’ bill, say experts

Lawyer says ‘astounding’ purge will cost government, after workers with positive reviews cut due to ‘poor performance’

www.theguardian.com

 

[Sendai]

Why are you sure? There’s nothing about Musk to indicate he wouldn’t at least try to get the taxpayer to foot his bills. He’s been doing it for decades.

The fact that he had a team to be deputized pretty much implies a regular security detail. Plus this.

“Elon Musk's security team includes up to 20 security guards and a medical professional, NYT reports.

• Musk's security team reportedly refers to the Tesla CEO by the code name "Voyager."
• Musk's security expenses have surged amid increased threats and his rising status.

"Voyager" — explorer, famous NASA mission, and now … billionaire tech mogul?

That's the code name that Elon Musk's security team uses to refers to him, The New York Times reported as part of an investigation into the Tesla CEO's protective services.

And "Voyager" doesn't go very far without his bodyguards, flanked by as many as 20 security personnel, some armed — plus a medical professional — wherever he goes, according to the outlet.

In many ways, Musk's deep bench of security personnel makes sense. With a net worth of over $250 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, he's the world's richest person, and that stratosphere of wealth brings some very real risks into the equation.

But Musk wasn't always this wealthy, and the Times reports that he used to prefer roaming without his around-the-clock personal platoon. But by 2014, Musk had reportedly upgraded to a revolving circle of security staff to run his errands, assess threats, and research people deemed as "inappropriate pursuers."

These expenses could total six figures in a month, NYT reports, once reaching a bill of over $163,000 in January 2016. And Musk has reportedly increased his security measures as his wealth, status, and security risks grew.

He also hasn't shied away from talking about security concerns or threats made against him. At Tesla's annual shareholder meeting in June, Musk said that "two homicidal maniacs" had threatened to killhim in recent months.”

Elon Musk now travels with up to 20 bodyguards who refer to him by the code name 'Voyager,' report says

What does Elon Musk's personal security network look like as the world's richest man? A new report reveals just how much it's grown.

www.businessinsider.com

And, simple common sense, says he needs a security detail.

It’s nice they were deputized. Keeps the Secret Service from being hassled.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Pentagon lays off 5,400 civilian workers, with tens of thousands more firings due

Pete Hegseth supports cuts of up to 8% of civilian workforce as Trump bids to institute massive government cuts

www.theguardian.com

 

[bird]

The fact that he had a team to be deputized pretty much implies a regular security detail. Plus this.

“Elon Musk's security team includes up to 20 security guards and a medical professional, NYT reports.

• Musk's security team reportedly refers to the Tesla CEO by the code name "Voyager."
• Musk's security expenses have surged amid increased threats and his rising status.

"Voyager" — explorer, famous NASA mission, and now … billionaire tech mogul?

That's the code name that Elon Musk's security team uses to refers to him, The New York Times reported as part of an investigation into the Tesla CEO's protective services.

And "Voyager" doesn't go very far without his bodyguards, flanked by as many as 20 security personnel, some armed — plus a medical professional — wherever he goes, according to the outlet.

In many ways, Musk's deep bench of security personnel makes sense. With a net worth of over $250 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, he's the world's richest person, and that stratosphere of wealth brings some very real risks into the equation.

But Musk wasn't always this wealthy, and the Times reports that he used to prefer roaming without his around-the-clock personal platoon. But by 2014, Musk had reportedly upgraded to a revolving circle of security staff to run his errands, assess threats, and research people deemed as "inappropriate pursuers."

These expenses could total six figures in a month, NYT reports, once reaching a bill of over $163,000 in January 2016. And Musk has reportedly increased his security measures as his wealth, status, and security risks grew.

He also hasn't shied away from talking about security concerns or threats made against him. At Tesla's annual shareholder meeting in June, Musk said that "two homicidal maniacs" had threatened to killhim in recent months.”

Elon Musk now travels with up to 20 bodyguards who refer to him by the code name 'Voyager,' report says

What does Elon Musk's personal security network look like as the world's richest man? A new report reveals just how much it's grown.

www.businessinsider.com

And, simple common sense, says he needs a security detail.

It’s nice they were deputized. Keeps the Secret Service from being hassled.

Not possible for me to give a flying fork about Elon Musk. His security detail is his business. He is not the head of DOGE or a government employee according to the Orange Menace. Therefore his security detail has no reason to be deputized. He net worth makes him a potential target. His arrogance and stupidity increases that risk and is on him.

 

[MT15]

The fact that he had a team to be deputized pretty much implies a regular security detail. Plus this.

“Elon Musk's security team includes up to 20 security guards and a medical professional, NYT reports.

• Musk's security team reportedly refers to the Tesla CEO by the code name "Voyager."
• Musk's security expenses have surged amid increased threats and his rising status.

"Voyager" — explorer, famous NASA mission, and now … billionaire tech mogul?

That's the code name that Elon Musk's security team uses to refers to him, The New York Times reported as part of an investigation into the Tesla CEO's protective services.

And "Voyager" doesn't go very far without his bodyguards, flanked by as many as 20 security personnel, some armed — plus a medical professional — wherever he goes, according to the outlet.

In many ways, Musk's deep bench of security personnel makes sense. With a net worth of over $250 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, he's the world's richest person, and that stratosphere of wealth brings some very real risks into the equation.

But Musk wasn't always this wealthy, and the Times reports that he used to prefer roaming without his around-the-clock personal platoon. But by 2014, Musk had reportedly upgraded to a revolving circle of security staff to run his errands, assess threats, and research people deemed as "inappropriate pursuers."

These expenses could total six figures in a month, NYT reports, once reaching a bill of over $163,000 in January 2016. And Musk has reportedly increased his security measures as his wealth, status, and security risks grew.

He also hasn't shied away from talking about security concerns or threats made against him. At Tesla's annual shareholder meeting in June, Musk said that "two homicidal maniacs" had threatened to killhim in recent months.”

Elon Musk now travels with up to 20 bodyguards who refer to him by the code name 'Voyager,' report says

What does Elon Musk's personal security network look like as the world's richest man? A new report reveals just how much it's grown.

www.businessinsider.com

And, simple common sense, says he needs a security detail.

It’s nice they were deputized. Keeps the Secret Service from being hassled.

None of those words addressed my point. I get that he has paid for them in the past. Following the Musk pattern - I wouldn’t be surprised if he at least tries to get the US taxpayer to pay for his egregious security detail now that he is head of DOGE. It’s his usual MO, he’s damn good at getting government handouts.

See the StarLinks he volunteered to Ukraine, only to complain about the cost later and present the US government with a bill for their use, which we all paid for.

See the billions of dollars he takes from the government every year (an estimated $20B in grants, loans and contracts since 2008).

 

[Dragon]

We'll all forget about this soon.

This is personal for me. I can't express with words how angry I am right now.