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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Explainer: What Musk's 130-day DOGE tenure achieved, and what it didn't
Elon Musk announced that he would be stepping down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role he held under US President Donald Trump. Now, as he exits after 130 days, public debate swirls over what, if anything, the initiative has truly accomplished. What is DOGE? The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created by Executive Order 14158 on January 20, 2025, with the aim of modernising federal operations, cutting wasteful spending, and trimming bureaucracy. Born from conversations between Trump and Musk in 2024, DOGE was positioned as a high-tech reform unit to overhaul how Washington works and spend less doing it. Musk was appointed as a 'special government employee' for 180 days, during which he led DOGE with an ambitious promise: slash $2 trillion from federal spending and 'end the tyranny of bureaucracy.' Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was also tapped to lead this charge. While Ramaswamy soon resigned to run for Ohio governor, Musk remained the face of DOGE. What Musk claims DOGE achieved On his way out, Musk claimed DOGE had saved the government $150 billion by targeting waste, fraud, and inefficiency. In a farewell message on his platform X, he thanked Trump for the opportunity. He boasted a 12 per cent reduction in the federal workforce, about 260,000 jobs, as a sign of progress. More than two million government employees were offered voluntary buyouts. According to DOGE's own figures, savings reached $160 billion by late April. These, Musk argued, were achieved by eliminating 'crazy' diversity contracts, dismantling foreign aid programmes, slashing staff, and targeting fraud and redundancy. What critics say DOGE achieved Also Read However, watchdogs and analysts have questioned both Musk's figures and methods. While DOGE claims up to $160 billion in savings, only $61.5 billion has been itemised publicly, and just $32.5 billion of that has supporting documentation, according to a BBC analysis. Moreover, critics argue the savings have come at a steep price. DOGE's mass layoffs have disrupted vital services and triggered legal challenges. Courts have blocked some of its actions, including access to sensitive treasury data, citing constitutional concerns. Lawsuits from unions, watchdogs and state officials accuse DOGE of bypassing Congress and acting with undue secrecy. Martha Gimbel of the Yale Budget Lab told The Guardian, 'There clearly been a degeneration of government services.' She warned of growing delays and inefficiencies, especially at agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, which faces a planned 80,000 job reduction. DOGE and Musk controversies Political pushback Democrats accused the agency of overstepping constitutional limits by cutting budgets that had already been approved by Congress. Musk's leadership became a lightning rod, drawing ire not only from Democrats but also from within the Republican base, as concerns grew over the department's aggressive cost-cutting and lack of legislative oversight. Tesla takedown Musk's involvement with DOGE triggered strong backlash from Tesla investors. Major shareholders, including pension funds, blamed his divided focus for a 71 per cent drop in Tesla's quarterly profits and a 13 per cent decline in sales, demanding that he commit at least 40 hours a week to the company or step down as the chief executive. At the same time, the ' Tesla Takedown ' movement gained momentum, with protests at Tesla stores across the US and Europe urging a consumer boycott over Musk's political activities and DOGE-driven federal budget cuts. Tesla's European sales plunged by 49 per cent, further fueling investor concerns. Public opinion Public opinion has soured on Musk. A Pew poll in February showed 54 per cent of Americans view him unfavourably, with 37 per cent rating him "very unfavourable". Amy Gleason vs Musk: Who was in charge of DOGE? In a strange turn of events, the Trump administration in February claimed Amy Gleason was officially in charge of the DOGE, despite Elon Musk being widely seen as its public leader. This announcement came amid questions about Musk's formal role and concerns over potential conflicts of interest. However, President Trump later clarified that Musk remained central to the DOGE initiative, calling him the 'visionary' behind the effort. Amy Gleason, a healthcare technology executive with prior experience in the US Digital Service and the White House Covid-19 data team, was positioned as the department's administrator on paper. The conflicting messages about who was truly in charge created public confusion and raised concerns about transparency and oversight within the department. What did DOGE really achieve? The accomplishments: - High-profile cost-cutting measures - Structural changes in select departments The criticism: - Overblown savings claims - No demonstrable improvement in public services - Lawsuits, protests, and severe public backlash During a press meet on May 1, Musk acknowledged that DOGE's results fell short of his $1 trillion goal, stating, 'In the grand scheme of things, I think we've been effective. Not as effective as I'd like... It can be done, but it requires dealing with a lot of complaints.' He blamed institutional resistance and political pain thresholds for limiting deeper cuts.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Is it safe for foreign tourists to visit Hawaiʻi? 15 facts to know
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The short answer is yes. The longer answer is you need to be sure you understand the new laws and Executive Orders being put into place by the President of the United States (POTUS) regarding immigration that is spilling over into the tourism realm. Recently, Germany updated their travel advisory for their citizens when it comes to travel to the for United States. According to news sources, several German citizens have been detained at U.S. borders for varying degrees of time, from 48 hours to six weeks. The advisory emphasizes that holding a U.S. visa or ESTA approval does not guarantee entry into the U.S. and does not guarantee that German citizens will not be swept up in immigration raids in cities or at border check points. So, with Hawaiʻi depending so heavily on tourism and with tourism typically being from places outside the U.S., decided to do a bit of digging to find out how safe it is to travel to Hawaiʻi for holiday plans and what visitors need to know while here. Thus far, these are some of the Executive Orders that are impacting travel into the U.S. 1. Executive Order 14158 (Jan. 20): This EO established the 'Department of Government Efficiency'. While our attention has been drawn to their ransacking of government agencies, this order is also impacting agencies related to travel and immigration. Click to read the EO. 2. Executive Order 14159 (Jan. 21): This one is titled 'Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats'. It enhances the vetting procedures for visa applicants to prevent entry of individuals who may pose security threats. Click to read the EO. 3. Proposed Travel Ban Expansion (March): POTUS is finalizing a new travel ban that may prohibit or severely limit visitors from more than 40 countries from entering the U.S. This potential expansion has raised concerns amongst several state leaders seeking more clarity. Click to read more about this impending EO. While these EOs aren't specifically targeting tourists, there is no guarantee that visitors will not or cannot get swept up in the chaos like several German tourists already have. So, here are some tips on safely traveling to and enjoying Hawaiʻ this advice is based on traditional understandings of how border security works. With increased vigilance in order to reach higher numbers of deportations, there may be more guidances that shake out over the next few months. Arriving without proper documentation: Not having a valid passport, visa or ESTA authorization (if required) can lead to immediate denial of entry. Overstaying a Visa: If a visitor has previously overstayed in the U.S., even for a short period, they may face extra scrutiny or denial of entry. Providing false information: Lying about the purpose of the trip, travel history or employment status can trigger further questions or denial of entry. Having a criminal record: Prior arrests or convictions (even for minor offenses) can cause delays, secondary inspections or denial of entry. Carrying banned items: Bringing restricted agricultural products, drugs (including cannabis, even if legal in Hawaiʻi) or other prohibited goods can lead to detention or fines. This could include social media posts or other things on your phone that are anti-POTUS, pro-Hamas, etc… News sources have reported both Iranian and Persian travelers turned away at border control in airports due to information found on their phones that included photos of Gaza and an anti-POTUS post. Being on a watchlist: Individuals flagged for past immigration violations, security risks or suspected illegal activity may be subject to increased scrutiny. 'Looking' like a 'flight risk': Visitors who can't show proof of a return ticket, hotel reservations or financial means to support themselves may raise suspicion. But this category is based more on feeling than data. Attempting to work illegally: Tourists on a visa waiver or visitor visa who hint at plans to work in the U.S. without proper authorization may be denied entry. This can include carrying items with you that may look like they could be used to make money while in the U.S. An example of this is one of the German tourists who has been detained for six weeks. She was carrying a tattoo gun in her luggage which led border security to believe she was entering the U.S. to work. Acting nervous or suspicious: Border officers are trained to detect unusual behavior. Appearing evasive, anxious or giving inconsistent answers can lead to additional questioning. Again, this is based more on feeling than data. So, be vigilant. Having frequent short-term visits: Visitors who frequently travel in and out of the U.S. for short stays may be suspected of working illegally or overstaying. Regardless of whether this is for work or family, these short visits are now considered suspicious. Once you make it through border security, you still need to be sure that you are cognizant of not being swept up in immigration raids. Waikiki and Chinatown are heavily tourist-soaked areas; so, if immigration sweeps are going to take place, these two places could be on the list. So, stay vigilant. Working without authorization: Tourists working under the table or using fake documents risk being detained if caught in workplace inspections. Living with or associating with undocumented individuals: Being at the wrong place at the wrong time (such as a raid targeting an undocumented household) can lead to questioning. Ignoring a deportation order: Individuals with existing removal orders who have not left the U.S. are at high risk of being detained. Being in 'the wrong place at the wrong time': Immigration raids sometimes sweep up people who were simply near targeted locations. Using fraudulent documents: Fake IDs, work permits or visas can lead to immediate detention and deportation. You can click here, here and here to read more on how to navigate border control and immigration. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 That's the long of it. It is safe to visit Hawaiʻi. But be vigilant, know your rights, have your consulate's phone number memorized and have fun! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
