Latest news with #U.S.DepartmentofGovernmentEfficiency
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Musk calls Trump's bill an 'abomination.' I hate it when our two weird dads fight.
Musk calls Trump's bill an 'abomination.' I hate it when our two weird dads fight. | Opinion Pairing two loony, conspiratorial billionaires like Donald Trump and Elon Musk never seemed likely to end well, especially since each has a severe allergy to the truth. Show Caption Hide Caption Elon Musk slams Trump's big tax bill on X Days after leaving the White House, Elon Musk slammed President Trump's big tax bill on X. Oh dear, America. It looks like we're about to witness a big, ol' raging-narcissist billionaire fight. Noted uber-rich-nuisance Elon Musk appears to have turned on his MAGA BFF President Donald Trump, declaring the president's absurdly named One Big Beautiful Bill Act, under consideration in the U.S. Senate, 'a disgusting abomination.' What the heck, Elon? Which part of 'Big' and 'Beautiful' do you not understand? 'The Disgusting Abomination Bill' is something Democrats would call it if they were clever enough to come up with a name like that and bold enough to use it. 'I just can't stand it anymore,' Musk whined about Trump's bill The builder of ugly electric trucks and rockets that go boom when they're not supposed to posted on X, 'I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.' He also posted: 'In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.' I HATE IT WHEN OUR WEIRD, SUPER RICH DADS FIGHT! Opinion: A letter to sad Elon Musk, from America ‒ 'Hey pal, sorry everybody was mean.' We all knew the Musk/MAGA breakup was coming Pairing two loony, conspiratorial billionaires like Trump and Musk never seemed likely to end well, especially because each has a severe allergy to the truth. After Musk bought Trump his second presidency and then, via destructive slash-and-burn work with the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, turned his Tesla car brand toxic, it was clear he wanted to step away from politics and get back to failing at other things. But the recent 'Elon's leaving DOGE' fanfare seemed a bit like a divorce the White House was trying to sugarcoat. Then, on June 3, Musk had the audacity to call Trump's screw-the-poor, help-the-rich big, beautiful bologna bill disgusting. Opinion: Democrats want a liberal Joe Rogan to help them win elections. I'm right here. 'Elon is terribly wrong' That prompted GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson to say: 'With all due respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the One Big Beautiful Bill.' While it's hard to take someone seriously when they, as an actual adult person, use the words 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' Johnson's clearly teeing his party up to pick a side, and Musk isn't going to like the side that gets picked. Musk's foray into politics may have shown him that politicians are bad With his billions and his ego and the many yes-people around him, Musk probably assumed he could bend politics to his will. He barnstormed through federal agencies, making an absolute mess of things while overpromising and underdelivering, just as he's done with Tesla and SpaceX. He also helped himself out on the federal contracts front, likely bringing billions of dollars to his own companies. But when it comes to tax breaks for billionaires and getting rid of things right-wingers don't like, like tax credits for electric vehicles!, Musk is no match for House Republicans. Their bill will spike the deficit. Musk and Trump are prime examples of why we shouldn't have billionaires And now it appears that Musk will complain loudly about the bill and possibly continue to threaten to go after the Republican lawmakers who vote for it. Trump, depending on which side of his bread he wants buttered, might lash back at Musk, giving Americans a front-row seat to a good old-fashioned stupid-off. And so it goes. Rich people are going to claim they did great things and then fight over whose thing is greater than the other guy's thing. It's typical. The rest of us will be left wondering, for the 10 billionth time, why people with this much damn money can't just be happy and shut up. Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky at @ and on Facebook at
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unpacking rumor that Stephen Miller's wife, Katie, left him for Elon Musk
In late May and early June 2025, rumors swirled that the wife of White House adviser Stephen Miller, Katie Miller, had left him for tech magnate Elon Musk, who until then had served as the new U.S. Department of Government Efficiency's public face. Some internet users even suggested that the affair had started with Stephen Miller's consent in an arrangement some described as a "throuple." For example, user @ on Bluesky relayed these claims: (Bluesky user @ The post read: Oh I am not sh**posting, folks. Stephen Miller, his wife, and Elon are widely rumored to be a throuple. Now Miller's wife is leaving the Trump team to be with Musk & LITERALLY PER THE NEW YORK TIMES Stephen is angrily subtweeting Musk. They actually put it in the paper of record that he was mad The post on Bluesky had received 7,600 likes and 3,200 reshares as of this writing. The same rumor appeared several times on Bluesky, but also on X, where the official account of the Democratic National Committee tagged Miller in its post of a single empty chair in a supposed hotel room in reaction to rumors that Miller's wife had left government to work for Musk in the private sector (archived): The empty chair represented a meme known as the "cuck chair," a chair on which someone supposedly sits while they watch their spouse have sex with someone else. This post had amassed 2.1 million views and 32,000 likes as of this writing, further spreading the unsubstantiated claim that Miller had cheated on her husband with Musk. Snopes has reached out to the Miller couple and Musk, seeking details. However, because we were not able to confirm or disprove the story, we have left it unrated. The rumor started as Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of SpaceX, announced his departure from DOGE. Bluesky user Snyder (to whom we have reached out for comment and await a reply) referenced a New York Times story published on May 28, 2025, which indeed referenced Miller criticizing Musk on X without naming him. Miller posted on X (archived) in response to Musk lambasting the "One Big Beautiful" budget bill the U.S. House of Representatives had voted on, which experts, including analysts at the Tax Foundation, said would cause the budget deficit to balloon. The article read: However, Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, shot back at Mr. Musk on social media without naming him. Mr. Miller asserted that the bill would reduce the deficit — despite multiple independent analyses saying otherwise — and noted that the cuts made by Mr. Musk's team were unrelated to the spending bill. Lower down in the thread on Bluesky, Snyder linked to a story published on Feb. 27, 2025, in Wired, which Snyder said "strongly implied throupledom." The story explained that while Stephen Miller had assumed the position of White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, his wife had been appointed as "top communications official at DOGE," directly with Musk. Citing an anonymous Republican source, the story went on to suggest that this had been by design: The Millers are seen inside Trumpworld as glorified babysitters for Musk, tasked with ensuring he stays within bounds, insofar as that's possible. "He gets a lot of grace," the first Republican said of Musk. "Many people aren't nervous, because Stephen Miller is deeply involved. And Katie." This Republican compared Musk to a preteen child. However, the Wired story implied more salacious suspicions about the relationship between the Millers and Musk without making them explicit: Musk's relationship with the Millers has become a subject of great intrigue in Washington as DOGE continues to wreak havoc on the federal government. Little is known about how often they interact outside of work and how the relationship grew over the late stages of the campaign into the transition. "If you can find out anything about Stephen Miller's social life, I don't wanna know the answer," says a longtime Republican operative who knows the couple personally. Given the anonymous sourcing, Snopes was unable to independently verify Wired's reporting. We have reached out to Snyder on Bluesky asking if the user heard the rumor independently. However, on May 28, 2025, a CNN report that Katie Miller had left DOGE to work for Musk full time gave new life to claims that the relationship between Musk and the pair was more complicated than it seemed. Citing three unnamed sources, CNN said Miller was now helping arrange interviews for Musk. Snopes was unable to independently verify CNN's reporting because it was based on anonymous sources. Though several internet users took it to mean that she had left her husband, with whom she shares three children, the reality is that Katie Miller had the status of "special government employee," which precluded her working more than 130 days per year for the U.S. government. As such, she would have had to leave government work regardless of which job she took on after her stint at DOGE. While she did not confirm the story, she had reshared on X one post by Musk regarding his departure from the government, as well as a screen capture of one of his quotes about DOGE, suggesting she may indeed be working as his spokeswoman. Two days later, on May 30, 2025, Musk stood in the White House Oval Office, speaking to the press alongside U.S. President Donald Trump about his return to the private sector. Musk appeared with a bruise around his right eye. While Musk said he owed his black eye to his son, whom he said he had instructed to punch him, the internet once again lit up with speculation (archived): The post had gained 2.7 million views and 41,000 likes as of this writing. Snopes reached out to the Millers as well as Musk asking them to provide further details. We will update this report should they respond. "'Big Beautiful Bill' House GOP Tax Plan: Preliminary Details and Analysis." Tax Foundation, 13 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. "Elon Musk Bids Farewell to White House but Says Doge Will Continue." BBC, 29 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. Hamilton, Phillip. "Cuck Chair." Know Your Meme, 15 Nov. 2022, Accessed 2 June 2025. Klein, Betsy, et al. "May 28, 2025 - Donald Trump Presidency News." CNN, 28 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. Lahut, Jake. "Elon Musk's Takeover Is Being Aided by a Trumpworld Power Couple." WIRED, 27 Feb. 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. Pager, Tyler, et al. "Elon Musk, Distanced from Trump, Says He's Exiting Washington and DOGE." The New York Times, 29 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. Pogue, David, and Joe Walsh. "Elon Musk Says He's 'Disappointed' by Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' and What It Means for DOGE." CBS News, 28 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. Siddiqui, Faiz, and Frances Vinall. "Musk Explains His Black Eye, Says He Told Son X to Punch Him." The Washington Post, 31 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. "Summary of Government Ethics Rules for Special Government Employees." 27 Aug. 2014, Accessed 2 June 2025.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
A U.S.-like DOGE for India is not far-fetched
The United States President, Donald Trump, made headlines when he announced a U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with its focus primarily on cost reduction. Yet it is a move that opens a broader discussion on streamlining government operations in developing economies through dedicated efforts to drive efficiency in governance. Going beyond the narrow, cost-focused American proposal, India could reimagine government efficiency through the lens of enhanced service delivery and governance. While India has made significant strides in advancing its economic and social agendas, the country still faces persistent challenges in addressing bureaucratic inefficiencies, excessive regulatory red tape, and misallocation of resources in public spending. 'Minimum government and maximum governance' are still a far cry from reality. There are often outdated practices embedded in standard operating procedures (SOPs) across government departments. Many of these non-value-adding activities, originally designed for valid operational contexts, have lost relevance in the wake of digitisation or changes in upstream and downstream processes. Despite no longer serving their intended purpose, they continue to be performed, leading to unnecessary delays and inflated costs. Such inefficiencies not only slow down the execution of critical government programmes but also undermine their overall impact and cost-effectiveness. To tackle these issues, India could benefit from establishing a dedicated government efficiency department — a body that would focus on identifying inefficiencies, cutting waste, eliminating rework, and enhancing accountability across all levels of governance. This broader mandate could transform how citizens interact with government services while modernising administrative processes. Lessons from within India There are lessons to be learnt from within the country. India's private sector has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decades. Many Indian companies have demonstrated standards of world-class efficiency, often outperforming global competitors. These organisations have successfully implemented modern management techniques, digital transformation, industrial engineering and lean operations while operating within the Indian context. Similar changes are not seen in public governance, with many government departments still operating on legacy systems and processes designed decades ago. While private companies have dedicated departments focusing on continuous improvement, digitisation and customer satisfaction, government departments often lack structured mechanisms for service enhancement. As India aims to become a developed economy, the quality of government service delivery and ease of citizen interaction with administration will play crucial roles. Such a dedicated efficiency department could provide the structured approach needed to transform government operations, focusing not just on how efficiently services are delivered but also on fundamentally improving what is delivered to citizens. India's bureaucratic machinery, based on the Weberian model, despite being well-intentioned, is often perceived to be cumbersome and slow. This inefficiency translates into delays in the execution of projects that are crucial for economic growth and development. Public spending in India is often plagued by inefficiencies, with a significant portion of the Budget allocated to welfare programmes, subsidies, and public services. An efficiency department could focus on minimising waste and maximising the impact of these programmes. By implementing a systematic approach to detect and prevent leakages, inefficiencies, and misuse of funds, this department could ensure that India's already scarce public resources are directed where they are needed most. In today's digital age, technology can play a pivotal role in driving efficiency across government operations. India has already demonstrated remarkable success with several large-scale digitisation programmes, such as Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Aadhaar, land records digitisation across many States, and the Passport Seva project. These initiatives have streamlined processes, reduced inefficiency, and significantly enhanced service delivery. However, despite their success, these programmes have largely operated in silos, lacking mechanisms for a cross-pollination of ideas, expertise, and best practices. Each new government initiative often starts from scratch and often depends heavily on the private sector to build systems and frameworks. This not only leads to higher costs but also delays to implementation and a missing of opportunities for leveraging proven solutions from existing projects. A centralised government efficiency department could act as a repository for institutional knowledge, technical expertise, and reusable digital infrastructure. By facilitating the sharing of best practices and standardised processes across Ministries and departments, this body could reduce redundancy, lower costs, and accelerate the implementation of new initiatives. By championing digital transformation across ministries, an efficiency department could help India keep pace with technological advancements while also cutting down on the costs and the delays associated with manual processes. Modifying a department that exists Interestingly, there is no need to build such an organisation from scratch. There already is the central government's Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. While the current mandate for DARPG primarily focuses on administrative reforms, disseminates successful good governance practices and grievance redress, much like the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (for multi-modal connectivity, a platform to bring 16 Ministries including Railways and Roadways together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects with the aim integrate and facilitate the last mile connectivity), it could be expanded to spearhead broader government-wide efficiency agenda. Drawing inspiration from the private sector, where centralised efficiency teams often act as innovation hubs to streamline operations and implement transformative practices, DARPG could adopt a similar role in governance. In corporations, such teams focus on integrating technologies, optimising workflows, and eliminating waste to improve both financial and operational performance. Translating this model to the public sector, DARPG could lead initiatives to identify inefficiencies, benchmark performance, and implement solutions that drive cost savings and enhance service delivery across departments and States. By leveraging its existing structure and expertise, the department could serve as a centralised body to standardise processes, eliminate redundancies, and foster cross-departmental collaboration. It could develop and house best-in-class digital capabilities for governance, creating reusable frameworks, platforms, and tools that can be cross-leveraged by various Ministries and State governments. Additionally, DARPG could institutionalise the use of process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and data-driven decision-making tools. By embedding these practices into governance, the department could enable continuous improvements in efficiency and accountability, paving the way for a government that is both agile and citizen-centric. The Indian bureaucracy Unlike the political appointments to executive administration in the U.S., India operates under a system of permanent bureaucracy, wherein civil servants hold long-term positions independent of the political leadership, ensuring continuity, institutional memory, and stability in governance. Rather than uprooting the system, India's challenge lies in empowering and expanding the mandate of such institutions to drive efficiency without compromising the stability and consistency that permanent bureaucracy provides. The path to operationalising this setup faces two formidable and intertwined challenges. First, the deeply entrenched bureaucratic structures, which have evolved over decades, often resist transformative changes that could alter existing power dynamics and administrative processes. Career bureaucrats, accustomed to traditional hierarchies and established workflows, may view such initiatives as threats to their autonomy and discretionary powers. Second, India's federal structure adds another layer of complexity, where the delicate balance between central and State authorities must be carefully maintained in consonance with the spirit of cooperative federalism. Any efficiency initiative would need to navigate the highly sensitive and political constitutional division of powers and respect State autonomy. Success would depend on creating a framework that not only addresses bureaucratic concerns through meaningful engagement and clear incentives but also provides enough freedom and flexibility for States to adapt implementation to their local contexts while maintaining core efficiency standards. Political will and public trust would be critical to enable success of such a programme. While the journey toward such reforms would certainly be challenging, the potential benefits make it an opportunity worth exploring. As India moves forward in the 21st century, a commitment to government efficiency could be one of the most powerful tools for achieving sustainable development and a harbinger of inclusive growth. Milind Kumar Sharma is Professor in the Department of Production and Industrial Engineering at MBM University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Sharad Sharma works with a 'Big 4' and is an executive PhD scholar at MDI Gurgaon. The views expressed are personal
CNBC
28-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Tesla investors demand Musk work 40-hour week at EV maker as 'crisis' builds
Elon Musk needs to spend more time at Tesla as his electric vehicle company faces a "crisis," according to a letter on Wednesday from a group of pension fund leaders who manage investments in the company. "Tesla's stock price volatility, declining sales, as well as disconcerting reports regarding the company's human rights practices, and a plummeting global reputation are cause for serious concern," the investors wrote in a letter to Robyn Denholm, the company's board chair. "Moreover, many issues are linked to Mr. Musk's actions outside of his role as Technoking and Chief Executive Officer at Tesla, including his high-profile role as an architect of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)." The investors want the Tesla board to require Musk to work a minimum of 40 hours per week at the automaker as a condition of any new compensation plan they may arrange for him. They also want a clear succession plan for management of the EV business, and a policy that would apply to all Tesla directors limiting their outside board commitments at public and private companies. Early last year, the Delaware Court of Chancery ordered Tesla to rescind Musk's 2018 CEO pay package, which had been worth around $56 billion, finding that Musk controlled the company, and the board's compensation committee misled shareholders before seeking their vote to approve the plan. Musk now says he wants even more shares, amounting to 25% voting control of the company. Tesla's brand value and reputation have declined since 2024, due largely to Musk's incendiary rhetoric and political activities. In addition to pouring nearly $300 million into an effort to get Donald Trump back into the White House, Musk formally endorsed Germany's far-right AfD party ahead of the country's parliamentary election this year. At DOGE, Musk has led an initiative by the Trump administration to slash federal agencies. Tesla once ranked eighth among the most popular American brands in the Axios Harris Poll of public perceptions of the 100 most visible U.S. companies. But recently, Tesla dropped to 95th, behind six other automakers in that poll. Tesla's stock price is down 12% this year, while the Nasdaq is down just 1%. Data this week revealed that Tesla's monthly sales across Europe plunged by nearly half in April compared to the same time last year. That trend extends the steep declines Tesla saw in the first quarter. The investors who signed Wednesday's letter own about 7.9 million shares in the company combined. They blamed a Tesla board that's "unwilling to act in the best interest of all Tesla shareholders" by requiring Musk's "full-time attention" on the company. Musk said this week that he plans to focus more on his businesses, which include xAI and SpaceX in addition to Tesla. Those who signed the letter included the pro-labor SOC Investment Group, American Federation of Teachers, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner. The investors asked Tesla to add at least one new independent director with no personal ties to other board members. Tesla earlier this month said former Chipotle CFO Jack Hartung will join the company's board. Hartung previously worked with Musk's brother and Tesla board member Kimbal Musk, who was a board member at the Mexican food chain. Tesla didn't respond to a request for comment in response to the letter. Read the investors' letter in full here.
Business Insider
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
4 African countries affected as U.S. cancels 401 contracts worth $2.1 billion
In its latest round of cancellations, the U.S. government has scrapped 401 contracts worth $2.1 billion, including several involving African countries, alongside other international projects. The U.S. government has cancelled 401 contracts worth $2.1 billion, including some tied to African nations The cancelled contracts included projects in Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, and Tanzania The move reflects a growing push by U.S. agencies to reassess foreign spending, particularly in programs of questionable impact and efficiency The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has continued its effort to eliminate projects it deems unnecessary or ineffective around the world, terminating 401 contracts worth $2.1 billion, including several tied to African countries. In a recent announcement on X (formerly Twitter), DOGE revealed that over the past two days, it terminated 401 contracts identified as wasteful. These contracts had a combined ceiling value of $2.1 billion, and their cancellation is expected to save approximately $613 million. Among the terminated agreements were a $276,000 Treasury Department contract for a 'Kenya program coordinator' and a $228,000 contract for the procurement of cruiser vehicles designated for Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, and Tanzania. Other cancelled contracts included a $24,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deal for a two-day training on equal employment opportunity, a $15,000 DHS contract tied to the 'Out and Equal' workplace inclusion program, and a $5.9 million Department of Commerce (DoC) contract for environmental consulting. Although these contracts were relatively small in monetary terms, they were part of broader U.S. development and diplomatic initiatives. Their cancellation indicates a growing push by U.S. agencies to reassess foreign spending, particularly in programs where the long-term impact, oversight, or efficiency is under question. U.S. aid cuts strain Africa Since President Donald Trump's administration came into power, there have been significant cuts in U.S. foreign aid, particularly affecting struggling African nations and other vulnerable regions around the world. Major aid agencies like USAID have come under increased scrutiny, while the U.S. government has withdrawn or scaled back contributions to key humanitarian organizations. This shift sparked widespread concern, as the United States had long been the world's largest single donor to global aid efforts. Critical areas such as healthcare, climate change mitigation, and hunger relief have borne the brunt of these funding reductions, resulting in diminished support for vulnerable populations and a reported rise in preventable casualties.
