Musk: 'I think we do need to delete entire agencies'
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who leads President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said the U.S. needs to get rid of “many” government agencies in their entirety.
In virtual remarks Thursday to the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Tesla CEO compared his efforts to root out waste from the federal government to rooting out weeds from a garden.
“I think we do need to delete entire agencies, as opposed to leave part of them behind,” Musk said, “because if you leave part of them behind … it's kind of like leaving a weed. If you don’t remove the roots of the weed, then it’s easy for the weed to grow back. But if you remove the roots of the weed, it doesn't stop weeds from ever growing back, but it makes it harder.”
“So we have to really delete entire agencies, many of them,” he added.
Musk, in the first few weeks of Trump’s presidency, has led a bold effort to reshape the federal government — including offering hundreds of thousands of federal workers a buyout from their jobs and being given controversial access to payment systems within the Treasury Department and other agencies.
The effort has led to numerous lawsuits and fierce pushback from Democratic lawmakers and others who say Trump and Musk are operating outside the bounds of the law. Some federal courts have sought to limit the scope of their reach.
Musk, in his remarks Thursday, criticized the U.S. government as being too bureaucratic and overregulated.
“We really have here rule of the bureaucracy, as opposed to rule of the people democracy,” the tech giant said. “We want to restore rule of the people.”
“And so, what that means is reducing the size of the federal government, basically reducing regulation," he added. "You know, there's a tremendous amount of overregulation that's happened over time."
The Associated Press contributed.
-
Elon Musk calls for the U.S. government to delete entire agencies: 'Remove the roots of the weed'
"I think we do need to delete entire agencies, as opposed to leave part of them behind. ... It's kind of like leaving a weed," Musk said.CNBC - 1h -
Elon Musk calls for US government to 'delete entire agencies'
Elon Musk has called for the United States to “delete entire agencies” from the federal governmentABC News - 3h -
Musk calls for government to "delete entire agencies"
Elon Musk called for the government to "delete entire agencies" at home and "mind its own business" abroad in a speech via video link to the World Governments Summit in Dubai.CBS News - 2h -
'Centrist dads' (and moms) are the quiet leaders we need
The attacks on centrism stem from a fundamental misreading of history and politics.The Hill - 22h -
Caitlin Clark praises Fever front office for adding vets in offseason: 'I think it's exactly what we needed'
The Fever signed DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Sydney Colson in free agencyCBS Sports - 2d -
Elon Musk’s gutting of US agencies is illegal, experts say. How do you muzzle Doge?
World’s richest man has unleashed a flurry moves ranging from compromising Americans’ private data to nearly upending USAid. Where does it stop?. In 2022, the Pentagon proudly announced a ...The Guardian - 3d -
Don’t Think You Have a Personal Brand? Surprise, You Do
Everyone has a personal brand. Whether it’s the one you want is up to you.Inc. - 5d -
This is how we do it: ‘If she wants me to dominate her, I will. It brings her happiness’
It came as a shock to Chiara and Frank when they realised they were doing BDSM. They thought they were just having great sex! How do you do it? Share the story of your sex life, anonymously . I ...The Guardian - 5d -
Elon Musk Thinks Air Traffic Control Needs Innovation. Does it?
Musk’s delusions are powered by a common illusion.Inc. - 6d
More from The Hill
-
Live updates: Senate confirms Kennedy to lead HHS, moves Patel's FBI nomination forward
Embattled nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received the Senate's support Thursday to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, capping a twisting journey to become the nation's next secretary. ...The Hill - 29m -
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as Health secretary; McConnell lone GOP dissenter
Longtime vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy is now the nation’s top health official, after the Senate Thursday voted almost entirely on party lines to confirm him atop a department of nearly 100,000 ...The Hill - 34m -
Harvard’s new antisemitism policy hurts Jews, helps Trump
Harvard has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism, which could be used to silence students and professors who criticize Israeli policies or ...The Hill - 35m -
Hegseth: 'No betrayal' in US position on Russia, Ukraine
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said there’s “no betrayal” in the U.S. position on ending the war in Ukraine, as the Trump administration pushes for negotiations between Russia and the neighboring ...The Hill - 37m -
Top recording artists press Congress on royalties for songs played on radio
Hundreds of famous names from across musical genres — including Mariah Carey, Jelly Roll, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Lil Jon, Reba McEntire, Ozzy Osbourne and Stevie Nicks — are calling on ...The Hill - 40m
More in Politics
-
Live updates: Senate confirms Kennedy to lead HHS, moves Patel's FBI nomination forward
Embattled nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received the Senate's support Thursday to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, capping a twisting journey to become the nation's next secretary. ...The Hill - 29m -
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as Health secretary; McConnell lone GOP dissenter
Longtime vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy is now the nation’s top health official, after the Senate Thursday voted almost entirely on party lines to confirm him atop a department of nearly 100,000 ...The Hill - 34m -
Harvard’s new antisemitism policy hurts Jews, helps Trump
Harvard has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism, which could be used to silence students and professors who criticize Israeli policies or ...The Hill - 35m -
Hegseth: 'No betrayal' in US position on Russia, Ukraine
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said there’s “no betrayal” in the U.S. position on ending the war in Ukraine, as the Trump administration pushes for negotiations between Russia and the neighboring ...The Hill - 37m -
Top recording artists press Congress on royalties for songs played on radio
Hundreds of famous names from across musical genres — including Mariah Carey, Jelly Roll, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Lil Jon, Reba McEntire, Ozzy Osbourne and Stevie Nicks — are calling on ...The Hill - 40m