Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy: Can They Really Cut $2 Trillion from the Federal Budget?

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the duo behind the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have a big promise: slash $2 trillion from the federal budget. They've got their eyes on some big targets like the IRS, Department of Education, and even Social Security payments. But experts are skeptical. A lot of the federal budget goes to mandatory programs like Social Security and Medicare, which must be funded by law. And cutting defense spending? That's a hot potato many lawmakers won't touch.

Musk and Ramaswamy also want to shrink the federal workforce by making employees return to the office. They think this will push many to quit. But here's a fact: fewer than half of federal civilian workers can even telecommute. And the federal workforce hasn't grown much in the last 50 years, despite managing more programs. “The federal workforce is everywhere, not just in DC, ” says Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. So, can Musk and Ramaswamy deliver on their promise? Experts like Bobby Kogan from the Center for American Progress think it's a tall order.

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