Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration, has been invited by CIA Director John Ratcliffe for a meeting at the agency to discuss government efficiency. Since January, Musk and DOGE have been working to identify inefficiencies and wasteful spending in various government agencies with the goal of cutting $1 trillion from federal spending.
The focus has recently turned to the CIA, Department of Education, USAID, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Pentagon, leading to firings, budget cuts, and buyouts for federal employees. DOGE has already identified around $800 million in potential savings at the Pentagon, targeting programs deemed unnecessary, such as certain Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives at the Navy.
Elon Musk emphasized the importance of cautious decision-making when it comes to cutting costs, stating the need to measure multiple times before making any cuts. His aggressive cost-cutting approach, symbolized by a chromed-out chainsaw at a recent conference, has received both praise and criticism.
Musk has been actively involved in the Trump administration, attending cabinet meetings and holding press conferences with the president. However, his unfiltered remarks about Social Security and other topics have raised concerns among some allies, prompting calls to limit his media appearances.
The visit to the CIA is part of Musk’s ongoing efforts to address inefficient spending across government agencies, with a previous stop at the National Security Agency for a similar purpose.
