Elon Musk was seated prominently during Trump’s congressional address on Tuesday in the House gallery, showcasing his work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which took center stage in Trump’s speech. Musk has played a key role in Trump’s administration, alongside the president himself, driving significant changes through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The pace at which DOGE has operated to streamline government processes, enforce mass layoffs, and disrupt various federal agencies has sparked controversy and backlash.
“I have established the groundbreaking Department of Government Efficiency. You may have heard of it. It is led by Elon Musk, who is present in the gallery tonight,” Trump announced. “Thank you, Elon, for your dedicated efforts. Your commitment is truly appreciated.” Musk rose to his feet in the gallery, acknowledging the applause from the Republicans.
During his speech, the president highlighted instances of federal spending that he labeled as “scams” targeted by DOGE, ranging from $45 million allocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion scholarships in a country in Asia to $59 million spent on hotel accommodations for undocumented immigrants in New York City. Trump asserted that Musk heads DOGE, contradicting a recent court filing where the White House indicated that Amy Gleason is the acting administrator of the department.
Following Trump’s address, over thirty Democratic lawmakers urged the president to dismiss Musk. In a joint letter sent to the president the day before, Democrats contended that the new Republican administration unlawfully terminated numerous government officials who were investigating or prosecuting companies owned by Musk. Notable figures leading the push against Musk include prominent Democrats such as Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey, as well as officials from the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees, including Representatives Gerry Connolly of Virginia and Jamie Raskin of Maryland.
The actions taken by the Trump administration in replacing agency heads and personnel have significantly impacted eleven federal agencies conducting investigations on Musk’s enterprises, including Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink. These agencies have been engaged in 32 ongoing investigations, complaints, or enforcement actions against companies owned by Musk.
Contributing: Riley Beggin, USA TODAY
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Trump lauds Elon Musk and DOGE for slashing government expenditures.
