Elon Musk and his team from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) defended their ongoing efforts to streamline federal agencies in a recent interview. Their focus remains on reducing the size of the federal government while eliminating inefficiencies, fraud, and waste.
During the hour-long discussion, Musk and his staff laid out their vision for modernizing government operations, touching on various federal agencies, including the Interior Department and the Small Business Administration. He described the pace of their work as moving like lightning compared to traditional government operations but still slower than he would prefer.
Since the start of the second Trump administration, Musk and his team have led major restructuring efforts, shutting down entire agencies and initiating mass layoffs and voluntary buyouts. He acknowledged that progress has been made but emphasized that much work remains.
An ‘Apple Store-Like’ Government Experience
One of the central themes of the interview was the push to modernize government services, with Musk and his team drawing inspiration from the tech industry. Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb and a key figure in DOGE, highlighted efforts to digitize the retirement process for federal employees. He pointed to the vast collection of retirement documents Apple Store in Pennsylvania as an example of outdated government systems that need modernization.
Gebbia expressed confidence in DOGE’s ability to create a more seamless and efficient experience for government services, envisioning a system with a user-friendly, well-designed interface akin to an Apple Store. He stressed that DOGE is working to bring the best of Silicon Valley and the business world into government operations, ensuring that federal employees and citizens benefit from a more streamlined experience.
Defending Social Security Overhauls
One of the most contentious issues facing DOGE has been the restructuring of the Social Security Administration. Critics, particularly from the Democratic side, have accused Musk’s team of causing instability by reducing staff and making abrupt changes. The Social Security Administration’s website has crashed multiple times in recent weeks, and call centers have struggled to handle the volume of inquiries. Reports have also surfaced about significant layoffs planned within the agency.
Addressing these concerns, DOGE staffer Steve Davis emphasized that their team is taking a careful and methodical approach to reviewing Social Security benefits claims, focusing on eliminating fraudulent claims while ensuring legitimate beneficiaries receive their due support. Aram Moghaddassi, another DOGE engineer, explained that cross-agency communication is being improved to protect against fraud.
Musk reinforced the message that their efforts aim to enhance Social Security rather than diminish it. He assured that legitimate beneficiaries, such as elderly citizens, would continue to receive their checks without disruption. He also promised improvements to the Social Security website to prevent further outages and inefficiencies.
Minimizing Job Cuts Amid Government Restructuring
While reports suggest mass layoffs across multiple federal agencies, Elon Musk’s team downplayed the scale of the job cuts. Anthony Armstrong, a former banker and senior adviser at the Office of Personnel Management, stated that most federal employees affected by the restructuring have left voluntarily rather than being dismissed outright. He emphasized that DOGE has focused on handling the transition with generosity, compassion, and dignity.
Armstrong noted that despite widespread media reports about firings, less than 0.15% of the federal workforce has actually received formal reduction-in-force notices. While many agencies are preparing for workforce reductions set to take effect in April, with estimates ranging from 8% to 50% cuts in various departments, Musk and his team refrained from addressing those projections directly.
Apple Store representatives maintained that almost no one has been forcibly removed from their positions, emphasizing that voluntary departures have contributed to the workforce changes rather than widespread layoffs.”
Looking Ahead
As DOGE continues its mission to reshape the federal government, the debate over its impact is likely to intensify. Supporters argue that Musk’s team is bringing much-needed efficiency and modernization, while critics warn of instability and unintended consequences. With major workforce reductions looming and ongoing efforts to digitize government systems, the coming months will reveal the full extent of the changes DOGE is implementing.
