Donald Trump, with a ceremony to his greatest glory and liquidating, with a decree, the Joe Biden era. But on its first day, this January 20, it has also had a couple of disappointments: a complaint and a march.
Thus, the largest union of federal government employees filed a lawsuit this Monday against the new president for his plans to create a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce public treasury costs and improve the efficiency of operations, headed by .
Trump’s controversial plan tasks Musk, the Tesla mogul and owner of X (formerly Twitter), with leading this project to cut billions of dollars in government spending.
The union, which represents approximately 800,000 federal employees, alleges that DOGE does not reflect the interests of ordinary Americans and could result in the elimination of vital services, affecting areas such as health, benefits and consumer safety. In this article, we will analyze the context of this lawsuit, its implications, and the future of DOGE.
DOGE, as conceived, seeks to reduce federal government spending through drastic cuts to various agencies and social programs. Trump and Musk claim that these cuts could save the public treasury up to $2 trillion, but public policy and economic experts have been highly critical, pointing out that such figures are unrealistic without seriously affecting essential social services for millions of Americans.
The mission of DOGE, as presented by Trump, is to eliminate bureaucratic waste and modernize public administration. However, AFGE maintains that this approach, rather than improving efficiency, will only harm federal workers and the most vulnerable citizens. According to their lawsuit, the proposed cuts would jeopardize public health programs, product safety, and other crucial services to society.
Federal employees are a key part of how government works, from public health to social security. The lawsuit filed by AFGE highlights concerns that the proposed cuts will negatively impact federal workers and the quality of services offered to citizens. Staff reductions in key agencies, as well as the possible elimination of social welfare programs, have raised alarm in many sectors, both inside and outside of government.
Furthermore, the implementation of the DOGE could lead to higher unemployment in the public sector, affecting not only workers, but also communities that depend on the services that the government provides, such as health care, education, and assistance to workers. most needy.
The lawsuit filed by AFGE not only has labor repercussions, but also political ones. The creation of an organization like the DOGE and the assignment of a billionaire like Musk to head this project highlights the growing tendency of the Trump administration to involve private sector figures in public management. This trend has been viewed with skepticism by those who fear that corporate interests could override the needs of the population.
Critics of the plan say that, if carried out, the social cuts DOGE would propose could have devastating long-term effects on the well-being of the most vulnerable Americans. AFGE’s advocacy underscores that the Trump administration should focus on ensuring that government policies respond to the real needs of citizens, not just economic efficiency.
The future of DOGE is up in the air. While Trump and Musk continue to promote their vision of a more efficient and less costly public administration, opposing voices, led by unions like AFGE, will continue to fight to defend the rights and benefits of federal employees and citizens.
Added to this uncertainty is another bad news for Trump: Vivek Ramaswamy is no longer part of DOGE, hours after the Republican took office, and that leaves Musk alone, in charge of this cost-cutting operation alone.
Ramaswamy, a biotechnology entrepreneur who sought the Republican nomination for president in 2024, has signaled his plans to run for governor of Ohio next year. Ramaswamy, 39, of Cincinnati, had shown interest in the Senate seat recently vacated by Vice President JD Vance before Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine chose Lt. Gov. Jon Husted as Vance’s successor.
“Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us create DOGE,” commission spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. “He intends to run for elective office soon, which requires him to remain outside of DOGE, under the structure we announced today. “We greatly appreciate your contributions over the past two months and look forward to you playing a vital role in Making America Great Again.”
