When Elon Musk launched the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), Mayor Mike Johnson predicted major changes in Trump’s administration.
Three weeks later, change is an unprecedented disruption: dismantling longstanding programs, generating public outrage and challenging the role of Congress.
Government workers are pressured to resign, federal funding was temporarily frozen and sensitive information from the Treasury Department was opened to the Doge Musk team in a privacy violation.
“This is an erosion of our democracy,” said Brian Riedl, a republican economic counselor. Trump appointed Musk to move behind the scenes of American democracy. Congress has shown little ability to contain Doge, while a series of lawsuits requires interventions to stop the government’s dismantling. “Whatever doge is doing, certainly not what democracy seems,” said Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s democratic leader.
Musk and Trump are challenging norms and trying to reduce the size of the federal government. Although Congress has the power to fund government operations, Trump is testing the idea of ”preventing” federal funds. Some Republicans say they are comfortable with the pause of certain federal operations, such as USAID, and the closure of the Education Department is in the plans. “We have supervision,” said Senator Thom Tillis.
Suspension of funds for USAID is being seen as a test for the challenge control law, while doge has accessed private treasury information. On Monday, Judge Loren L. Alikhan criticized the actions of the administration, stating that they violate the separation of powers.
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Senator Patty Murray expressed concern about how Congress will advance to fund the government by March 14, asking whether the government will follow the legislation. When asked about Trump’s authority to close agencies, Johnson said, “I don’t have all the answers.”
