Elon Shares D.O.G.E Plan on X Spaces

Elon Musk’s 50-minute X Spaces session on Monday was a revealing glimpse into his ambitious plans, presented with clarity and President Donald Trump’s backing.

Joined by Republican senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee, and former D.O.G.E co-lead Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk outlined his bold strategy to reduce federal spending and overhaul regulations.

His primary focus is dismantling the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which he believes is beyond redemption, and consolidating its effective parts under the State Department.

Musk’s vision extends to taking control of government payment systems via D.O.G.E, the Department of Government Efficiency, which he described as a "wholesale spring cleaning of regulation."

With a clear sense of purpose, Musk aims to streamline federal operations and eliminate inefficiencies.

Musk noted:

“It’s not an apple with a worm in it. It’s a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing.”

USAID Termination Plan is Fully Backed by Trump

During the X Spaces session, Musk revealed that he had personally discussed the shutdown of USAID with Trump, who confirmed his full support for the plan.

The Tesla CEO said:

“I actually checked with him a few times—‘Are you sure?’ Like, ‘yes,’ so we’re shutting it down.”

In a statement to reporters on Sunday, Trump expressed his "full confidence" in Musk, praising him as "very smart" and committed to reducing federal government spending.

Over the weekend, Musk’s D.O.G.E team took decisive action—firing key officials at USAID, seizing control of Treasury payment systems, and freezing billions of dollars in foreign aid managed by the agency.

As a result, USAID’s website went offline globally, prompting the Trump administration to launch a comprehensive review of US foreign aid.

Musk expressed:

“If we really need it again, we’ll just build something better.”

D.O.G.E engineer Gavin Kliger sent an internal email to USAID staff announcing the imminent shutdown of its headquarters, leaving employees stunned.

Tensions escalated as two top security officials were placed on leave after blocking D.O.G.E personnel from accessing internal systems.

Humanitarian efforts in regions like Africa and Ukraine have been hit hardest, with several projects suspended.

The executive order that established D.O.G.E, signed by Trump on 21 January, has already frozen billions in foreign aid and initiated a re-evaluation of ongoing commitments in sectors such as health, disaster relief, and infrastructure.

Musk also endorsed Senator Joni Ernst’s proposal to absorb any remaining functions of USAID into the State Department.

He added:

“It makes sense. There’s no need for it to be a separate agency.”

Musk's D.O.G.E Takes Charge, Cites Fraudulent Payments

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly granted Musk’s team full access to Treasury payment systems on Friday, a move confirmed by Senator Ron Wyden.

Musk argued that this access was vital due to years of Treasury officials approving fraudulent payments.

Musk said during the session and later posted on X:

“The D.O.G.E team discovered that payment approval officers at Treasury were instructed to always approve payments—even to known fraudulent or terrorist groups. They literally never denied a payment in their entire career.”

David Lebryk, the Treasury’s most senior career official overseeing these systems, resigned last week as Musk’s team took control.

Musk has been systematically targeting and firing officials responsible for overseeing payments, accusing them of failing in their duties.

He highlighted mismanaged payments, such as those from the Department of Health and Human Services to Lutheran Family Services, as prime examples of systemic issues.

Musk also criticised Treasury’s Do-Not-Pay system, calling it another failed government mechanism in need of urgent reform.

Acknowledging the inevitable opposition to these changes, Musk pointed to the courts as a necessary avenue for addressing legal challenges.

With six of the nine US Supreme Court justices appointed by Republican presidents, including three by Trump, Musk sees this as a critical opportunity, stating:

“This is our shot. This is the best hand of cards we’re ever going to have."

Musk’s vision is not limited to Washington—he is also turning his focus to Wall Street.

He announced plans to meet with JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon to present his cost-cutting agenda to the bond market.

Rising Treasury yields, fueled by concerns over inflation and growing deficits, have been a significant worry for investors.

Musk believes that his spending cuts offer a solution, with any sign of serious deficit reduction likely to lead to a drop in Treasury yields—a scenario favorable to bond investors.

Musk sees this meeting with Dimon as key to securing market confidence in D.O.G.E’s plan.

Musk explained in the session:

“We need them to see this as a positive step.”

While Trump’s support provides a safety net, Musk is bracing for continued backlash.

He concluded the session by urging his supporters to rally behind D.O.G.E’s “noble goal:

“DOGE will win if millions of people support it. I wouldn’t even know how they supported it, but the fact that they did.”

President Trump Refutes D.O.G.E's Authority Over Treasury Funds

President Trump refuted claims that Musk has the authority to halt federal Treasury payments independently, despite Musk having full access to the government’s financial systems.

In a statement made from the Oval Office earlier today, Trump addressed ongoing rumors suggesting that Musk’s D.O.G.E was blocking critical payments.

The President noted:

“Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval. If something didn’t have my OK, you’d hear about it real fast.”

He emphasized that Musk does not get to decide anything on his own:

“Elon’s not making decisions on his own. He’s finding tremendous waste, but I’m the one who decides what happens next.”