Chaos in Washington as Elon Musk Takes Over Some U.S. Government Agencies

In the past two weeks, Elon Musk and his team have taken over some of the United States’ government agencies, which has sparked confusion and a raised question about whether one businessman should have that kind of power.

What’s happening?

Musk and his allies have:

Obtained access to the Treasury Department’s payment system
Threatened to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development
Offered federal employees money to resign.
Removed experienced government workers and replaced them with his own team.
These are among the steps taken by former President Donald Trump in reducing the size of the government. However, many experts claim that Musk and his team are breaking laws and ignoring important rules.

Musk’s Role in the Government

Musk is reportedly on the government’s payroll as a “special government employee.” The term applies if he’s only working a limited number of days, while his decisions count; he won’t be receiving compensation for it. He’s allocated an office space at the White House.

There are laws that bar public servants from taking policy decisions that help their own business. It is not known if the Trump administration will impose such laws on Musk. His enterprises, such as SpaceX and Tesla, signed many contracts with the government; thus, there may be a situation of conflicting interest.

Problems at the Treasury Department

Musk’s team has taken over the U.S. government’s payment system. They claim they found issues, such as payments going to fraudulent organizations. However, critics say that Musk’s team does not understand how the system works and could cause major problems by interfering.

Attempts to Shut Down USAID

Musk termed USAID as a “criminal organization” and wanted it shut down. In the aftermath of Trump being sworn in as the president, several top officials from USAID were dismissed. While Musk’s team was first refused entry to the building, allowing them to get hold of the security systems and classified information, they finally made it in.

According to legal experts, the president does not have the authority to close USAID because it was established by Congress. A lawsuit has already been filed against this move.

Shaking Things Up in Government Hiring and Firing

His people have also grabbed the Office of Personnel Management. It oversees personnel and benefits matters for the whole federal workforce. Employees got their emails to “resign,” as a favor, with incentives, as well as Musk, when he began his acquisition in 2022 of Twitter.

Additionally, Musk’s team has removed many senior employees at OPM and taken control of the agency’s data, including personal information of millions of government workers. Experts worry this could put sensitive information at risk.
Cuts to Government Buildings and Spending

The General Services Administration, which oversees government buildings and spending, has also been in the crosshairs. Musk’s team is demanding that agencies slash business expenses by half and shrink the number of government offices. It has also been reported that Musk’s team wanted to put beds and laundry machines in the GSA building so employees could work around the clock.

Legal Challenges and Public Outrage

Several lawsuits have already surfaced due to his fast and comprehensive takeover of critical government functions. Critics say his team breaks many laws and bypasses normal government procedures. Some experts believe the legal system lags behind the speed at which these changes are being thrown at it.

The case continues evolving, and more suits are expected to surface as employees try to stop Musk’s influence over the federal government, as well as various watchdog groups.