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Elon Musk's DOGE Faces Backlash Over Federal Workforce Cuts and Data Access Concerns

The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Musk, has implemented sweeping job cuts and gained access to sensitive Social Security data, raising alarms over privacy and privatization risks.

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Elon Musk flashes his t-shirt that reads "DOGE" to the media as he walks on South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, March 9, 2025.
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Overview

  • Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has overseen significant workforce reductions, including 10,000 USPS jobs and plans to cut 18,000 IRS employees by May.
  • DOGE operatives embedded in the Social Security Administration (SSA) have been granted access to sensitive data, prompting privacy concerns and calls for investigations by Democratic lawmakers.
  • The USPS signed an agreement with DOGE to address financial challenges, but critics fear the moves could lead to privatization and undermine universal mail service obligations.
  • DOGE claims to have saved the federal government $115 billion through various measures, including canceling contracts and reducing operational costs, but public opinion on its impact remains divided.
  • Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups have criticized DOGE's lack of transparency, its inexperience in key government functions, and the potential risks to essential public services.