Overview

• Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has implemented sweeping federal workforce reductions and spending cuts, aiming to save $1 trillion by September, but its legality and methodology are under scrutiny.
• Federal courts have temporarily blocked some of DOGE's actions, including freezing foreign aid payments and terminating grants, citing violations of Congress's constitutional authority over federal spending.
• Republican lawmakers, while supportive of cost-cutting in principle, are pushing for Congress to formally approve the cuts to ensure legal compliance and mitigate political fallout.
• President Trump has signaled a shift in tone, urging Cabinet secretaries to take the lead in implementing cuts with precision, while maintaining Elon Musk as a backup if they fall short.
• DOGE’s actions have drawn widespread criticism, including lawsuits from unions and advocacy groups, while polls show Musk’s popularity declining even as Trump’s approval ratings remain steady.