US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania attend a service at St. John’s Church on the inauguration day of his second presidential term in Washington, US, Monday. [Carlos Barria/Reuters]
In a sweeping effort to streamline US federal government operations, President Donald Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January 2025, appointing Elon Musk to lead the charge. DOGE’s mission: to expose and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse across government agencies, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
One of DOGE’s most dramatic actions was its crackdown on the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Musk called USAID a “criminal organization” and pushed for its closure, citing systemic inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and financial mismanagement. The agency, which oversaw 72 billion US dollars in aid in 2023, now faces dissolution, putting many questionable humanitarian programs at risk.
“We’re shutting down USAID,” Musk stated, arguing that deep-rooted corruption made reform impossible. USAID employees were directed to work remotely, and officials resisting DOGE’s interventions were dismissed. When DOGE encountered resistance in accessing USAID’s classified financial data, key USAID personnel were suspended – raising concerns over why humanitarian aid records were secret in the first place.
DOGE also scrutinized government spending, particularly funds directed to nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). After gaining access to the US Treasury Department’s payment system, Musk announced the termination of payments to certain charities, citing alleged financial misconduct. Among them, Global Refuge, a major refugee aid organization, saw its federal funding suspended pending an investigation.
Beyond agency oversight, DOGE has aggressively cut federal expenditures, particularly on real estate leases. Over 22 underutilized federal building leases have been terminated, saving 44.6 million US dollars. The General Services Administration (GSA) has followed suit, relocating tenants. DOGE aims to eliminate 53.1 million square feet of government office space by 2028 – a move projected to save 1.87 billion US dollars annually.
DOGE’s initiatives highlight deep-rooted inefficiencies within US federal government agencies. Musk estimates that aggressive cost-cutting could reduce the US deficit by 2 trillion US dollars, though specific details remain undisclosed. Still, the initiative sets a powerful and unprecedented effort for government accountability and reform demanded by American voters in the 2024 elections.
DOGE’s actions could inspire similar reforms worldwide. As voters increasingly demand transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility, this initiative could redefine how governments operate and allocate resources, ushering in a new era of public sector efficiency.
Commander Demetries Grimes is a combat decorated former US Navy Commander, aviator and diplomat. He has served as US naval attache to Israel and Greece, and deputy commander of the US base in Crete.