DOGE budget cut plans face massive hurdles

According to the Congressional Budget Office, in its most recent fiscal year ended September 30, the federal government spent $6.75 trillion.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are tasked with slashing federal spending through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which will be outside the government and won’t have decision-making capabilities.

The billionaire says he aims to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, and in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, Musk and Ramaswamy outlined their plan to achieve the same.

They mentioned reducing headcount and restructuring agencies as they aim to cut $500 billion in annual spending.

But the plan could face challenges, including lawsuits. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO can also find removing government workers with job protections difficult. An alternative is to change rules, but it is a lengthy process that can take a long time as it requires congressional approval and public feedback.

Apart from legal challenges, the plan may face backlash from activists, government contractors, and even some politicians.

While some members of Congress support Musk’s ideas, others are skeptical. They point out that programs like Medicare, Social Security, and the military are widely supported and unlikely to be cut.

Even if smaller programs were eliminated, it wouldn’t save enough money. For example, NPR stated that cutting unused government buildings might save $1.7 billion—a fraction of the amount mentioned by Musk.

Trump wants DOGE’s work done by July 4, 2026, right before the midterm elections.