Summary

The “Department of Government Efficiency” won’t be a real government agency. In fact, it won’t even be part of the federal government.

Led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the advisory commission aims to cut $2 trillion in spending, reduce regulations, and downsize the federal workforce.

Critics question its effectiveness, given its outsider status, potential conflicts of interest with Musk’s businesses, and Ramaswamy’s focus on mass layoffs and agency eliminations.

While some praise its potential for reforms, others warn it may undermine civil service and prioritize “slash-and-burn” cuts over thoughtful changes.

  • originalfrozenbanana@lemm.ee
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    16 hours ago

    It doesn’t matter, that’s not the point. The point is precisely that it’s not part of the government. It’s the manifestation of the sort of private capture that has made Musk so rich. They are explicitly taking a governmental responsibility - managing the budget - and moving it out of the government. Away from oversight, away from regulation, with unclear (and therefore definable by them) power and authority, free from any obligation to actually DO anything.

    • skillissuer@discuss.tchncs.de
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      15 hours ago

      taking a crime and moving it somewhere else is also the entire schtick of silicon valley techbros. see, it’s not a pyramid scheme or securities fraud, it’s Future of Finance™. it’s not copyright infringement or criminal conspiracy if it’s done by chatbots, and they’re not liable anyway, why have you trusted the lying boxes

      • originalfrozenbanana@lemm.ee
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        15 hours ago

        They’re just disrupting governance by upleveling inefficient “budgeting” and “oversight” to a blockchain-driven web3 AI powered crypto GaaS (government as a service) product called F.A.R.T.S, or the Federal AI Recurring Transaction System. FARTS will take your dollars and give it directly to four billionaires, cutting out the inefficient “procurement” process we use now to funnel taxpayer money to rich demons.