Musk and Ramaswamy's Budget-Cutting Efforts Face Skepticism Over Impact

The Department of Government Efficiency's proposals under Trump’s incoming administration target small-scale federal spending cuts but fall short of addressing the growing $36 trillion national debt.

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with identifying federal budget cuts.
The U.S. federal deficit reached $1.83 trillion in 2024, with the national debt surpassing $36 trillion, sparking calls for urgent fiscal reforms.
Critics argue that DOGE’s proposed cuts, such as eliminating international humanitarian aid and workforce diversity programs, would have minimal impact on reducing the deficit.
Experts emphasize that significant deficit reduction would require addressing politically sensitive areas like entitlement programs, tax reform, and defense spending, which remain largely untouched.
While some bipartisan support exists for efficiency reforms, skepticism persists over the political will to implement substantial and impactful fiscal changes.

The American Conservative