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Musk Advocates for Government Overhaul at World Government Summit

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — During a virtual appearance at the World Government Summit, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, emphasized the necessity of a drastic government overhaul, advocating for the elimination of entire federal agencies. His remarks came in response to queries about the sustainability of reforms being enacted under the current Trump administration.

“I believe we truly need to delete entire agencies rather than merely leaving parts of them intact,” Musk stated. He elaborated on his perspective by comparing this situation to managing weeds: “If you don’t eliminate the roots, they can regrow easily. However, removing the roots makes resurgence more challenging.” This analogy framed Musk’s argument for a significant cut in governmental bureaucracy.

Musk’s comments were made via video link and were part of a dialogue moderated by Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence. He expressed that while it is possible for bureaucratic structures to re-emerge, starting from a reduced foundation would put the government on a path toward better efficiency. “It’s a step in the right direction,” he stated, underscoring the impermanence of such efforts but maintaining optimism that they could greatly strengthen the U.S. government’s foundations over time.

In his role as a “special government employee” appointed by Trump, Musk has spearheaded initiatives within the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This position underscores his commitment to streamlining operations and cutting government red tape. He believes meaningful changes could contribute to a substantial reduction of the federal deficit, potentially reaching $1 trillion by the year 2026.

As part of this agenda, Musk has initiated significant changes within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Reports indicate that a majority of its workforce has been furloughed, and funding has been put on hold, affecting millions globally, particularly in developing nations. The Trump administration has also recently announced plans to dissolve USAID as a standalone agency, moving its functions under the State Department.

This developing story is being updated.

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