Name: Musk Is Running DOGE Like Twitter: Here’s What That Means for Government
Uploaded: 2025-02-24T17:12:00Z
Duration: 8 min
Description: Elon Musk’s marathon of government cuts at DOGE echoes his Twitter takeover back in 2022. Here’s a breakdown of his playbook, and why critics say it doesn’t translate directly to the government.

https://www.barrons.com/client

Topics

Memberships

Tools

Customer Service

Network

Newsstand

For Business

For Education

For Advertisers

Account

About Barron's

bolded

unBolded

Ken Burns, the filmmaker behind the documentary miniseries "The American Revolution" and others, spoke to Barron's editor at large Andy Serwer.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260507/0291a39f-ea0f-4e3b-8f5f-c6783863e213/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Filmmaker Ken Burns on 'the Most Important Revolution in History'

Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, discusses how they scale their business, their global footprint, and investing in digital assets.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260506/c85686e1-e814-47e7-a3dc-72a0170fa2c9/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Citigroup CEO on Keeping Competitors at Bay

As CEO of Citigroup, Jane Fraser tells Barron’s Andy Serwer about her goals for the future.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260506/904afc41-63ad-4d30-94d5-fe292999af50/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Planning for Growth at Citigroup

Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, sat down for an interview with Barron's Editor at Large Andy Serwer.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260430/9cbc994b-3c3c-4ab2-994c-1363ccf00ade/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Citigroup CEO: 'We're Cheap. Get on the Train.'

Michel Khalaf, chief executive officer of MetLife, discusses how he’s navigating the current market.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260501/91689664-d41c-4215-8400-ea340e71cf8d/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Risk Management in a K-Shaped Economy

“I’m a big believer in a level playing field,” Michel Khalaf, chief executive officer of MetLife, tells Barron’s Andy Serwer.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260501/0a4674b6-10e7-4a91-bd96-c6a2e6aa7fe2/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Why MetLife’s CEO Supports Private Equity in Insurance

Michel Khalaf, chief executive officer of MetLife, spoke to Barron's editor at large Andy Serwer.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260423/d5471223-ead4-4616-a52a-63b6722abe1e/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

MetLife's CEO Explains How AI Has Helped the Insurance Company

Constantine Alexandrakis, CEO of the executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates, discusses the pattern of higher turnover rates and shorter tenures of CEOs.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260501/2fec28b4-35fb-4ff1-9864-55d5538b0973/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Being a CEO Is Becoming More Complicated, According to This Executive

At Barron's

"Your 9-5...is just not going to do it," Nick Magguilli, personal finance expert, said on Barron's Streetwise podcast.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251216/e6897805-d131-4cc4-9c59-ca03b0c0b958/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How to Scale Your Net Worth

TJ Thornton, Head of Global Research Product Marketing at BofA Securities, talks to Jack Hough about his favorite stocks outside of AI.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251210/f9c1a95c-5a0e-4349-9fe4-73b3ac53bfb8/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

BofA’s Favorite Non-AI Stocks

Jack Hough talks to TJ Thornton, Head of Global Research Product Marketing at BofA Securities about diversifying stocks to hedge AI risks.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251210/8e164ff7-1500-4c2f-8713-e891c640a0f4/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Evaluating Investing Opportunities Beyond AI

Steve Quirk, chief brokerage officer at Robinhood, breaks down the value of tokenizing stocks in different markets.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251126/f86d65ea-bd8b-4777-b6b0-80f7bb12027e/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Unpacking Tokenization for Everyday Investors

Jack Hough talks to Steve Quirk, chief brokerage officer at Robinhood, about trends in retail investing.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251126/a9cbdcc6-f060-4fc9-a15e-396924e25946/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How Robinhood Reshaped the Trading Landscape for an Entire Generation

Streetwise host Jack Hough sat down with strategist Scott Wren to discuss how the AI-fueled market run stacks up against the dot-com boom.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251111/bd2e1a5b-1a6e-4543-8133-dcc63f69b5dc/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

AI vs. The Dot Com Bubble

Bank of America’s Haim Israel shares what’s next for Nuclear Energy development.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250930/ab4fc336-af44-4af2-8e40-9ae6f04a445e/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The Outlook For Nuclear

Jack talks to Lyft CEO David Risher about growth potential in the company.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250929/ae62b70e-912b-4ce7-ae63-1b2652628bae/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Lyft's Ride to Profit

The stock market is expensive. What does that mean for your portfolio? Jack sits down with Franklin Templeton’s Matt Quinlan to talk dividend investing, and whether it’s a good move in a pricey market.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250911/9c85e132-d710-4458-9467-aa69d4f25ae0/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Dividends and Capital Appreciation

Barron's Streetwise

CEO Chris Todd explains how the company is providing core technology to RIAs and broker dealers while building infrastructure to meet future advisor needs in areas like alternative investments and digital currencies.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260512/06d41382-0347-4765-b253-994badc172a3/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Envestnet’s ‘Bullseye’ Strategic Approach  

Interviews with top wealth management professionals about topics including compensation, hiring, marketing, next-gen, and more.

CEO Chris Todd says the company is using AI to increase internal productivity and leveraging its large data set to provide "investment data insights" to help advisors manage client portfolios.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260512/4207fb3b-4df7-43b2-8c1e-32d3cb75967f/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How Envestnet Is Harnessing AI and Data 

Yie-Hsin Hung, president and CEO of State Street Investment Management, describes how the company addresses retirement challenges like increased longevity and the shift of responsibility from pensions to individuals.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260428/266b9598-bb99-4025-9b2e-d17b76104723/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Empowering Investors to Better Prepare for Retirement

Yie-Hsin Hung, president and CEO of State Street Investment Management, says that retirement is a vital business segment, accounting for about a quarter of the company’s global assets.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260428/ea1e71f0-04bc-4b92-9b82-e52911542bd5/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Retirement Is a ‘Very Important Part’ of State Street’s Business

ETF flows reveal a “widening out” of exposure away from large caps, says Yie-Hsin Hung, president and CEO of State Street Investment Management.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260428/735ae074-7b28-4394-879a-5959b7675c9e/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

U.S. Investors Are Embracing Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Stocks

Yie-Hsin Hung, president and CEO, says the company is focused on growth in fixed income products, international markets, and the overall wealth category.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260428/718c379d-03d5-4861-be33-fa3c4f56cef7/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Where State Street Investment Management Sees Opportunity

Within five years, “the consumer will have the ability to go online and design their financial advisor—what they look like, how they talk, how they interact, what they remember,” says Rob Nelson, CEO and founder of NorthRock Partners.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260415/09483094-28db-4623-a9b2-df5b9327dffa/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The Future AI Advisor

Rob Nelson, CEO and founder of NorthRock Partners, explains why he is optimistic about the future of financial advice and the potential for advisors to form meaningful client communities.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260415/4bc66985-8aab-4e8a-b646-8e3023cdd9b0/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The Jevons Paradox and Placing a Premium on Community

Rob Nelson, CEO and founder of NorthRock Partners, says clients today place a premium on having free time and peace of mind.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260415/528964a5-1d56-41bf-9931-bf152533679b/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How Client Expectations Have Changed in the Past 15 Years

Barron's Advisor The Way Forward

A “willingness to roll up your sleeves and understand the issues that your clients are facing, not just from an investment perspective,” is common among the industry’s most successful, says Kelly Gaur, a Mercer Advisors regional vice president.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260319/318adb2f-a888-4f30-b182-c791e27f98ab/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Best Advice for Someone Considering Wealth Management as a Career

Kelly Gaur, a Mercer Advisors regional vice president, says she was drawn to working for a registered investment advisor partly because they generally offer a more personalized, modern approach to wealth management.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260318/5575e9ca-0b48-4fb9-8e43-82aae1b3e3fc/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The Appeal of Working for an RIA

“The best client development professionals are those who have served clients in some capacity,” says Kelly Gaur, a Mercer Advisors regional vice president.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260318/c1638929-6b21-4573-9deb-4f78e1ffa1d7/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Client-Facing Experience Can Help Advance Your Career

The Mercer Advisors regional vice president discusses her business development role and tips for breaking into the industry and gaining valuable experience in a non-advisory capacity.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260318/f2c2c9a5-cb67-4167-a48b-7fe4a9285615/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Kelly Gaur: Tips for Pursuing Non-Advisor Roles in Wealth Management

“You want to make sure that everybody's excited and prepared and that you're all pulling the rope in the same direction,” says Nate Fisher, managing director and wealth advisor at Carson Wealth.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260305/20285ef5-c115-435f-9291-e4f2d5b166a9/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

A Successful Transition Requires Honesty and a ‘Heavy Lift’

Young advisors considering a succession plan should maximize engagement with clients because “it can take a long time to gain that trust and build those relationships,” says Nate Fisher, managing director and wealth advisor at Carson Wealth.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260305/236fdaa2-5acb-48e9-b16d-e20b58846487/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Succession Planning and Establishing Trust With Clients

The Carson Wealth managing director and wealth advisor says his decision to partner with the firm was driven by the need for increased capacity for holistic services and a clear succession plan for his retiring father.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260305/33bb1217-c8be-4358-ba17-6238cbab6fa1/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Nate Fisher: Lessons Learned From a Successful Partnership

As trust grows, advisors tend to spend less time discussing investments and more time on clients’ families and well-being, says Nate Fisher, managing director and wealth advisor at Carson Wealth.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260305/d2d3903a-994f-4ae7-82be-706929930b3d/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Trusted Advisors Focus Less on Investments, More on Clients' Lives 

Serving tech founders is a full-time, long-term effort that often requires significant upfront work before a successful, revenue-generating relationship is established, says Katie Partridge, a Morgan Stanley private wealth advisor.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260219/abc63bad-4c7a-474b-b4a8-b4feae461375/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Landing Founders as Clients Requires Patience and Hard Work

Barron's Advisor Next Generation

Government policy shapes retirement regardless of savings or lifespan. With Social Security's trust fund facing a 2033 shortfall, what fixes are coming? Our experts discuss policy shifts and how to budget your benefits.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260410/aea80278-298b-458e-8bcd-f378796d6328/2/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

What's Next for Social Security?

Stocks swoop and soar as investors weigh AI hype against rate-cut "tea leaves." Our panelists explain how to drown out the noise, chart your own winning path,and identify investments that offer true long-term rewards.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260410/586aecf7-117b-4f3e-86f0-6869d907e671/2/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Riding the Market Roller Coaster

The capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and Middle East tensions are reshaping oil supply expectations. The U.S. is intervening in energy markets in decades-unseen ways. Experts break down what’s next for oil, gas and energy stocks.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260212/9779ec13-602a-4a38-bb73-495ff464a24f/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Oil and Gas in a Volatile World

For the first time in decades, U.S. power demand is rising - driven by AI data centers, EVs and electrification. Utility and clean-energy stocks are climbing, but costly buildouts threaten affordability. We explore what’s next for the power trade.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260212/81a81fdd-47b4-44f6-93d1-7597a7fab032/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The Gold Rush in Electricity

Will Nvidia and other technology companies keep powering the stock market in 2026? We'll speak with two veteran money managers about their views on tech and their favorite stocks for the coming year.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251212/5683d7a0-ed1f-4e3c-b913-bb3367ea3abd/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Finding Bargains in a Pricey Market

Explore what could go right for investors, and what could go wrong, in a year that will see the AI trade evolve, the Fed's leadership change, and global competition for resources increase in this 2026 Outlook.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251212/573f5954-c4ab-43e9-804d-f1ea93fbb70c/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Meeting the Challenge

Stocks are expensive, risks abound, and AI is about to change the world. Other than that, building a calamity-proof retirement portfolio should be a cinch. Tune in as two veteran money managers size up the markets and share their investment ideas.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250211/17a5e7d6-7c36-44b0-a35e-bf5ac3a24194/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Saving for a Sunny Day

Research shows that people greatly underestimate the healthcare costs they’ll face in retirement. Learn from experts how to estimate those costs, prepare for potential long-term care needs, and manage healthcare expenses in retirement.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250211/e7c022d9-badf-4e95-8e7c-0b6fce9f7823/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Are You Fiscally Fit?

Surging power demand, new energy sources, and growing competition have spurred the utility industry to become more innovative than ever before. Our panelists will unpack the changes afoot and explore what lies ahead for companies, customers, and investors.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240917/001ea098-1fcc-4da5-9f0e-a3b149bbb2fb/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Not Your Father's Utility

Barron's Roundtable

Whether you're leading a transition, building a scalable team, or just trying to stay ahead of the curve, this episode will give you practical insights to lead smarter and grow stronger.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251010/fd26d60b-d1e6-409b-b51b-101da4aaa368/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Next-Gen Leadership Meets Smart Innovation

Electric vehicles sales are growing but not at the pace some expected. Some would-be buyers worry about the range of EV charging, and others are swayed by politics. But innovators from Detroit to Silicon Valley still envision a dramatic shift in how we get around. What’s going on and what’s next?

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240603/5784fa60-791c-47ad-9740-42e4553de5c4/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Forces Shaping EV Adoption and the Future of Driving

Success in improving the power grid to accommodate the electricity demands of the future will be a boon for companies doing the work and utilities that succeed. Explore the investing risks and opportunities.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240522/2b825c69-2687-4d88-923b-0c8f523a2f67/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How to Invest in Initiatives to Bolster the Power Grid

Joanna Rotenberg, Fidelity's president of personal investing, discusses ways to make investing more accessible and how to bolster your own financial security.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20231025/8ad733df-ac90-41fd-9655-7761b3e0532c/2/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Mind the Gap: Demystifying Investing

Reshma Kapadia sits down with Cozy Wittman of College Inside Track to discuss how to tackle all things college, from what admission officers are seeking today, to navigating the different ways to funding higher education and evaluating the ROIs.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230515/b7229011-05cc-42ec-9c16-1d7752ec668d/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Decoding the College Search and Financing Puzzle

Nicole Webb, financial advisor and SVP at Wealth Enhancement Group, shares ways to navigate the real estate market this spring whether you are a first-time buyer, a retiree downsizing or someone who is relocating or looking for a second home.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230424/93eb00e1-caf0-4e83-9fc7-b502a57dc546/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Pro Tips on Buying and Selling a Home

Reggie Fils-Aimé, former president and COO of Nintendo of America, joins Barron's deputy editor Alex Eule to discuss his unlikely rise to the top, and the risks he took once there to beat the odds and achieve success.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20220630/61e2296d-ab1a-4216-ae65-24676447c616/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How Nintendo's Former President Disrupted the Gaming Industry

2050 Wealth Planners co-CEO Lazetta Rainey Braxton, Sequoia Financial Planners vice president Elizabeth Scheiderer, and MoneyZen founder Manisha Thakor offer tips on how to prepare for recession, inflation, caregiving needs.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20220617/a71025ce-518b-49b9-b098-21417863f8ce/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Financial Advice for the Inflation-Weary

Families and advisors have a lot to navigate when it comes to generational wealth transfer. Add sustainable investing to the list. Examine strategies to help close the generational divide. From the Dow Jones Energy & Sustainability event series.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230210/85cbf3f9-b5ab-4bfa-93c6-f8e8a247d386/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Sustainable Investing and the Wealth Transfer

Barron's Events

Level Up

Barron's Explains

Back to Business

Great Investors

MarketWatch

Video Center - Barron's home

Elon Musk’s marathon of government cuts at DOGE echoes his Twitter takeover back in 2022. Here’s a breakdown of his playbook, and why critics say it doesn’t translate directly to the government. Photo Illustration: WSJ

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250224/928cd03c-3b0d-4c0f-b58c-072274d91b07/2/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Elon Musk’s marathon of government cuts at DOGE echoes his Twitter takeover back in 2022. Here’s a breakdown of his playbook, and why critics say it doesn’t translate directly to the government.

Musk Is Running DOGE Like Twitter: Here’s What That Means for Government

This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy.

Narrator: In President Donald Trump's first month in office, Elon Musk has been busy. DOGE is now everywhere in the federal government, and they are spreading like bedbugs.

What Musk is doing is illegal and unconstitutional.

They wouldn't be complaining so much if they, we weren't doing something useful.

Narrator: And the playbook looks familiar.

The Twitter playbook feels like it's being applied now at scale.

Narrator: 2 million federal employees received a buyout offer with a subject line identical to buyout offers sent at Twitter, but.

It's one thing for Musk to blow up Twitter after buying it, it's another thing entirely to do it at government.

Narrator: Here's how Musk's management style is being applied to the government and what it tells us about what lies ahead.

Ahhh.

Narrator: Musk is moving at a breakneck pace with DOGE's government cuts.

We are moving fast, so we all make mistakes, but we'll also fix the mistakes very quickly.

Narrator: Under DOGE's guidance, in its first month, the administration says it has let go of dozens of senior officials, taking aim at more than 200,000 probationary employees and canceled nearly 100 federal office leases. The fast focus cuts mirror his moves at Twitter, where shortly after taking over, he fired Twitter's top executives and board, let go of roughly three quarters of the staff and lapsed on paying leases for offices. That's because Musk's overhaul philosophy is built around making fast dramatic changes.

They're not sitting around thinking about what they should be doing. He would rather try to fix something, try to go forward to be successful, and if it's not working, change course and try something else.

Narrator: But many of Musk's critics say the speed at which he's working isn't appropriate for government.

A lot of stuff in business, when you try something new and it goes wrong, the investors get hurt, right? People lose money, but it doesn't affect anybody's lives. Screw up social security, screw up veterans benefits, screw up our health agencies, which are looking to stop illnesses, you have live or die decisions.

Narrator: Elaine Karmarck was a senior advisor to President Bill Clinton and helped orchestrate the largest modern government reform during his administration.

The biggest difference between what we did and what's happening now is that we were concerned with making the government work better, as well as costless. And right now they're just doing costless.

Narrator: But it's not just how much or how fast Musk is cutting, it's also who he's choosing to cut. In the runup to the election, Musk alluded to DOGEs potential cuts in a post on X, in which he shared an interview with the late economist, Milton Friedman,

Department of Agriculture? Abolish.

Peter: gone? Department of Commerce?

Abolish.

Gone. Department of Defense?

Keep.

Keep it.

Department of Education?

Abolish.

Gone

Narrator: For justification for many of the cuts, Musk has pointed to the Government Accountability Office, or GAO. In a report from last year, GAO estimated that the federal government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud. So far, DOGE has looked to make major cuts to agencies like the US Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. At his companies, he's focused on cutting roles that he doesn't see as core to the mission.

We've seen that also at Tesla, when it was in financial difficulties years ago, he might cut sales, he might cut HR, he might cut people in marketing and put and ensure that the resources were there for the factory, the people making the cars, the engineers putting these cars together, because in his mind it is all about the product.

Narrator: Under Musk, Twitter abandoned restrictions around content like COVID-19 misinformation and reinstated accounts that had been banned by the previous management.

So the trust and safety team was targeted with a particular ferocity and intensity, as well as teams like Twitter curation and other teams that did philanthropic work, for example.

Narrator: Theodora Skeadas managed the Trust and Safety Council at Twitter. She says that some of the teams most cut are responsible for things like consumer protection.

I see a a really strong parallel between the scaling back of protections and support services for folks globally at X and then that happening in federal government, in particular through agencies like USAID and State Department, but others as well.

Narrator: X didn't respond to a request for comment. Musk has also brought on a team of trusted allies to make cuts at DOGE, former SpaceX and Tesla employees, recent graduates, and his own loyalist colleagues. At the helm is Steve Davis, a former Boring company executive who was also brought on to help with cuts of Twitter.

It's about finding talent, deploying them, riding them very hard to get what he wants out of them. They understand his thinking and have also earned his trust and shown that they can get things done for him, and that's key. Musk doesn't really trust a lot of people.

Narrator: His approach at Twitter was similar.

We saw Musk tap some of his engineers, including some young ones from around the Musk universe, to get into Twitter and interview the employees there to go through lines of code, to really inspect how the company was operating.

Narrator: But Karmarck is skeptical that this approach could work at the scale of the US government.

The way we did it was we brought in civil servants who were familiar with government operations. What they're doing is they're going into the agencies and they're going straight to databases. The people who are looking at these databases don't have any context. They're kids. They're 25 years old. One is 19.

Narrator: To date, DOGE said it is identified more than $55 billion in savings, a number a Wall Street Journal analysis found to be overstated. It is also far less than the $2 trillion Musk said the agency plans to trim.

They make for the appearance of progress of victories in the day-to-day. It's a lot of fun to have tweets out there making fun of various weird spending, but hundreds of thousands of dollars here and millions of dollars there ultimately don't sway the massive US federal budget.

Narrator: DOGE is also taking a look at bigger agencies like the Department of Defense, which has a far larger and more complex budget. The department employs 3 million troops and civilians and has a budget in excess of $800 billion, accounting for at least 12% of the $6.75 trillion federal budget.

The government's in a hard place right now, okay? Because as we begin to see failure, which we will see, because they have cut in such a sort of all across the board way, they're gonna have to hire back people. Okay? Who knows if people will want to come back?

Narrator: The cuts have raised legal questions and already sparked a series of lawsuits.

This is a challenge that we've seen time and time again. Business leaders go into government. It's not as simple as just saying, let's do X, Y, or Z. There's more bureaucracy. There's more stakeholders out there. Right now, he's pulling the levers that allow him to kind of show some successes, but it's gonna be a lot of work. Ultimately, it's about building the vision to get enough people on board to kind of support him as he moves towards that over time. A lot of people say it's impossible and it might be impossible, but even if he gets close to it, it would be rather remarkable.

The people voted for major government reform. There should be no doubt about that.