DOGE is now cutting everywhere. They cut desperately needed immigration judges and the VA. They even acknowledged making a mistake with some probationary nuclear safety employees, but they can’t find the poor souls to call them back. What is going on here?
Here are some possible rationales for the cuts, and my reactions:
- TRUMP IS JUST GOING AFTER HIS ENEMIES: A few highly publicized firings meet that test, but the vast majority of them impact faceless probationary employees in a wide range of government departments.
- TRUMP IS TRYING TO ELIMINATE WOKENESS: In some cases, yes, but the VA? And the Pentagon is supposedly on the list, too.
- TRUMP FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT CUTTING THE COST OF GOVERNMENT: History tells us that isn’t true. In any event, cutting employees without changing the underlying statutes and regulations just makes government slower and more cumbersome. It effectively shifts the cost of the savings to consumers.
- TRUMP JUST WANTS TO PROVE HE’S THE BOSS TO THE DEEP STATE, REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES: That sounds about right.
- MUSK BELIEVES THE SYSTEM WILL ADJUST AND IMPROVE QUICKLY WHEN IT IS CHALLENGED BY MASSIVE CUTS: He undoubtedly does believe that, but is he right? And what happens to the workings of government in the interim? TBD.
In short, the correct answer is a combination of #4 and #5.