The story so far
The script in the US is playing mostly on the expected lines (see here and here ). Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – crash landing Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is apparently on its way to crash land, with the pilot (Elon Musk) ejecting himself out shortly after taking off. DOGE’s actions have faced multiple lawsuits, with critics arguing that Musk and his team have violated federal laws, union agreements, and civil service protections. A federal judge halted parts of USAID’s shutdown, and courts have restricted DOGE’s access to payment systems. Despite Musk’s goal to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, 2025 spending is slightly up from 2024, per Brookings Institution data. Mandatory spending (e.g., Social Security, Medicare) limits achievable cuts. Over two million federal employees were offered buyout deals, with some agencies facing mass layoffs. However, some fired staff have been rehired, indicating implementation challenges. Though...