The United States Government in the Cross-hairs of Elon Musk & DOGE
The FAA, NIH, USAID, NOAA, EPA, CFPB, DOE, VA, NASA, NNSA, Treasury, Forest Service, DHS, IRS, and Social Security Administration facing leadership purges, funding cuts, and hostile takeovers.
Breaking down the chaos: Because this list is ever-growing, and I can't keep up with all of them, the following is only a partial list of some of the agencies targeted in the past month.
Also, the dates are my best estimate based on news articles, presidential actions, or other media I could find around their release online. They may not be 100%, but they're as close as I can get them.
From the earliest days of the Trump presidency, trans people, non-white immigrants (and even indigenous peoples).
Another early target of this administration was government DEI&A initiatives.
The administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Michael Whitaker, resigned on January 20 after repeated demands from Elon Musk for him to step down, leaving the agency without a critical leader starting on day one of the Trump presidency.
Firings at the FAA started up this week (the week of February 17).
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates civil aviation safety, manages air traffic control systems, develops aviation technology and infrastructure, and ensures safe and efficient national airspace operations.
Since January 20, 2025, there have been numerous flight disasters, including (but not limited to):
January 29: Midair collision near Washington, D.C.
A Bombardier CRJ700 (American Airlines Flight 5342) collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. All 64 people on the plane and 3 on the copter died.
January 31: Medical jet crash in Philadelphia
A Learjet 55 air ambulance crashed into a residential neighborhood shortly after takeoff, killing all 6 onboard and 1 person on the ground. Nineteen others were injured.
February 6: Alaska commuter plane crash
A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (Bering Air Flight 445) vanished over the Bering Sea and was later found crashed on sea ice. All 10 onboard died.
February 10: Scottsdale Airport runway collision
A private Learjet veered off the runway in Arizona, crashing into a parked Gulfstream jet. One person died, and four were injured.
February 14: Florida Cessna crash
A small Cessna 208 crashed in a wooded area during a flight from Sebastian to Palatka, killing the pilot.
In 2024, the FAA proposed fines of more than $600,000 to SpaceX (based on complaints that the rocket company had violated its launch licenses on multiple occasions). Without an FAA, no one is left to keep SpaceX in line (or to ensure Elon's rocket launches don't pose a danger to the world's people).
Many have attempted to point out that Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, has a noticeable conflict of interest, which should prohibit his involvement with the FAA.
On January 31, DOGE declared (on its poorly designed X-based website known for having weak security) that it had ended 104 government contracts (from at least 30 agencies) related to DEI&A (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility), essentially giving a middle finger to millions of Americans who depended on those programs.
Government DEI&A (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) Initiatives — Programs that help marginalized people access equal and fair employment (they often leave the "A" off, ignoring that DEI&A includes accommodations for disabled people, like wheelchair ramps for wheelchair users or noise-canceling headphones for Autistic People).
Those who complain about DEI&A often do so because they misunderstand it, thinking it's about giving unfair advantages to people who don't deserve them.
DEI&A is not about giving "unearned" perks to specific groups of people.
DEI&A is about equity—leaving an uneven playing field so that marginalized people with equal qualifications (and sometimes those more highly qualified than their less marginalized counterparts) can have equal access to spaces (like public spaces and workplaces). It is about equipping people with the tools to give ourselves to the world, spaces, people, our communities, and ourselves.
The current administration set its sights on the NIH in late January.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducts and funds biomedical research, drives medical innovation, advances disease prevention and treatment, and supports public health policies through its 27 institutes and centers under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Elon Musk's involvement with the National Institutes of Health could pose a serious conflict of interest (due to his ownership of Neuralink's brain-computer interface technology and potential ties to health-focused ventures like Tesla's biotech projects). Elon also has a stake in X.AI's healthcare AI tools, which could benefit from NIH-funded research priorities or regulatory leniency.
His influence might skew funding toward neurotechnology or AI-driven health initiatives linked to his companies while sidelining impartial biomedical research critical to public health. Additionally, oversight of ethical guidelines (e.g., human trials, data privacy) for emerging technologies could be compromised to favor Elon's business interests.
Musk started tweeting about USAID on February 3, accusing the agency of being a "criminal organization" and then bragged about dismantling it on the same platform.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) - an organization that funds humanitarian aid around the world.
USAID administers foreign aid, supports global development and humanitarian initiatives, promotes democracy and economic growth, and advances U.S. foreign policy interests and stability worldwide.
Elon Musk's meddling with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is questionable due to his ownership of Starlink (satellite internet) and Tesla Energy (solar/battery tech), which might prioritize deploying his companies' technologies in aid projects (over impartial, needs-based solutions).
One of the first victims of the USAID freeze was a Seventy-one-year-old woman whose oxygen supplies were cut off after being sent home from a USAID-funded hospital. This death was completely senseless and preventable.
Elon Musk and DOGE targeted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the first week of February, attempting to rob Americans of essential, life-saving services.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) researches the Earth's oceans, atmosphere, and climate. It also provides weather forecasts and environmental data, manages marine ecosystems and fisheries, and safeguards coastal communities through stewardship and disaster preparedness.
Elon Musk's leadership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could pose conflicts due to SpaceX's rocket launches (which impact marine ecosystems and atmospheric conditions NOAA monitors) and Starlink satellite deployments (potentially interfering with NOAA's weather forecasting and climate data collection). His influence might prioritize commercial space ventures over environmental safeguards, weaken rocket emissions or ocean debris regulations, or steer contracts for NOAA's satellite programs toward SpaceX, cutting out competition.
On February 6th, congressional Democrats were denied entry to the EPA in Washington, D.C. (due to being blocked by DOGE agents).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protects human health and the environment through pollution laws, regulating air and water quality, managing hazardous waste, and promoting sustainability.
As CEO of Tesla (electric vehicles/batteries) and SpaceX (rocket manufacturing), Musk could face conflicts if leading the EPA, such as weakening emissions standards for Tesla's factories or expediting permits for SpaceX's environmentally impactful projects. His oversight might also compromise impartial enforcement against his companies' violations (like air and water pollution and hazardous waste) or favor policies benefiting his industries over competitors or public health.
On February 7, Musk tweeted, "CFPB RIP" (with a tombstone emoji).
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) enforces consumer financial laws, regulates financial institutions, investigates complaints, and promotes transparency to protect Americans from corporate greed (such as unfair, deceptive, or abusive financial practices, like excessive overdraft fees).
Elon Musk has big plans to transform Twitter (which he calls X) into an "everything app" (by partnering with Visa to launch "X Money Account," a mobile payments service akin to Venmo or PayPal).
This new service would be regulated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and subject to its rules on privacy, fraud, and transaction disputes for digital wallets (like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and others).
On February 11, the it was reported that four FEMA officials had been terminated.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinates federal disaster response and recovery efforts, and provides emergency funding and resources, supports state and local governments.
Elon Musk's leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could create conflicts due to his ownership of Starlink (satellite internet) and Tesla Energy (solar/battery storage), which might prioritize deploying his companies' technologies in disaster responses over solutions provided by his competitors. For example, directing contracts for emergency communications or power infrastructure to his firms while sidelining competitors.
On February 12, Donald Trump told reporters that he wants the department closed "immediately," claiming the DOE "is a big con job."
Department of Education (DOE) - The Department of Education (DOE) manages federal education programs, distributes funding, collects educational data, and promotes equal access to education for all students in the United States.
Closing the Department of Education (DOE) would disrupt federal funding for schools (e.g., Title I programs for low-income students), halt student loan forgiveness initiatives, and eliminate oversight enforcing civil rights protections (e.g., disability accommodations, anti-discrimination). Vulnerable students and borrowers would lose critical support, widening educational inequities and destabilizing public education systems reliant on federal grants, data collection, and policy guidance.
Veterans Affairs said on February 13th that it had dismissed more than 1,000 employees across the department.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - provides healthcare, benefits, memorial services, and support to U.S. military veterans and their families.
ADD MORE
DOGE landed at NASA just in time for Valentine's Day.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - is responsible for our space programs.
Elon Musk's role as CEO of SpaceX, a major NASA contractor creates multiple conflicts of interest (especially, considering his company's financial success depends on NASA contracts), undermining fair competition and transparency.
On February 14th, multiple government entities, including the National Nuclear Security Administration, faced cuts.
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) manages the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, ensures nuclear security, advances nuclear science and technology, and supports counterterrorism efforts to protect national and global security. It has been reported that some NNSA employees initially identified for dismissal were reinstated (when it was realized they had let go of critical individuals), which shows how dangerous and unthought-out many of these cuts have been.
On February 14, in a letter obtained by the AP, the inspector general of the Treasury Department announced they would be investigating the possibility of "fraudulent payments" (as Musk, Trump, and their supporters continued to scream "fraud" about anything they didn't personally approve of).
Treasury Department - The U.S. Department of the Treasury manages federal finances, oversees tax collection, enforces financial laws, produces currency, and advises on economic policy.
Elon Musk taking over the U.S. Treasury Department would risk severe conflicts of interest, as his vast business empire (Tesla, SpaceX, X, etc.) could influence policies on taxes, sanctions, or financial regulations to benefit his companies (or harm competitors). At the same time, his personal financial stakes could undermine impartial oversight of markets, cryptocurrencies, or corporate bailouts critical to national stability.
Over the Valentine's Day holiday weekend (because this administration often makes significant cuts over the weekends to delay our response to them), cuts to the Forest Service.
According to a source familiar with recent cuts, the U.S. Forest Service, an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, laid off about 3,400 workers (and more are expected).
The U.S. Forest Service operates under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), manages national forests and grasslands, oversees wildfire prevention and response, promotes sustainable resource use and conservation, and provides public recreational opportunities.
Upon hearing this, my first thought was of this administration's promises to "Drill, baby drill."
In mid-February, hitting the mainstream news outlets on February 16th, more than 400 employees of the Department of Homeland Security (multiple organizations, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) were let go.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) safeguards the U.S. against terrorism, manages border security and immigration enforcement, oversees cybersecurity, coordinates disaster response, and ensures public safety through federal, state, and local collaboration.
Elon Musk, influencing the Department of Homeland Security, risks prioritizing SpaceX (via surveillance contracts) and X/Tesla technologies (AI monitoring tools) over security decisions that benefit the people. He could potentially skew procurement or cybersecurity policies to help his ventures at our expense, compromising national security for commercial gain.
On February 17, Elon and the DOGE team hit the IRS.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) collects federal taxes, enforces tax laws, processes returns and refunds, ensures compliance, and administers programs to fund U.S. government operations and public services.
Elon Musk's influence on the Internal Revenue Service risks policies favoring tax loopholes or audits biased toward the ultra-wealthy (at the expense of the rest of us). This could undermine fair enforcement and public trust in tax equity.
Elon's financial stakes in cryptocurrencies (e.g., Dogecoin, Bitcoin) could sway IRS crypto tax rules or enforcement priorities, benefiting his ventures (over impartial revenue collection). Such influence might erode accountability for wealthy taxpayers and weaken safeguards against corporate tax avoidance.
Today (February 18), the DOGE team gained access to the Social Security Administration.
Social Security Administration (SSA) administers retirement, disability, and survivor benefits, manages Social Security numbers, and operates federal programs funded through payroll taxes to support economic security for eligible individuals (often retirees, disabled people, survivors of deceased beneficiaries, and eligible dependents through retirement, disability, and survivors insurance programs).
Elon Musk's influence on the Social Security Administration (SSA) risks prioritizing privatization or tech-driven reforms that could compromise benefits accessibility for vulnerable populations like retirees or disabled individuals. His financial stakes in AI/data ventures might push policies favoring automated eligibility assessments or data monetization, risking biased algorithms, privacy breaches, or reduced transparency in benefit decisions critical to millions of the most vulnerable Americans' livelihoods.
Anything I've missed?
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