Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) has finally closed its doors, bringing an end to a reign of terror that saw the slashing of federal programs and contracts. The department, which was led by young and ambitious employees handpicked by Musk, quickly set about dismantling parts of the government it deemed unnecessary.
At its peak, DOGE's influence extended far beyond the realm of policy, with reports suggesting it had been using data collected on companies and individuals to inform its decisions. While some have speculated that this access was used for Grok, Musk's artificial intelligence project, others believe that it was simply a means to an end.
The department's methods were marked by brutality, with foreign aid programs being particularly targeted. A study published in the Lancet projects that these cuts could result in up to 14 million deaths by 2030, of which four million will be children. The toll on civil servants was also significant, with over 211,000 leaving their jobs as a direct result of DOGE's purge.
Despite its best efforts, however, DOGE failed to deliver any meaningful savings for the American taxpayer. A POLITICO analysis from August revealed that it had saved less than 5% of its claimed savings, raising questions about the department's true value.
In hindsight, the closure of DOGE serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the pitfalls of attempting to run government like a business. Musk's supposed "business genius" proved woefully inadequate in the context of the federal workforce, and his decision-making process was marked by a lack of understanding for the complexities of governance.
While some may view the department's demise as a victory for common sense, others see it as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris. As one observer noted, "Musk had no idea what he was doing," and his actions serve as a stark reminder that government is not a business to be run with the same level of ruthlessness and disregard for human life.
The legacy of DOGE will likely be remembered as a dark chapter in American history, one that highlights the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of accountability. As one veteran politician noted, "DOGE may be gone, but its impact will be felt for years to come."
At its peak, DOGE's influence extended far beyond the realm of policy, with reports suggesting it had been using data collected on companies and individuals to inform its decisions. While some have speculated that this access was used for Grok, Musk's artificial intelligence project, others believe that it was simply a means to an end.
The department's methods were marked by brutality, with foreign aid programs being particularly targeted. A study published in the Lancet projects that these cuts could result in up to 14 million deaths by 2030, of which four million will be children. The toll on civil servants was also significant, with over 211,000 leaving their jobs as a direct result of DOGE's purge.
Despite its best efforts, however, DOGE failed to deliver any meaningful savings for the American taxpayer. A POLITICO analysis from August revealed that it had saved less than 5% of its claimed savings, raising questions about the department's true value.
In hindsight, the closure of DOGE serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the pitfalls of attempting to run government like a business. Musk's supposed "business genius" proved woefully inadequate in the context of the federal workforce, and his decision-making process was marked by a lack of understanding for the complexities of governance.
While some may view the department's demise as a victory for common sense, others see it as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris. As one observer noted, "Musk had no idea what he was doing," and his actions serve as a stark reminder that government is not a business to be run with the same level of ruthlessness and disregard for human life.
The legacy of DOGE will likely be remembered as a dark chapter in American history, one that highlights the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of accountability. As one veteran politician noted, "DOGE may be gone, but its impact will be felt for years to come."
OMG you guys I'm like totally shocked DOGE is closed down it's crazy how much damage they caused 
I mean 14 million deaths by 2030 that's insane 
and what's even crazier is that they didn't even save the taxpayer any money 
like what were they even doing? It's just so sad to think about all those civil servants who lost their jobs 
and it's just not right that someone in Musk's shoes can come in and just destroy everything like that 
Doge was just like when you finally delete all those spammy ads on your phone... relief is real! 
But seriously, 14 million deaths? That's some crazy AI-powered puppet master stuff right there. 
DOGE was literally running amok on the federal level, cutting programs left and right without any regard for who it would hurt. The fact that they were using data on companies and individuals to inform their decisions is just straight-up creepy 
. And all we got in return were some paltry 5% "savings" 
? No thanks. I mean, I know Musk thinks he's some kinda genius with his AI projects and whatnot 
, but newsflash: government isn't a business where you can just slash costs willy-nilly without consequences. It's people's lives we're talking about here 
.
after all the chaos they caused 
so much for "efficiency" 
anyway good riddance i guess 
. And yeah, 5% savings is basically zero in terms of actual impact on the taxpayer (who gets to live with the aftermath). Can't say I'll be shedding any tears over DOGE's demise 
.
over 200k people had to deal with this bs. I mean i know Musk is a genius or whatever but he has NO IDEA what he's doing when it comes to gov 
this is a reminder that gov isn't a business u can run with no regard for human life 
! I mean, the thought of those young and ambitious employees running around, slashing federal programs and contracts left and right is just terrifying 
.
. It's clear that Musk had no idea what he was doing, and his decision-making process was just so... misguided 
.
. Government is not a business to be run with the same level of ruthlessness and disregard for human life. It's just... ugh, I don't even have words right now 
.
. Like, I get that Elon Musk's idea of streamlining government sounded cool on paper, but the reality was so much darker 
. Will DOGE's legacy be seen as a cautionary tale, or will it just be another footnote in American history 
? One thing's for sure: we need to keep an eye on those with power and make sure they don't get too big for their britches 
I mean, 14 million deaths? That's crazy! And the toll on civil servants? 
. It shows us that even when we have big ideas, we gotta be careful about how they play out in real life. And maybe, just maybe, it's time to rethink the way we run government altogether? 
! We can learn from DOGE's mistakes and move forward in a more thoughtful way. 
. This whole thing should be a lesson to everyone about accountability and not letting one person have that much power