Elon Musk Calls for the U.S. to ‘Delete Entire Agencies’ from Federal Government

Elon Musk advocated for drastic cuts to federal agencies during a call at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, linking his comments to Trump’s agenda for government restructuring. He emphasized bureaucracy’s dominance over democracy and criticized U.S. foreign aid effectiveness and interventionist policies. Musk also made a controversial connection between diversity initiatives and AI, while announcing a transportation project, the Dubai Loop, through his Boring Company.

Elon Musk stirred quite the conversation when he suggested during a video call at the World Governments Summit in Dubai that the U.S. should consider eliminating entire federal agencies. This statement aligns with his ongoing efforts to significantly reduce government spending, echoing sentiments from the Trump administration. Notably, Musk referenced concepts of bureaucracy, stating that democracy should prevail over bureaucratic rule — a notion he emphasized throughout his talk.

Musk, dressed in a casual black T-shirt saying “Tech Support,” made light of his role, proclaiming himself as the “White House’s tech support,” a nod to his presence on social media platform X. He insisted, “If we don’t remove the roots of the weed, then it’s easy for the weed to grow back,” supporting the idea of a drastic governmental overhaul. His statements are especially significant as he has recently taken on a directorial role aimed at increasing government efficiency, giving him more power to influence operations within the federal government.

The billionaire’s comments also touched on U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the Middle East, where America has been involved in conflicts for decades. He criticized the traditional U.S. approach, saying, “Basically, America should mind its own business, rather than push for regime change all over the place.” This view might resonate powerfully with an audience accustomed to different governance styles, as the UAE is an autocratic state.

Additionally, Musk pointed out the decisions made by past administrations regarding foreign aid, questioning the effectiveness of programs like USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy. His comments seem to reflect a broader isolationist perspective, arguing the U.S. should be less intervening in global affairs.

On the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Musk controversially linked them to artificial intelligence, claiming that an AI programmed to prioritize diversity could potentially have dangerous outcomes, such as removing individuals from positions of power based on gender ratios. “If hypothetically, AI is designed for DEI, it could decide that there’s too many men in power and execute them,” he asserted.

Discussing AI more generally, Musk mentioned that his new AI chatbot, Grok 3, should be ready in about two weeks. He expressed apprehension regarding OpenAI’s management under Sam Altman, especially after he attempted a $97.4 billion bid for the company. In context, he likened OpenAI’s direction to a nonprofit turned lumber company, indicating a shift from its original mission to profit-driven endeavors.

Musk also announced a fascinating plan for a new project in Dubai, called the “Dubai Loop.” This initiative aligns with his Boring Company’s existing work, which aims to improve transportation infrastructure through tunnel systems in urban areas. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Dubai’s crown prince, later indicated plans for an underground network spanning 17 kilometers, capable of transporting over 20,000 passengers an hour. He described this project, stating, “It’s going to be like a wormhole. You just wormhole from one part of the city — boom — and you’re out in another part of the city.”

In summary, Musk’s call for the removal of federal agencies and his proposed isolationist shift in U.S. foreign policy have sparked considerable dialogue, especially given his influential new role in government. His views on AI and diversity initiatives also raised eyebrows, while plans for the Dubai Loop signify his ongoing focus on transformative transit projects. Whether his ideas will gain traction remains to be seen, but they certainly reflect a significant departure from traditional government operations and priorities.

Original Source: www.pbs.org