In her latest analysis, Elizabeth Lopatto of The Verge warns of the long-term repercussions of Elon Musk’s first month leading the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). She argues that the reckless decisions made under Musk’s influence could set the country back by decades.
Elizabeth Lopatto Writes
“The degree to which we have failed not merely ourselves but also our children and grandchildren is breathtaking,” writes Lopatto, pointing to sweeping layoffs, economic instability, and the dismantling of crucial government institutions.
Key Areas of Concern:
Lopatto outlines several ways in which Musk’s DOGE administration is destabilizing the U.S.:
- Mass Unemployment: Over 10,000 federal workers were fired within the first month, with another 75,000 taking buyouts, including air traffic controllers and healthcare providers for veterans.
- Economic Shocks: The sudden halt of federal spending has left farmers and ranchers in financial ruin, as government-backed agricultural programs disappear.
- Scientific Setbacks: Cuts to research funding are affecting hospitals and universities, potentially reducing the quality of healthcare and innovation.
- Public Health Threats: The Department of Agriculture accidentally fired bird flu researchers, delaying crucial updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Security Risks: DOGE dismissed key nuclear workers before realizing their necessity, creating concerns about national security.
- Privacy Concerns: DOGE has gained access to taxpayer financial records and personal data, raising alarms about mass surveillance.
- International Isolation: Musk’s trade policies are pushing away U.S. allies, with the European Union considering import bans on American goods.
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Lopatto argues that Musk’s approach resembles a “triumph of ideological purity over basic reality”, comparing it to past economic disasters like Mao’s Great Leap Forward. She emphasizes that the damage being done in just one month could take decades to repair.
“At no previous point in my lifetime has a sitting president had to appear on television and tell the public that he is not being manipulated by a scheming vizier,” she writes, referencing concerns over Musk’s growing influence over the Trump administration.
What Comes Next?
With DOGE expanding its control, Lopatto warns that these policies could create a poorer, sicker, and more unstable country if left unchecked. “The window is closing,” she writes. “It has only been a month. Think of what a year will bring — and what we will lose.”
Read Elizabeth Lopatto’s original article on The Verge for the complete analysis.
