"It's now or never": Musk's secretive government overhaul sparks transparency concerns

Trump, however, dismissed concerns and reaffirmed his authority over Musk, stating, “I’ll tell him to go here, go there, he does it,” AP reports.

Elon Musk had promised full transparency when former President Donald Trump appointed him to lead government efficiency efforts. “It’s not going to be some sort of backroom secret thing,” Musk had said last year, according to The Associated Press (AP). However, as Musk’s influence has grown within the administration, that pledge appears to be fading.

In the three weeks since Trump returned to the White House, Musk has taken on a significant role in federal agencies while avoiding public scrutiny, AP reports. The billionaire has not responded to journalists, attended hearings, or openly discussed his actions. His newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sidelined career officials and rapidly reshaped federal operations.

According to AP, Musk’s deep involvement represents a dramatic shift in governance, raising concerns about oversight and accountability. While Trump’s campaign focused on disrupting traditional government structures, Musk’s unchecked influence challenges the principles of transparency and democratic decision-making.

Musk, who refers to himself as “White House tech support,” has become a central figure in the administration with no clear limits on his authority, AP notes. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington warned that Trump has given Musk “unprecedented power” with “maximal secrecy and little-to-no accountability.”

The White House has defended DOGE’s work, claiming it is “extremely transparent.” According to AP, officials cited cost-cutting measures, including contract cancellations and lease terminations for underused buildings. House Republicans also claimed that Musk’s team discovered Social Security payments being made to individuals listed as 150 years old.

Despite transparency concerns, Trump has praised Musk’s work, stating that he is uncovering “tremendous fraud and corruption and waste,” AP reports. The president was particularly supportive of efforts to cut funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development, a move Musk has spearheaded. When asked if Musk should publicly explain his work, Trump replied, “Oh sure,” adding, “Elon’s not shy.”

Musk has openly discussed his vision on social media but not in official settings. As AP notes, his posts on X (formerly Twitter) reflect his ambitious goals, including slashing government spending and reversing the federal deficit. “This administration has one chance for major reform that may never come again,” Musk posted. “It’s now or never.”

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO is known for his unconventional leadership style, and he appears to be applying it to the federal government as well. However, AP reports that he has not clarified how his team will handle sensitive data, particularly in federal payment systems.

DOGE’s operations have been largely secretive, with staff members showing up at agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Treasury, and FEMA, according to AP. Employees have reportedly taken over office spaces without clear explanations, leading to unease among longtime government workers.

At the Education Department, DOGE members are stationed on the seventh floor near the secretary’s office, yet their exact activities remain unclear, AP reports. Federal employee union president Sheria Smith expressed alarm, saying, “It’s the lack of transparency that’s alarming.”

AP reports that while career officials worry about their jobs, Musk’s team appears to be working enthusiastically, with members exchanging high-fives. Some employees fear they are being monitored, while rumors swirl about Musk’s personal involvement. However, he spends most of his time at the White House complex, where he has an office.

Musk’s allies have defended DOGE’s work, with venture capitalist David Sacks describing a room “full of young coders” during a visit, according to AP. Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Chris Wright compared DOGE members to “young gun management consultants” tasked with analyzing government operations.

It took more than two weeks after Trump’s inauguration for the White House to confirm that Musk had officially joined the administration as a special government employee, AP reports. While Musk is required to file a financial disclosure, the White House has said his report will remain confidential. Given Musk’s vast business empire, such a disclosure would likely be one of the most complex in history.

Questions remain about whether Musk took an official oath of office, and no details have been provided on how potential conflicts of interest—such as his company SpaceX’s Pentagon contracts—are being managed, according to AP.

Democrats in Congress have attempted to subpoena Musk to testify about his role, but Republicans blocked the effort, AP reports. House Oversight Committee member Rep. Gerald Connolly questioned Musk’s unchecked power, asking, “Who is this unelected billionaire that he can attempt to dismantle federal agencies without any congressional oversight?”

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed these concerns, accusing Republicans of allowing “an unelected, out-of-control, billionaire puppet master” to dictate policy, AP notes.

Trump, however, dismissed concerns and reaffirmed his authority over Musk, stating, “I’ll tell him to go here, go there, he does it,” AP reports. The president also defended Musk’s aggressive approach, saying, “We have to take some of these things apart to find the corruption.”