Elon Musk has just wrapped up his whirlwind 130-day stint as a "special government employee" at DOGE, leaving behind a State Department transformed by his bold, no-nonsense reforms.
Fox News reported that Musk’s tenure saw the dismantling of USAID, significant staff cuts, and the axing of foreign aid programs, with his exit announced Wednesday night on X, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s unveiling of a massive reorganization plan the next day.
Musk’s departure, shared via a late-night post on his social media platform X, marks the end of a short but seismic chapter at DOGE.
His 130 days were anything but quiet, as he tackled what many conservatives see as bloated bureaucracy head-on. It’s a classic case of shaking the tree until the dead branches fall.
During his time at DOGE, Musk didn’t just tweak policies—he swung a wrecking ball. The U.S. Agency for International Development, long criticized by the right for inefficiency, was effectively dismantled under his watch. Foreign aid programs, often plagued by poor oversight, were scrapped with surgical precision.
Staff reductions at the State Department were another hallmark of Musk’s tenure. For those of us wary of government overreach, this feels like a long-overdue pruning of an overgrown garden. It’s not personal; it’s just practical.
Now, here’s the kicker: a senior agency official has confirmed that Musk’s changes aren’t a fleeting experiment—they’re here to stay. That’s a win for those who believe in leaner, more accountable governance. Turns out, actions do have lasting consequences.
On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepped into the spotlight with a reorganization plan that’s being called the biggest State Department overhaul since the Cold War.
This isn’t just shuffling papers—over 300 of the department’s roughly 700 offices and bureaus are on the chopping block or set for consolidation. That’s more than 40% facing the axe or a merger.
A senior State Department official didn’t mince words, saying, “We have too many offices.” Well, no kidding—streamlining a bureaucracy this size is like trying to declutter a hoarder’s attic, but it’s a start. This plan, submitted to Congress on Thursday, signals a serious intent to rethink how diplomacy gets done.
The scale of this restructuring has conservatives nodding in approval, as it aligns with a broader push to curb waste and refocus on America’s core interests. It’s not about dismantling diplomacy; it’s about making sure every dollar and desk serves a clear purpose.
Even with Musk stepping away, the DOGE mission isn’t fading into the sunset. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt assured on Thursday that “the mission of Doge will continue.” Her confidence suggests that the Trump administration isn’t backing off from this reformist streak.
Leavitt also noted that many DOGE employees are now embedded as political staff. That’s a clever way to keep the momentum going—plant the seeds of change deep in the system. It’s almost like Musk left a blueprint etched in stone.
Adding to the intrigue, Jeremy Lewin, a former associate of Musk’s DOGE team, has been tapped for a high-ranking role at the State Department.
Though Lewin insists he never worked directly under Musk, his earlier placement in a different capacity this past April raises eyebrows about how deep DOGE’s influence runs.
For those of us skeptical of unchecked government sprawl, this reorganization feels like a breath of fresh air. The State Department, often seen as a labyrinth of progressive agendas, might finally be forced to focus on what truly matters—American interests first. It’s not about hostility; it’s about clarity.
Critics will undoubtedly cry foul, claiming these cuts risk America’s global standing, but let’s be real: endless offices and unchecked aid programs haven’t exactly made the world a safer place. Efficiency isn’t the enemy of diplomacy; waste is. This overhaul, building on Musk’s groundwork, could be the reset we’ve needed for decades.