Warren Sends Musk a DOGE Plan to Make Government More Efficient

Warren Sends Musk a DOGE Plan to Make Government More Efficient

"If you are serious about finding ways to make the federal government more efficient and save money for American taxpayers-without cutting key programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security or raising taxes on middle-class families-there are ample opportunities for you to do so."

The letter provides Musk with 30 recommendations to meet his original goal of cutting "at least" $2 trillion in federal spending.

"I am happy to work with you to eliminate this government waste."

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent Elon Musk, Chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a letter detailing over 30 proposals that would cut at least $2 trillion of wasteful government spending over the next decade.

In November 2024, President Trump tapped Musk to head DOGE to "dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies" to "[make] life better for all Americans." Musk has since called for sizable cuts in funding-from $500 billion in annual spending to "at least" $2 trillion in cuts to federal spending. DOGE was formalized on January 20, 2025, through President Trump's day one executive orders.

"I am disturbed by the dangerous proposals you have discussed and released to date: proposals from you and your allies to cut Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, veterans' benefits, and other programs that tens of millions of Americans count on and rely on are unrealistic and cruel," wrote Senator Warren. "It would be outrageous to cut these programs in the name of government thriftiness while handing out trillions of dollars in tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations."

However, Musk recently revealed he might not be able to achieve his goal. He has walked back his original commitment to cut $2 trillion in federal spending to only $500 billion in annual spending. Senator Warren has shared similar concerns about the federal government's wasteful spending and proposed 30 recommendations to Musk in her letter.

"My recommendations would reduce spending on wasteful programs and contracts, would cut out unfair loopholes and giveaways to the wealthiest Americans, would make the government more efficient and effective, and would save taxpayers at least $2 trillion over the next decade," continued Senator Warren.

Senator Warren has already identified numerous instances of waste, fraud, and abuse in government during her twelve years in Congress and repeatedly called out unsustainable spending, abusive practices and programs, and government contractors that line their pockets at taxpayers expense.

Senator Warren's recommendations include:

1. Cutting Wasteful Spending at the Department of Defense: Through negotiating better contracts for the Department of Defense, increasing competition in the defense sector, and tackling repair restrictions on U.S. military equipment.

2. Cutting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Federal Health Care Programs: By curbing abuse by Medicare Advantage insurers that overcharge taxpayers, lowering prescription drug costs by expanding Medicare price negotiations on the most expensive and common drugs, and cracking down on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

3. Saving on Education Programs: By eliminating or reducing funding for the federal Charter Schools Program and making for-profit colleges that mismanage and waste federal grants ineligible for federal grant aid.

4. Cutting Waste and Abuse in the Federal Tax Code: By closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and fully funding the IRS to catch tax cheats.

Senator Warren's letter includes dozens of other recommendations-from making the federal government's cloud and other IT markets competitive to reducing waste and abuse in federal arrests and detention programs.

"In the interest of taking aggressive, bipartisan action to ensure sustainable spending, protect taxpayer dollars, curb abusive practices by giant corporations, and improve middle-class Americans' quality of life, I would be happy to work with you on these matters," concluded the senator.

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