Elon Musk Urges U.S. to ‘Delete Entire Agencies’ Under Trump Plan/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Elon Musk called for the U.S. to eliminate entire federal agencies as part of President Donald Trump’s push to slash government spending and restructure priorities. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Musk criticized government bureaucracy, questioned U.S. involvement in foreign affairs, and defended Trump’s approach to limiting international influence. He also discussed AI risks, OpenAI, and his Boring Company’s new transit project in Dubai.
Musk’s Call for Government Cuts: Quick Look
- Radical Spending Cuts: Musk urged Trump to eliminate entire U.S. agencies to curb bureaucracy.
- Foreign Policy Shift: He backed a less interventionist U.S. stance, questioning democracy-promotion efforts.
- AI & Tech Concerns: Musk warned of AI risks and criticized OpenAI’s leadership.
- Dubai Transit Project: The Boring Company will develop a 10.5-mile underground network in Dubai.
- Government Role Expansion: Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency, now wields significant control over federal operations.
Elon Musk Urges U.S. to ‘Delete Entire Agencies’ Under Trump Plan
Deep Look: Musk Calls for Federal Downsizing and New U.S. Priorities
Elon Musk, speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, made a bold call to “delete entire agencies” from the U.S. federal government, echoing President Donald Trump’s efforts to drastically reduce government spending and bureaucracy.
Musk’s Role in Trump’s Administration
Since taking control of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has been instrumental in reshaping federal operations, sidelining career officials and consolidating control over sensitive databases. His new position gives weight to his calls for an aggressive restructuring of government agencies, making his remarks more than just business or political commentary.
“We really have here rule of the bureaucracy as opposed to rule of the people — democracy,” Musk said, wearing a black T-shirt labeled “Tech Support”, jokingly referring to himself as the “White House’s tech support.”
Musk argued that if bureaucracy isn’t fully uprooted, it will quickly grow back.
“If we don’t remove the roots of the weed, then it’s easy for the weed to grow back,” he said.
Foreign Policy: ‘America Should Mind Its Own Business’
Musk also supported a more isolationist approach to U.S. foreign policy, echoing Trump’s reduced involvement in global affairs. He specifically targeted USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy, questioning their effectiveness.
“How much democracy have they achieved lately?” Musk asked, criticizing past U.S. efforts to promote regime change.
Speaking to an audience in the UAE, a country known for its autocratic rule, Musk suggested that the U.S. should step back from international conflicts:
“Basically, America should mind its own business, rather than push for regime change all over the place.”
Musk on AI, OpenAI, and DEI Policies
Beyond government reform, Musk revisited his long-standing concerns about artificial intelligence.
- He criticized OpenAI, the company he co-founded and later distanced himself from, after launching a $97.4 billion bid to take control of it.
- Musk compared OpenAI’s transformation to a nonprofit rainforest preservation group turning into a logging company.
- He linked AI to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies, making a provocative statement:
“If AI is designed for DEI, it could decide that there are too many men in power and execute them.”
He also teased an upcoming major update for X’s AI chatbot, Grok 3, which he described as “kind of scary” and expected to launch in two weeks.
Dubai Loop Project: Musk’s Latest Transit Innovation
While Musk’s comments on government and AI dominated headlines, he also announced a new underground transit system in Dubai, in partnership with the city’s government.
- The “Dubai Loop” will feature a 17-kilometer (10.5-mile) underground network with 11 stations.
- The system could transport 20,000+ passengers per hour, cutting commute times across the city.
- Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum confirmed that the UAE is exploring development with Musk’s Boring Company, though financial terms remain undisclosed.
Musk described the project as a “wormhole” for urban transit:
“You just wormhole from one part of the city—boom—and you’re out in another part of the city.”
What’s Next?
Musk’s increasing influence in Trump’s administration suggests that his push for government downsizing, foreign policy shifts, and AI regulation could play a major role in shaping the U.S. agenda in the coming years.
As he continues to wield unprecedented authority over federal operations, his radical restructuring proposals will likely face both strong political opposition and support from Trump’s base.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.