Former President Trump recently announced his endorsement of billionaire Elon Musk's plan for a government efficiency commission, stating that he would appoint Musk to lead the panel if the Republican nominee wins the presidential election. This announcement came during Trump's speech at the Economic Club of New York, where he publicly expressed support for the idea for the first time.
The government efficiency commission, as outlined by Trump, would conduct a financial and performance audit of the federal government with the aim of identifying and eliminating fraud and improper payments within six months of its formation. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has agreed to head this commission and has expressed his willingness to serve America if given the opportunity.
This proposal has drawn criticism from Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, who accused Trump and Musk of wanting to gut the federal government's nonpartisan civil service to replace fired workers with their allies. However, politicians have previously established similar bodies, such as the Grace Commission under Republican President Ronald Reagan.
In response to Trump's offer, Musk shared his enthusiasm for serving America and expressed his willingness to contribute to the commission's efforts. While Trump initially suggested that Musk could serve in his administration, he later acknowledged that Musk may be too busy with his businesses to take on a White House Cabinet role, leaving open the possibility of him serving as a consultant instead.
Overall, Trump's proposal for a government efficiency commission led by Elon Musk has sparked both support and criticism, with the potential to bring about significant reforms to promote efficiency within the federal government.