In a controversial move, Vivek Ramaswamy, head of the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has proposed defunding federal programs that have expired Congressional authorization. This sweeping plan could affect vital areas such as veterans’ health care, NASA, and early childhood education.
DOGE, humorously named after co-leader Elon Musk’s favorite meme, was established to “cut wasteful expenditures and restructure Federal Agencies,” and it will function “outside of government.” Just two days after his appointment, Ramaswamy revealed his initial strategy: targeting expired authorizations. According to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report, over 1,200 programs continue to receive more than $516 billion annually despite lacking current legislative authorization.
Ramaswamy took to X, formerly Twitter, to explain his approach. “We shouldn’t let the government spend money on programs that have expired. Yet that’s exactly what happens today: half a trillion dollars of taxpayer funds ($516 B+) goes each year to programs which Congress has allowed to expire,” he wrote, calling it “totally nuts.” His post drew immediate attention, with many criticizing his ideas for their potential impact on crucial services.
Among the programs in question is the Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996. Despite its authorization expiring in 1998, the act continues to receive $120 billion annually to support veterans’ medical care. Additional programs facing potential cuts include NASA’s funding for the International Space Station and Head Start, which provides essential early childhood education to low-income families.
Critics wonder if Ramaswamy knew the implications of cutting these funds or whether he might exempt certain programs. Ramaswamy has remained firm, stating, “If it doesn’t advance the interests of American citizens, we’re putting it on the chopping block.”
DOGE, a creation of the Trump administration, has ambitious goals, with Musk estimating $2 trillion in potential federal spending cuts. In a call for recruits, DOGE invited “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries” willing to dedicate 80+ hours a week to cost-cutting efforts. Musk candidly acknowledged the harsh realities of the job: “This will be tedious work, make lots of enemies & compensation is zero,” he wrote.
As DOGE moves forward with its cost-cutting mission, the debate over which programs are essential—and which can be eliminated—will surely intensify, with major implications for the American public.
Credit: Independent.co.uk
