Cut $2 Trillion

[George K]

How to do it?

Elon Musk has thrown down a $2 trillion gauntlet, claiming he can slash federal spending by that amount. While the billionaire's proclamations on X often generate more heat than light, one can only hope he will succeed.

The real question isn't whether we can cut $2 trillion from a bloated $6.8 trillion federal budget—we absolutely can. After all, the government managed to function at $4.4 trillion five years ago, and American civilization didn't collapse. The economy was humming, wages were rising, and poverty was falling.

The fact that it's feasible, however, does not mean Musk will actually succeed. Before Washington's army of spending defenders, many of them Republicans, starts wailing about draconian cuts, let's discuss the actual question: how to trim the fat without harming the muscle.

[Axtremus]

Too lazy to look it up ... is Musk's target "$2 Trillion a year" or "$2 Trillion over ten years" or "$2 Trillion over an unspecified time frame"?

Has Trump endorsed that target? Or has Trump never acknowledged or denied that target? (Maybe when some constituents complain Trump can then throw Musk under the bus?)

[Copper]

$2 trillion savings per year

[Horace]

It does not seem feasible to me to fire that many federal workers.

[Mik]

No, but you save a billion here, a billion there….

[George K]

There's a lot of detail in there that I glossed over. But the second paragraph of the quoted article asks a legit question. WHat's changed over the last 5 years?

[Horace]

Musk fired 90% of Twitter and the users noticed exactly no change in the product. I suppose he imagines similar opportunities in the federal government.

[Jolly]

Grace Commision