Former President Donald Trump, in a bold campaign move, has announced plans to establish a government efficiency commission headed by billionaire Elon Musk if he wins the November 5 election.
The announcement, made during a speech at the Economic Club of New York, has ignited both interest and controversy.
Trump stated the commission would conduct “a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government,” aiming to eliminate fraud and improper payments within six months. Musk, responding on X (formerly Twitter), expressed his willingness to serve “without pay, title, or recognition.”
This proposal marks a significant alliance between Trump and Musk, who have forged an increasingly close relationship over the past year. The idea was initially discussed during Musk’s interview with Trump on X last month, where Musk offered to “help out on such a commission.”
However, critics say the announcement has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Musk’s companies, including SpaceX and Neuralink, are both regulated by and conduct business with numerous government agencies. Critics argue that Musk’s involvement could lead to policies favoring his business interests.
The plan has already drawn criticism from labor unions.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, accused Trump and Musk of seeking to “gut the non-partisan civil service.”
Trump’s speech also outlined other economic proposals, including cutting corporate tax rates to 15% for companies manufacturing domestically and opening federal land for homebuilding to reduce housing costs.