Elon Musk expressed on Thursday that the United States should consider eliminating entire federal agencies as part of his ambitious plan during the Trump administration aimed at significantly reducing costs to enhance operational efficiency.

During a video conference at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Musk responded to inquiries regarding the transformations he intended to implement under Donald Trump‘s leadership.

“I believe we need to eliminate entire agencies rather than keeping parts intact,” Musk stated, further elaborating: “If we don’t uproot the weed, it will simply regrow. However, if we remove the weed’s roots, it doesn’t completely prevent regrowth, but it certainly complicates it.”

Musk’s participation in the summit coincides with the actions of his newly established “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge), which has been executing extensive cost-cutting measures across various federal agencies, including terminations and requesting resignations.

Since Trump took office as the 47th president on January 20, Musk and his contentious agency have rapidly restructured several federal entities, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Founded during the Kennedy administration, this agency has been pivotal in conducting humanitarian efforts and promoting U.S. influence worldwide.

Earlier this week, Musk implemented a budget reduction of nearly $1 billion from the U.S. Department of Education contracts, effectively dismantling an independent research division tasked with analyzing student performance metrics.

Federal employees brace for significant workforce reductions as Trump and Musk pledge to streamline staffing levels.

Musk has introduced a deferred resignation program labeled the “Fork in the Road,” which allows employees who choose to leave to receive compensation through September 30. However, doubts linger regarding the reliability of this payment plan.

Following multiple legal disputes, U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. in Boston ruled Wednesday that the buyout options could move forward. The program faced a temporary halt due to lawsuits from employee unions, but O’Toole determined that the unions lacked legal standing to contest the offers. A new deadline for employees to participate is expected soon, as reports suggest that fewer individuals are opting into the program than Trump and Musk had anticipated, leading to the possibility of further layoffs.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt applauded O’Toole’s decision, stating to the Associated Press: “This demonstrates that ‘lawfare’ will not conquer the will of the 77 million Americans who support President Trump and his agenda.”

This remark underscores the ongoing tension between the executive branch and the judicial system, highlighting the White House’s resistance to judicial decisions, potentially leading to what experts warn could be a constitutional crisis.

In the midst of these federal changes, Trump announced on Wednesday his intention to close the Department of Education without delay.

Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment and Trump’s nominee for education secretary, is scheduled to face a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, where she will likely be questioned about her strategies for dismantling the entire department.

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