DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Longtime advocates for significant government reductions are offering a range of opinions on the Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative led by Elon Musk aimed at downsizing the federal workforce and eliminating programs that lack broad support.

The Associated Press spoke with four experienced fiscal conservatives, some of whom have been involved in Republican presidential campaigns before Musk or Donald Trump rose to prominence in GOP leadership.

While some believe that Musk’s initial targets indicate progress and show unprecedented potential for government downsizing due to his unique influence, others argue that it is premature to assess the initiative’s effectiveness. Critics suggest that DOGE has sparked conservative discontent regarding certain agencies without addressing larger portions of the federal budget, such as defense spending or essential programs like Medicare and Social Security.

A recent White House report identified approximately $2.2 billion in initial savings tied to this initiative, while DOGE’s website later updated the savings estimate to at least $5.6 billion. However, these figures are minimal compared to Musk’s overarching goal of cutting $2 trillion, representing the federal budget deficit, or the $1 trillion he regularly refers to now.

Here’s what the fiscal conservatives had to say:

Grover Norquist, President and Founder of Americans for Tax Relief

Norquist, known for his long-standing advocacy for reducing government expenses since the Reagan administration, famously remarked in 2001, “I don’t want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to a size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.” He praised Musk’s initial efforts, stating, “Considering their findings after just a few days, I’m hesitant to second-guess some of the larger figures being discussed — this initiative has already paid for itself many times over.” As of last week, DOGE was operating with an estimated budget of $14 million, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

“Even if they don’t uncover anything further, Musk is achieving success, regardless of the final figures,” Norquist emphasized. He noted that Musk’s unparalleled access to both Trump and millions of followers on X, the social media platform he owns, bolsters the initiative’s impact. “You can’t simply dismiss it when X is amplifying issues raised by Musk, especially when millions are engaging with his tweets highlighting government inefficiencies,” Norquist added.

Jessica Riedl, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Budget, Tax, and Economic Policy

Riedl suggested that Musk’s early initiatives seem to align more with appeasing Trump’s culturally conservative supporters rather than targeting the significant sources of federal expenditure. As a seasoned Republican budget analyst and former chief economist for Ohio Senator Rob Portman, she noted that Musk is drawing attention from Trump-aligned conservatives by aiming to eliminate diversity and inclusion initiatives within the federal workforce.

She compared the cancellation of these diversity-focused contracts to retracting media subscriptions to outlets like The Associated Press and The New York Times, which are frequently criticized by Trump supporters. Riedl expressed concern, stating, “Currently, DOGE appears more focused on symbolic savings in the culture war rather than meaningfully addressing the federal budget deficit.” Furthermore, Musk’s efforts to motivate many eligible federal employees to resign in return for monetary incentives are perceived as steps to reshape the government in alignment with Trump’s policy agenda. “These actions attract Trump conservatives, but in reality, they yield minimal financial savings,” she added.

Much of federal spending is allocated to Medicare, Social Security, veterans benefits, defense budgets, and interest on the national debt. Throughout his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to protect these essential entitlement programs while advocating for military expansion, making substantial cuts in these areas unlikely. Riedl pointed out, “If Trump was genuinely concerned about the deficit, he would tackle Social Security, Medicare, defense, and veterans benefits — if the public even prioritizes those issues. I haven’t seen compelling evidence to suggest they do.” Only about a quarter of Americans supported Musk’s proposal to eliminate entire federal agencies, based on a recent Associated Press-NORC poll, while just approximately 30% favored significant federal job cuts.

Alex Nowrasteh, Vice President for Social and Economic Policies at the Cato Institute

Nowrasteh commented that the recommendations from DOGE currently resemble a public relations strategy aimed at discrediting the federal government. He asserted that the group seems keen on winning over conservative voters beforehand to gain broader approval among more moderate constituents. “They are targeting parts of the government they perceive as liberal or left-leaning, while also highlighting some absurdities in current funding,” he stated.

The Cato Institute has advocated for slashing 10% of the federal workforce, which would result in hundreds of thousands of job losses, alongside demanding a minimum 10% salary reduction for remaining employees. Their proposals include selling all federal land and transferring the management of national parks to states, among other radical changes. “Most people struggle with numbers; they often find it challenging to comprehend the difference between a million and a billion. What seems substantial to us is negligible for the federal government,” he remarked.

Brittany Madni, Executive Vice President for the Economic Policy Innovation Center

Given Musk’s global influence and access to Trump, Madni believes that DOGE possesses the potential to significantly impact federal budget reform in ways that previous initiatives have not. According to her, the access granted to DOGE allows Musk’s team to gain insights into numerous aspects of federal spending. Coupled with Musk’s vast social media following and Trump’s recent electoral success, this project presents a sense of momentum. “DOGE represents a unique opportunity to address longstanding challenges in federal spending that have historically been neglected,” she explained. “It’s positioning budget cuts and fiscal scrutiny as important topics once again.”

She further claimed that a Republican-dominated Congress might be more prone to impose budget limits with the assistance of DOGE, saying, “It’s crucial to recognize that DOGE is already demonstrating strong results in pinpointing areas for cost-cutting, reprioritization, and taxpayer savings while working to minimize the deficit. But there’s Congress to consider as well.”