Musk compares DOGE to Clinton’s government efficiency initiative, but there are big differences

In an attempt to defend the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) controversial moves, Elon Musk likened the overhaul to a Clinton-era task force that reduced the federal workforce. Musk referenced a video compilation of President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore discussing their modernization efforts, posting “Sounds familiar” on X.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the comparison on Fox News, claiming the administration was fulfilling promises made by past Democratic politicians.

However, policy experts stress major differences between the two eras. Under Vice President Gore’s leadership, Clinton’s administration submitted a report with over 380 recommendations to make government leaner and more efficient. Clinton also signed an executive order to cut 100,000 jobs over three years and passed the bipartisan Federal Workforce Restructuring Act in 1994, which offered $25,000 buyouts to non-Defense Department workers. By the end of his presidency, the federal workforce had been reduced by more than 377,000.

President Donald Trump’s administration, however, is pursuing workforce cuts more rapidly and without broad bipartisan support. “In many ways, it’s very hard to compare,” said Donald Kettl, professor emeritus of public policy at the University of Maryland. He likened the Musk-Trump strategy to a “bulldozer,” referencing Musk’s 80% workforce cut at X. “It’s risky—losing social media is one thing, but tinkering with air traffic control or food safety is another.”

In just one month under Trump, over 200,000 federal employees across various agencies—including the Department of Energy and USAID—have been laid off. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski criticized the approach, calling it confusing and traumatic for civil servants. Sen. John Curtis of Utah also expressed concern, emphasizing DOGE’s fast pace and lack of human consideration.

Musk, in a Fox News interview, defended DOGE’s goal of cutting $1 trillion from the deficit. However, Elaine Kamarck, who led Clinton’s efficiency initiative, warned against the Trump administration’s speed, suggesting they could benefit from AI technology if they slowed down.

Budget experts praised DOGE’s goals but questioned its findings and cuts. DOGE has claimed $55 billion in cuts, but verifying this figure has been challenging. Matt Glassman of Georgetown’s Government Affairs Institute said Trump’s administration may be conflating government waste with political disagreements. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, stressed that deeper spending cuts would require reforming major programs like Social Security and Medicare.

Musk acknowledged potential mistakes but assured quick corrections, stating, “We are moving fast, so we will make mistakes, but we’ll also fix the mistakes very quickly.”

Credit: ABC NEWS