Some officials considering the idea of a plan that would "delete entire agencies," as the government transitions to a new administration.
This idea comes from tech billionaire and Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk, who made the recent comments as part of his overarching mission to push toward government that is cost and efficiency-driven, as The Associated Press reported.
The technology tycoon reportedly wants to leave a legacy that will last beyond the term of the current president.
"I think we do need to delete entire agencies, as opposed to leave part of them behind. ... It's kind of like leaving a weed," Musk said.
The new head of the Department on Government Efficiency went on to say that there has to be systemic change if this is to be more than just a passing phase in government.
"If you don't remove the roots of the weed, then it's easy for the weed to grow back," Musk said.
"But if you remove the roots of the weed — it doesn't stop weeds from ever going back, but it makes it harder."
While participating in a discussion moderated by Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s minister of artificial intelligence, Musk—who also created SpaceX and owns the social media platform X—made the remarks while speaking to an audience at Dubai’s annual World Governments Summit via video link.
"So we have to really delete entire agencies, many of them," Musk said.
"And that's not to say there won't be an increase over time of bureaucracy in some new administration, but it will be from a much lower baseline. So certainly it's a step in the right direction."
"Nothing's forever," he added, "but I think we can strengthen the foundations of the United States substantially."
Trump named the South African-born engineer and internet entrepreneur a "special government employee" and head of the Department of Federal Efficiency.
Musk stated on Thursday that his efforts to streamline government and cut red tape may cut the federal budget by $1 trillion by 2026, which would significantly decrease the national debt.
Musk attacked the budget line by line for the U.S. Agency for International Development and in the process moved his agenda forward by furloughing most workers and withholding financing internationally.
In early February, the Trump administration announced that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would be disbanding as an independent agency and relocating to the State Department, a move that would necessitate the approval of Congress.
