Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

Fortune

Geoff Colvin

Is DOGE even doable? Elon Musk's plan to cut as much as $2 trillion in federal spending will be harder than it sounds

Elon Musk DOGE Donald Trump Vivek Ramaswamy Twitter Inc. Ronald Reagan Social Security

(Credit: Illustration by Doug Chayka; Photos from Getty Images)

Elon Musk has a new job doing something he knows a great deal about: firing people. Lots of people. Now he’s about to test his axing skills on the greatest downsizing challenge in American history.

Musk is the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a nongovernmental group formed in November by President-elect Trump to cut back government regulations, dismiss unneeded workers, and save money. Musk has said DOGE could cut “at least $2 trillion” from the $6.75 trillion federal budget.

Sign up to read this article

Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here

Top stories on inkl right now

‘Deeply unfortunate’: Hasina on Bangladesh skipping BRICS summit

‘Deeply unfortunate’: Hasina on Bangladesh skipping BRICS summit

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has called Dhaka's decision to skip the Brics summit in India “deeply unfortunate”, saying the country's participation could have opened new opportunities for its economic and social development.

The Times of India

US Justice Department threatens California over alleged noncitizen voters' list

US Justice Department threatens California over alleged noncitizen voters' list

The US Justice Department has directed California officials to investigate alleged noncitizen voters within 48 hours. It has demanded that ballots from these voters be withheld until their citizenship is confirmed. The department underlines its commitment to ensuring election integrity and may take legal action if demands are not met.…

The Economic Times

Live: Saudi Arabia reports Aramco building hit and four wounded in Houthi missile attacks

Live: Saudi Arabia reports Aramco building hit and four wounded in Houthi missile attacks

Saudi Arabia reported damage to an Aramco building in Dhahran and four people wounded in Riyadh on Wednesday, after the kingdom intercepted Houthi missiles targeting the capital. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Cornell suspends fraternity parties amid backlash over alleged sexual assault

Cornell suspends fraternity parties amid backlash over alleged sexual assault

University bans parties at frat houses for rest of academic year to conduct ‘thorough review’ of campus Greek life

The Guardian - US

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy decries ‘absolutely unjust’ lack of warning from allies after Kyiv plant strike

Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy decries ‘absolutely unjust’ lack of warning from allies after Kyiv plant strike

Donald Trump has denied intelligence sharing with Ukraine had stopped, while demanding that Kyiv halts strikes on Russian refineries. What we know on day 1,694

The Guardian - AU

Colombia gives police greater power to break up street protests

Colombia gives police greater power to break up street protests

Colombia’s government has modified a set of guidelines that dictate how police should react to street protests, giving officers greater leeway to break up demonstrations in which protesters are vandalizing public property or disrupting access to essential services through actions like roadblocks

The Independent UK

Related Stories

Top stories on inkl right now

‘Deeply unfortunate’: Hasina on Bangladesh skipping BRICS summit

‘Deeply unfortunate’: Hasina on Bangladesh skipping BRICS summit

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has called Dhaka's decision to skip the Brics summit in India “deeply unfortunate”, saying the country's participation could have opened new opportunities for its economic and social development.

The Times of India

US Justice Department threatens California over alleged noncitizen voters' list

US Justice Department threatens California over alleged noncitizen voters' list

The US Justice Department has directed California officials to investigate alleged noncitizen voters within 48 hours. It has demanded that ballots from these voters be withheld until their citizenship is confirmed. The department underlines its commitment to ensuring election integrity and may take legal action if demands are not met.…

The Economic Times

Live: Saudi Arabia reports Aramco building hit and four wounded in Houthi missile attacks

Live: Saudi Arabia reports Aramco building hit and four wounded in Houthi missile attacks

Saudi Arabia reported damage to an Aramco building in Dhahran and four people wounded in Riyadh on Wednesday, after the kingdom intercepted Houthi missiles targeting the capital. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Cornell suspends fraternity parties amid backlash over alleged sexual assault

Cornell suspends fraternity parties amid backlash over alleged sexual assault

University bans parties at frat houses for rest of academic year to conduct ‘thorough review’ of campus Greek life

The Guardian - US

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy decries ‘absolutely unjust’ lack of warning from allies after Kyiv plant strike

Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy decries ‘absolutely unjust’ lack of warning from allies after Kyiv plant strike

Donald Trump has denied intelligence sharing with Ukraine had stopped, while demanding that Kyiv halts strikes on Russian refineries. What we know on day 1,694

The Guardian - AU

Colombia gives police greater power to break up street protests

Colombia gives police greater power to break up street protests

Colombia’s government has modified a set of guidelines that dictate how police should react to street protests, giving officers greater leeway to break up demonstrations in which protesters are vandalizing public property or disrupting access to essential services through actions like roadblocks

The Independent UK

Our Picks

James Bond Drank About 53 U.S. Standard Drinks a Week, and Doctors Suspected a Tremor Behind His Shaken Martinis

Doctors tallied every drink in Ian Fleming's Bond novels and found 007 averaged 92 UK units a week, about 53 U.S. drinks, with a shaky martini theory.

Netflix’s Narnia trailer featuring Led Zeppelin divides fans as some brand it a ‘disgrace’

‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ is directed by ‘Barbie’ filmmaker Greta Gerwig and is set to be released next year

The Independent UK

Washington family’s Victorian doll Michael and its eerie dinner tradition

A Victorian doll named Michael occupies a unique place in Washington, DC’s history, not simply as an antique kept in a museum but as part of a family tradition shaped by superstition, grief and spiritualism. Displayed at the Heurich House Museum , Michael was reportedly seated at the dinner table…

The Times of India

Christian group tries to preach to women at Texas Roadhouse; the women respond with their own kind of blessing, leading to police intervention

They certainly weren't expecting that.

We Got This Covered

SNL stars and alum weigh in on Shane Gillis’ sexist monologue

Gillis’s comments on the late night sketch comedy show have sparked intense backlash

The Independent UK

Claude Lalanne’s bronze monkey armchair with ostrich leather seat sold for $1.079 million

Sotheby’s auction in December 2025 saw the sale of a remarkable gilt-bronze armchair by Claude Lalanne, which captured attention with its elaborate vines and monkey embellishments. This particular design, created in 1998, was the pioneer among Lalanne’s 'Singerie' armchairs to attract a successful sale. The high demand for Lalanne's artistry…

The Times of India

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.

Download on the AppStore

Get it on Google Play