It sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it? Save money by cutting government waste, fraud, and abuse. We all want efficiency in government. But, the real reason Elon Musk as head of the Department of Government Efficiency is slashing jobs is because he intends to destroy government institutions. If you just take a moment to consider this notion, it makes sense.

The claims that Musk has made regarding waste, fraud and abuse have been found to be misleading and incorrect. How can there be any time to thoughtfully and correctly determine where the waste is when he swoops in and beheads critical and necessary jobs with little to no thought at all? Clearly, he is not interested in efficiency and saving money at all.

Far from saving money, by March 22, Musk has cost the government $500 billion dollars in these efforts for “efficiency.” That is 10% of what the IRS took in last year, (hypocrisy intended).The second Trump administration has decimated the IRS, firing almost 20,000 employees. In 2024, the IRS collected more than $5.1 trillion. Does cutting the IRS sound like Musk is interested in finding waste, fraud, and abuse?

The Trump administration and Musk are trying to topple our Democratic institutions. Think this won’t affect you and I? Think again. Destroying our government is the real goal here, and we will pay the price. We all have to work together to stop this train wreck that is happening before our eyes.

Connie Macomber

Pendleton