Trump said he plans to create a “government efficiency commission” led by Elon Musk if he wins the election
U.S Election : In a comprehensive speech outlining his economic strategy for the nation on Thursday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said that, should he win the Nov. 5 election, he will create a government efficiency committee led by billionaire backer Elon Musk.
During his speech at the New York Economic Club, the former president also promised to create a sovereign wealth fund, create “low-tax” zones on government properties to encourage construction firms to build new houses, and lower corporate tax rates for local manufacturers.
Trump says Musk will lead the efficiency panel and supports it
According to persons with knowledge of those talks, Trump has been talking with advisers about the concept of an efficiency committee for weeks. Reuters has obtained this information. But it was in his address on Thursday that he officially embraced the proposal for the first time.
Additionally, Trump mentioned Musk’s agreement to lead the group for the first time. Trump said that the committee will provide a strategy to end “fraud and improper payments” within six months of its formation, although he did not specify how this commission would work.
“I will establish a government efficiency commission with the responsibility of carrying out an exhaustive financial and performance assessment of the federal government,” Trump said before a gathering that included bankers John Paulson and Scott Bessent as well as the former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.
In a podcast published on August 19, Musk said that he had discussed the commission with the former president and that he would be willing to serve on it.
As said on X on Thursday, “I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises,” the Tesla CEO tweeted. “No pay, no title, no recognition is needed.”
If Musk wins in November, Trump will give him a position as a government auditor.
Prior to this, Trump said that he wanted to give Musk a “cabinet” position to audit government agencies in order to get rid of “a lot of waste and needless regulation in government that needs to go.” Musk answered right away, saying he “can’t wait” to participate.
Separate efficiency commissions have been asked for by politicians in the past. During his tenure as Republican President from 1981 to 1989, Ronald Reagan formed the Grace Commission, an organization akin to this.
Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, a union that represents over 750,000 federal employees, criticized Trump’s idea. He said that Trump and Musk want to destroy the impartial civil service and replace sacked employees with friends.
According to Kelley, “there’s nothing efficient about that,” Reuters.
Regarding Musk leading the planned government efficiency council, Paulson responded to a question from Reuters by saying it was “great to have him as an ally.” He’s a great businessman, and I believe there is room for much more efficiency in the government.
