Elon Musk’s DOGE wants to terminate US education department next after USAID

President Donald Trump’s plan to axe the US Department of Education is officially in motion as of today. His right-hand man for the job? ‘First Buddy’ Elon Musk and his highly controversial Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E).

After knocking out USAID, Elon’s team of “efficiency freaks” (as he calls them) is digging its claws into federal education systems with one goal: collapse it from the inside before Congress even has a chance to resist.

Twenty D.O.G.E operatives have already settled into key positions within the Department of Education. These operatives, according to a report from the Post, have access to sensitive internal systems, including a database containing millions of student records tied to federal financial aid.

Congress won’t budge, so Trump hits education through backdoors

Legally, only Congress can shut down the Education Department. Created by Congress in 1979 under Jimmy Carter, the department can’t be eliminated without legislative approval. Under normal circumstances, the odds of that happening are next to zero.

A vote in 2023 to abolish it failed miserably—161 voted yes, but 60 Republicans joined every Democrat to block the move. Closing it outright would need a Senate supermajority, including at least seven Democrats. “Inconceivable,” the Post’s report says.

But President Trump doesn’t have time for that. His executive order, backed by Elon’s D.O.G.E, bypasses Congress. Instead of waiting for legislation, the plan is to shrink the department until it can no longer function.

Though Rep. Tim Walberg, chairman of the House Education Committee, said: “I would not hold my breath that [closing the department] would ultimately become law.”

But that’s not stopping him from supporting Trump’s backdoor plan. “In the meantime, my efforts would be to find any means by which we may de-power the Department of Education,” he said. That “de-powering” involves relocating its functions to other departments.

The conservative Project 2025 blueprint already shows where the pieces of the department might land if it’s shut down—some to Health and Human Services, others scattered across federal agencies.

The executive order will also force the department to draft a legislative proposal for Congress. But this is just a formality of course.

“Fraud in the federal government is closer to 10% of disbursements—$700 billion a year. Outright waste? More like a trillion dollars,” Elon posted on X. “Reagan tried to end the federal Department of Education, but it was bigger when he left than when he started. Not this time. President Trump will succeed.”

Mass firings, data access, and Elizabeth Warren’s meltdown

The Department of Education’s workforce is already being downsized. Employees are being shoved onto administrative leave or pressured to quit voluntarily. But it’s D.O.G.E’s presence that’s drawing the real heat.

At least some of Elon’s staff have access to sensitive data from the federal student aid system. Millions of personal records are now under D.O.G.E’s watch.

That doesn’t sit well with Democrats, especially crypto’s biggest hater Senator Elizabeth Warren. In a diatribe posted on X, she said: “No one elected Elon Musk. As Donald Trump allows Elon to access people’s personal information and shut down government funding, Republicans in Washington will also own the consequences.”

Her goal is to rally the opposition to block Elon from even coming near the White House, talk more of the Pentagon and government spending. But Elon’s defenders aren’t playing nice. Responses to Warren’s post were vicious.

“Dems keep saying ‘No one elected Elon Musk.’ Yes we did. We elected Trump knowing he’d use Elon to clean out the corruption,” one user said. Another lashed out that: “You’re just afraid D.O.G.E is going to dig up your dirt.”

One commenter called Warren “Pocahontas” and reminded her that “D.O.G.E was announced BEFORE the election. This is exactly what we voted for.” A particularly angry and vulgar woman said, “Liz, you ignorant sI*t. Let me explain The Constitution to you – We, the people, elected Donald Trump knowing full well he would *appoint* Elon Musk to expose, defund, and destroy the deep state, as is his constitutional authority  Under Article 2, Section 2, Clause 2.”

Meanwhile, the Democrats are harassing Elon on Bluesky, with some doxxing the D.O.G.E staff and threatening to harm them along with the billionaire himself. So, then US Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. confirmed that law enforcement is monitoring potential legal violations targeting D.O.G.E staff.

He said:

“Our initial review of the evidence presented to us indicates that certain individuals and/or groups have committed acts that appear to violate the law in targeting D.O.G.E employees. We are in contact with FBl and other law-enforcement partners to proceed rapidly. We also have our prosecutors preparing.”

And, of course, Elon himself hasn’t been quiet either. He fired back at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after she called for defense contract transparency. “Do you actually write these or am I replying to your intern?” Elon shot back.

AOC also criticized Elon’s budget-cutting authority, claiming that government monitoring already exists through the Government Accountability Office. Elon shrugged it off. He insists that he’s only scared for his staff, hence why he alerted Mr. Martin Jr.

Yesterday, D.O.G.E’s official page announced the termination of 20 consulting contracts worth $26 million in savings. Hours later, that number jumped. “Today’s number has increased to 22 consulting contract terminations for a total savings of ~$45mm,” D.O.G.E posted.

By day’s end, the team had cut 36 contracts across six agencies, including one at DHS for $165 million in total savings. “People and culture survey” contracts were axed, along with “climate support services” gigs.

Rep. Walberg said this cost-cutting strategy is exactly what they need: kill the money, kill the department. But not everyone agrees.

AOC pointed fingers at Elon’s Pentagon defense contracts, demanding transparency there instead of picking on education. “They won’t do that, will they?” she said. “Having an unelected billionaire, with his own foreign debts and motives, raiding US classified information is a grave threat to national security. This should not be a partisan issue.”

Chuck Schumer, who is New York’s Senator and the Senate Democratic Leader, joined her in the frustration, saying:

“An unelected shadow government is conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government. D.O.G.E is not a real government agency. D.O.G.E has no authority to make spending decisions. D.O.G.E has no authority to shut programs down or to ignore federal law. D.O.G.E’s conduct cannot be allowed to stand. Congress must take action to restore the rule of law.”

Elon replied: “Hysterical reactions like this is how you know that D.O.G.E is doing work that really matters. This is the one shot the American people have to defeat BUREAUcracy, rule of the bureaucrats, and restore DEMOcracy, rule of the people. We’re never going to get another chance like this. It’s now or never. Your support is crucial to the success of the revolution of the people.”

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