Ramaswamy and Musk push for major federal budget cuts as Trump’s past efforts face scrutiny

Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk lobbied Congress on Thursday for significant cuts to the federal budget. Ramaswamy proposed cutting one-third of the federal government, which could impact national defense, Medicare, and Social Security. Trump previously aimed to cut 100,000 federal jobs. The Washington Post highlighted past failures of similar efforts under Trump. In 2019, relocating the Bureau of Land Management resulted in a 90% staff loss, leading to a "giant brain drain." Other agencies also faced significant job cuts, impacting their operations. Proponents claim cutting 100,000 jobs could save $1.4 billion annually, but this is minimal compared to the $6 trillion federal budget. Past moves, like relocating the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, ended up costing taxpayers more than expected.