The so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE, was presented as a bold initiative to trim wasteful spending and improve federal operations. But the true purpose behind its creation is becoming increasingly clear—and it has little to do with government efficiency.
Former President Donald Trump has announced his intention to propose a $1 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2026, a record-setting amount for a department that has already failed seven audits and cannot account for more than 60% of its assets. On top of this, Trump is calling for a $25 billion increase in funding to private Medicare Advantage plans, despite growing concerns over fraud and denied care.
Organizations like Social Security Works are speaking out, saying that private Medicare plans are “denying patients the care they need while defrauding the government of billions.” Trump’s proposed increase in funding, they argue, only deepens these issues and reveals a pattern: the DOGE is not about efficiency. It’s about expanding power and control.
Perhaps most troubling are recent developments affecting federal employees. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled 7-2 to temporarily block lower court decisions that would have reinstated around 16,000 federal employees fired in February—many of whom worked in probationary roles. At least 85 of those affected were based in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The ruling has left these individuals in limbo, unsure of their job status as lawsuits continue to unfold.
To make matters worse, federal employee unions—long tasked with protecting civil service rules—are also under attack. A recent executive order from Trump aims to strip collective bargaining rights from nearly two-thirds of the federal civilian workforce, citing “national security” concerns. This move is unprecedented, even during times of crisis like 9/11 or the Vietnam War, when previous presidents upheld union protections.
A White House fact sheet claimed that “certain federal unions have declared war on President Trump’s agenda,” but these unions argue they are simply doing their jobs: upholding civil service protections, defending bargaining agreements, and maintaining a fair and impartial merit-based employment system.
Adding fuel to the fire, Reuters reported that DOGE has been using artificial intelligence to monitor federal employee communications, allegedly targeting those who express opposition to Trump’s policies. The report mentioned that DOGE is using Elon Musk’s Grok AI and encrypted chat apps like Signal, as well as unapproved software like Google Docs—raising red flags about data security and ethical concerns.
As a “special government employee,” Musk is legally barred from using his government role to benefit his own companies, yet the use of Grok AI blurs that line. The situation suggests a growing disregard for oversight and proper process in favor of political control and personal loyalty.
In response, federal employee unions are pushing back hard in court and through official channels like the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Groups like the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) have filed lawsuits against the executive order and are seeking emergency relief to stop its implementation.
Across the country, resistance is building. Over 5.2 million Americans participated in “Hands Off” protests last weekend, with more than 500 gathering in Marietta, Ohio alone. These were not professional activists or paid protesters—they were regular citizens raising their voices against what they see as a dangerous shift away from democracy and toward authoritarianism.
The message is clear: people are not willing to sit back and watch their rights, freedoms, and protections be stripped away. The peaceful protests are growing in size and strength, as Americans call for a return to democratic principles, transparency, and accountability in government.
The time to act is now. With federal protections hanging in the balance, and with more power being concentrated in the hands of fewer individuals, Americans must remain vigilant and engaged. Our democracy depends on it.
