Tech mogul Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have united to spearhead a groundbreaking government efficiency program targeting wasteful federal spending.
According to Daily Mail, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under their leadership, has identified numerous controversial taxpayer-funded projects, including cocaine experiments on animals and climate change-themed ice skating performances, as part of their mission to slash trillions in federal expenditures.
The initiative has gained significant traction in Congress, with the DOGE Caucus attracting 65 House members, including three Democrats, demonstrating rare bipartisan cooperation in addressing government waste. House DOGE Caucus Co-Chair Aaron Bean has emerged as a vocal advocate for spending reform, highlighting several questionable government-funded studies and programs.
The National Institute of Health's spending patterns have come under particular scrutiny, with Bean highlighting an $875,000 study examining cocaine's effects on Japanese quail sexual patterns. Another NIH study, allocating $2.3 million to test cocaine on beagles, has further fueled the debate over responsible government spending.
Rep. Bean expressed his concerns about these expenditures, stating:
We're giving cocaine to animals to see does it turn them transsexual? It's the craziest thing that you would never spend your own money on. But when agencies have money to burn, they will spend money on literally everything.
The DOGE initiative has also identified other controversial spending projects, including $6.9 million for "smart toilets" that identify users by their "anal print" and $118,000 to study whether a robot resembling Marvel's Thanos could snap its fingers. A Harvard study receiving $75,000 to examine lizards being blown off trees with leaf blowers has also raised eyebrows.
Bean has targeted federal subsidies for wind and solar energy, characterizing them as financially inefficient compared to conventional energy sources. This stance aligns with Musk's surprising position advocating for the elimination of all federal credits, including those benefiting his own electric vehicle industry.
The discussion around energy subsidies has sparked debate about the government's role in supporting emerging technologies. Despite the push for spending cuts, Bean has assured the public that essential programs like Social Security would remain untouched, focusing instead on eliminating clearly wasteful expenditures.
Sen. Rand Paul's 'Festivus' report has provided additional ammunition for the initiative, revealing projects such as a $10,000 grant for a drag queen ice-skating performance about climate change and $12 million for a pickleball complex in Las Vegas.
Rep. Bean has emphasized the importance of creating an environment conducive to cross-party collaboration, saying:
What I'm focused on is creating that safe harbor where we can all feel trust, and where we can have a forum where we could work together.
The initiative gained momentum after Musk used his social media platform, X, to criticize a 1,547-page government funding bill, leading to multiple revisions. This action demonstrated the potential influence of private sector leaders in shaping government policy and spending priorities.
The Department of Government Efficiency, established under the leadership of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has identified numerous controversial spending projects while working to reduce federal expenditures. The initiative has gained bipartisan support in Congress, with 65 House members joining the DOGE Caucus, while specific projects targeted include animal testing studies, alternative energy subsidies, and various research grants deemed wasteful.
The program continues to expand its influence, focusing on creating a collaborative environment for addressing government spending issues while maintaining essential services. With support from key figures like Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Aaron Bean, DOGE aims to implement significant reforms in federal spending practices while fostering bipartisan cooperation.
