Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy join forces in a groundbreaking initiative to tackle government spending through their Department of Government Efficiency.
According to Fox News, the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has highlighted that U.S. taxpayers spent $150.7 billion on illegal immigration in 2023, prompting Musk to express his astonishment on social media.
Although not officially part of the government, the department is expected to gain significant influence under President-elect Trump's administration, with plans to implement comprehensive audits and reforms across government agencies. DOGE's analysis revealed that current immigration spending when adjusted for inflation, rivals historical expenditures such as World War I and surpasses iconic projects like the Manhattan Project and the Panama Canal.
FAIR's executive director, Julie Kirchner, emphasized that the $150.7 billion figure likely understates the current situation. The organization's previous estimate of 15.5 million undocumented immigrants has now grown to 16.8 million, suggesting even higher costs. Their calculation method involved subtracting the $32 billion in tax revenue paid by undocumented immigrants from the total negative economic impact of $182 billion.
The federal government's contribution amounts to $66 billion, while state and local expenditures exceed $115 billion. Remarkably, the U.S. Government Accountability Office has not produced recent comprehensive estimates of immigration-related spending, with their latest reports dating back to 2018 and 2011.
Jessica Baxter from the U.S. Government Accountability Office confirmed that while specific aspects of immigration costs have been studied, no current overall assessment exists. Their team is working on updating the 2018 report, though its completion timeline remains uncertain.
Major cities across America are experiencing unprecedented financial pressure from immigration-related expenses. New York City projects spending over $12 billion through fiscal 2025 to manage nearly 100,000 asylum seekers, while Chicago has already allocated $400 million over the past two years.
Kirchner shared DOGE's perspective on the situation, stating:
What we are seeing is state and locals are being forced to absorb all of these costs. They are taking our own tax dollars and giving illegal aliens benefits and encouraging more illegal immigration. It is a crazy, crazy scenario where we're seeing people welcome lawlessness, and it's got to stop, and we're hopeful that the DOGE will.
The organization aims to implement immediate changes once Trump returns to office, including eliminating government healthcare plans for undocumented immigrants and addressing tax credit loopholes. These measures could potentially save billions in taxpayer money annually.
DOGE's comparison of immigration spending to historical projects has sparked significant discussion about fiscal priorities. The department noted that current annual immigration costs surpass inflation-adjusted expenditures for the Hoover Dam ($1 billion) and the Panama Canal ($15.2 billion).
Musk's public reaction to these findings has amplified the debate, with his statement on X emphasizing the extraordinary scale of current immigration spending. The tech entrepreneur's involvement signals a new approach to government efficiency and spending oversight.
The Department of Government Efficiency, led by entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has identified illegal immigration spending as a critical area for reform, citing $150.7 billion in annual costs. The department's analysis reveals that state and local governments shoulder the majority of these expenses, with major cities like New York and Chicago already allocating billions to address the challenges of incoming migrants.
