A government like an ‘Apple Store’ and more highlights from Musk’s Fox News interview
The article discusses the rapid progress being made by the government, emphasizing a sense of urgency and speed. As Musk pointed out, “In the context of the government we’re moving like lightning.”
TroibNews 
Elon Musk and his team from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) defended their initiatives during an hour-long interview on Fox News, aiming to streamline the federal government and eradicate "fraud and waste."
In a comprehensive discussion on Thursday, Musk and his team—who have recently remained out of the public eye amidst ongoing issues related to DOGE—detailed their vision for enhancing governmental efficiency across various agencies, including the Interior Department and the Small Business Administration.
“In the context of the government we’re moving like lightning,” Musk stated during the interview with Fox News host Bret Baier. However, he expressed that progress is “slower than I’d like.”
Since the onset of the second Trump administration, Musk and his DOGE team have undertaken significant actions, including disbanding entire agencies and implementing mass layoffs and voluntary buyouts. While Musk acknowledged that improvements have been made, he indicated that more work is necessary.
Here are some key points from Musk and his DOGE team.
An ‘Apple Store-like’ experience
The DOGE team includes tech experts like Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, who is focusing on digitizing the retirement process for federal employees.
Discussing a large repository of retirement documents in Pennsylvania, Gebbia expressed confidence that DOGE can expedite the modernization of government systems.
“We really believe that the government can have an Apple Store-like experience. Beautifully designed, great user experience, modern systems,” Gebbia noted.
His perspective reflects Musk's approach to transforming the federal government, as he emphasized that DOGE aims to empower employees by integrating “the best of Silicon Valley and the business world” into governmental operations.
In defense of Social Security
Musk and his team confronted a major point of contention regarding their modernization efforts: social security.
Democrats have criticized Musk for job cuts and instability within the Social Security Administration (SSA). Recent weeks have seen the SSA website crash multiple times as it grapples with an influx of phone calls and plans to reduce its workforce by thousands.
Responding to these concerns, the DOGE team clarified their approach to the SSA, stating they are “carefully and methodically” reviewing benefits claims to ensure fraudulent submissions are addressed. DOGE staffer Steve Davis mentioned, “making sure any fraudulent ones are eliminated.” DOGE engineer Aram Moghaddassi added that they are enhancing protection against fraud by increasing cooperation among agencies.
Musk emphasized that their efforts would benefit users, asserting that legitimate claimants would receive “more social security, not less.” He also assured that maintaining the website's functionality is a priority.
“We’re trying to say that the 94-year-old grandmother is going to get her check,” Musk remarked.
‘Almost no one’ has been fired
Anthony Armstrong, a former banker who aided Musk's acquisition of X and is now a senior adviser at the Office of Personnel Management, played down the scope of layoffs, explaining that most federal employees are departing “largely through voluntary means.”
He stressed their commitment to treating personnel with “generosity, caring, compassion” and “dignity and respect.”
“You’ve heard a lot of news about people getting fired. At this moment in time, less than .15 of the federal workforce has actually been given a [reductions in force] notice,” Armstrong said.
Most agencies have already submitted workforce reduction plans to be enacted in April. A leaked preliminary report from the Washington Post indicated potential cuts ranging from 8 to 50 percent of each agency's workforce. Musk and his team did not comment on these expected reductions.
“Basically almost no one has gotten fired, that’s what we’re saying,” Musk asserted.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
In a comprehensive discussion on Thursday, Musk and his team—who have recently remained out of the public eye amidst ongoing issues related to DOGE—detailed their vision for enhancing governmental efficiency across various agencies, including the Interior Department and the Small Business Administration.
“In the context of the government we’re moving like lightning,” Musk stated during the interview with Fox News host Bret Baier. However, he expressed that progress is “slower than I’d like.”
Since the onset of the second Trump administration, Musk and his DOGE team have undertaken significant actions, including disbanding entire agencies and implementing mass layoffs and voluntary buyouts. While Musk acknowledged that improvements have been made, he indicated that more work is necessary.
Here are some key points from Musk and his DOGE team.
An ‘Apple Store-like’ experience
The DOGE team includes tech experts like Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, who is focusing on digitizing the retirement process for federal employees.
Discussing a large repository of retirement documents in Pennsylvania, Gebbia expressed confidence that DOGE can expedite the modernization of government systems.
“We really believe that the government can have an Apple Store-like experience. Beautifully designed, great user experience, modern systems,” Gebbia noted.
His perspective reflects Musk's approach to transforming the federal government, as he emphasized that DOGE aims to empower employees by integrating “the best of Silicon Valley and the business world” into governmental operations.
In defense of Social Security
Musk and his team confronted a major point of contention regarding their modernization efforts: social security.
Democrats have criticized Musk for job cuts and instability within the Social Security Administration (SSA). Recent weeks have seen the SSA website crash multiple times as it grapples with an influx of phone calls and plans to reduce its workforce by thousands.
Responding to these concerns, the DOGE team clarified their approach to the SSA, stating they are “carefully and methodically” reviewing benefits claims to ensure fraudulent submissions are addressed. DOGE staffer Steve Davis mentioned, “making sure any fraudulent ones are eliminated.” DOGE engineer Aram Moghaddassi added that they are enhancing protection against fraud by increasing cooperation among agencies.
Musk emphasized that their efforts would benefit users, asserting that legitimate claimants would receive “more social security, not less.” He also assured that maintaining the website's functionality is a priority.
“We’re trying to say that the 94-year-old grandmother is going to get her check,” Musk remarked.
‘Almost no one’ has been fired
Anthony Armstrong, a former banker who aided Musk's acquisition of X and is now a senior adviser at the Office of Personnel Management, played down the scope of layoffs, explaining that most federal employees are departing “largely through voluntary means.”
He stressed their commitment to treating personnel with “generosity, caring, compassion” and “dignity and respect.”
“You’ve heard a lot of news about people getting fired. At this moment in time, less than .15 of the federal workforce has actually been given a [reductions in force] notice,” Armstrong said.
Most agencies have already submitted workforce reduction plans to be enacted in April. A leaked preliminary report from the Washington Post indicated potential cuts ranging from 8 to 50 percent of each agency's workforce. Musk and his team did not comment on these expected reductions.
“Basically almost no one has gotten fired, that’s what we’re saying,” Musk asserted.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
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