Elon Musk and Russ Vought Form a Subtle Partnership
The DOGE leader and budget director are implementing significant cuts to the government through a combined outside-inside strategy.
TroibNews 
Washington anticipated clashes between Elon Musk and Trump budget director Russ Vought as they worked on overhauling the federal government. Instead, they have emerged as powerful allies in this effort.
Musk, the impulsive billionaire from Silicon Valley, serves as the public face of the sweeping budget cuts and workforce reductions impacting the federal government, enduring criticism for the turmoil that has accompanied this transformation. Vought, a conservative budget expert, contributes his deep knowledge and ideological framework to what both see as a vital and transformative downsizing. This perspective comes from four former Trump administration officials who spoke with PMG.
Though the two have not publicly discussed their collaboration, they have managed to work together effectively, undertaking one of the most substantial federal government makeovers in recent history. The former officials noted that each man benefits from the other's strengths, creating a combined influence that wouldn’t exist separately.
The distinction between where Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts conclude and where Vought's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) begins is often unclear, even to those close to the initiatives. In practice, Musk's team conducts high-profile inspections of government agencies, utilizing artificial intelligence and technology to expose what they consider wasteful spending, while Musk channels these findings through public relations on social media. Vought’s OMB offers the essential expertise and technical guidance to address these issues, determining their validity and appropriate responses.
“When Elon Musk says something, everybody responds to it. The government is not like that,” remarked Paul Winfree, who served as President Donald Trump’s director of budget policy during his first term. “You need people like Russ and, quite frankly, the people who Russ has been bringing into OMB as well, who are staffers who do know how to, in fact, push changes through government institutions.”
While Vought has remained silent about his personal views on Musk—even among confidants—the former administration officials noted that Musk's presence has acted as a catalyst for Vought's agenda of dismantling what he deems the “administrative state” or the “fourth branch” of government. Vought has sought these changes since his tenure as Trump’s budget director but previously lacked the political support that Musk's involvement has amplified, as per the former officials.
Neither the White House nor representatives for Musk and Vought responded to requests for comments.
One former administration official referred to Musk as a “game changer” for Vought.
Without Musk, “it would have been more confined to what OMB can do versus sending roving gangs of people to the agencies and doing, like, a hostile takeover,” they explained.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) serves as a prominent example of how Musk and Vought have combined their expertise to make significant changes and create the “trauma” impacting the federal workforce that Vought has advocated for. DOGE led the initial charge into the agency, setting the stage for Vought and OMB’s general counsel, Mark Paoletta, to manage the intricate legal aspects of closing it down.
“Russ is pretty much a ‘by any means necessary’ guy. He’s aggressive,” the former official noted. “In the first term, the president didn’t care all that much about spending. Now, the dynamics have changed.”
Critics, however, argue that this tactic is reckless and cruel, instilling anxiety among federal employees concerned about job security while reducing funds for essential services. Max Stier, CEO of the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, suggested that Musk’s “reign of chaos furthers much of what Vought desires” but expressed skepticism about the sustainability of their “marriage of convenience.”
“Vought wants to reshape our government into a bludgeon for his ideological vision while Musk seems much more focused on destruction without understanding or care for the many harmful consequences of his actions,” Stier commented.
Musk's rapid and direct approach is prone to mistakes, a fact he has acknowledged publicly. As a result, many of DOGE's initiatives—such as the closure of the CFPB, cessation of foreign aid, and large-scale layoffs of probationary staff—have been impeded or delayed by legal challenges.
The former administration officials maintained that OMB could assist DOGE in navigating—or some would argue stretching—legal boundaries to enact their agenda. Yet Vought's methods also face obstacles, utilizing legal theories once deemed unconventional, with several being rejected in court as well.
OMB's expertise is crucial for distinguishing between genuine issues and those that are overstated.
For example, DOGE officials believed they had found significant evidence when they reported that millions of individuals listed as alive in Social Security were over 100 years old, a claim echoed by Trump during a recent address. However, these individuals were not receiving incorrect payments, and the situation was revealed to be a complicated data issue rather than waste or fraud.
Winfree pointed to this instance to illustrate the valuable technical knowledge OMB offers, not only through Vought but also through the skilled staff he has recruited, like former Federal Housing Finance Agency director Mark Calabria. Given its control over funding, OMB also possesses the mechanisms to implement changes, whether through withholding budgetary allocations, auditing improper payments, submitting adjustments to Congress, or even engaging in legal battles about budgetary impoundments, a goal Vought has long pursued.
“They’re trying to figure out where that integration is going to be most fruitful,” Winfree noted. “There’s a lot of energy that Russ and the whole team over there is extending to leverage this opportunity.”
Even a representative from DOGE has acknowledged that the reasons behind some of the issues they highlight are not always clear.
Appearing on Fox News, Sam Corcos, special adviser to the Treasury Department, stated that DOGE found the IRS employing 8,000 people in its IT department, with an annual maintenance budget of $3.5 billion, a stark contrast to typical mid-sized banks, which employ fewer than 200 IT staff members with budgets around $20 million. Yet he admitted, “I don’t really know why yet.”
Another former official suggested that Musk's connection to the president has helped mitigate potential tensions related to Vought's budget cutting initiatives vis-à-vis Cabinet members' interests for their respective agencies. This official described Musk as “the key to that kingdom.”
“The problem Russ faces is that the Cabinet members are his colleagues,” the official explained. “Normally this might limit Russ’s ability to implement major reforms or restructure an agency in a way that we’re witnessing today. Musk, on the other hand, has a special status and relationship with the president, giving him far more influence and power than Russ might have on his own.”
Moreover, Musk has fostered an environment where the kind of cuts Vought and his supporters have aimed to achieve are more feasible. Some former administration officials pointed out that Trump is generally unconcerned with federal debt—once calling himself the “king of debt”—while other Republicans traditionally hesitate to endorse such drastic cuts.
Concerns have arisen within Congress regarding the ramifications of DOGE's cuts in their districts, particularly regarding significant layoffs in public safety and health positions. Others have raised alarms about the cuts' effects on veterans, a group that constitutes a considerable portion of federal employees.
Nevertheless, the Musk-Vought partnership has helped alleviate worries among hardline members of the House Freedom Caucus regarding the recent budget resolution, persuading many to support it for the first time. In private discussions, Vice President JD Vance highlighted the work being done by DOGE and Vought to tackle federal workforce and spending issues to address some of their concerns.
“Elon gives the permission structure or the political will for Republicans who would have normally dragged their heels,” a third former administration official commented. “The Overton window has just shifted entirely on this issue.”
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
Musk, the impulsive billionaire from Silicon Valley, serves as the public face of the sweeping budget cuts and workforce reductions impacting the federal government, enduring criticism for the turmoil that has accompanied this transformation. Vought, a conservative budget expert, contributes his deep knowledge and ideological framework to what both see as a vital and transformative downsizing. This perspective comes from four former Trump administration officials who spoke with PMG.
Though the two have not publicly discussed their collaboration, they have managed to work together effectively, undertaking one of the most substantial federal government makeovers in recent history. The former officials noted that each man benefits from the other's strengths, creating a combined influence that wouldn’t exist separately.
The distinction between where Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts conclude and where Vought's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) begins is often unclear, even to those close to the initiatives. In practice, Musk's team conducts high-profile inspections of government agencies, utilizing artificial intelligence and technology to expose what they consider wasteful spending, while Musk channels these findings through public relations on social media. Vought’s OMB offers the essential expertise and technical guidance to address these issues, determining their validity and appropriate responses.
“When Elon Musk says something, everybody responds to it. The government is not like that,” remarked Paul Winfree, who served as President Donald Trump’s director of budget policy during his first term. “You need people like Russ and, quite frankly, the people who Russ has been bringing into OMB as well, who are staffers who do know how to, in fact, push changes through government institutions.”
While Vought has remained silent about his personal views on Musk—even among confidants—the former administration officials noted that Musk's presence has acted as a catalyst for Vought's agenda of dismantling what he deems the “administrative state” or the “fourth branch” of government. Vought has sought these changes since his tenure as Trump’s budget director but previously lacked the political support that Musk's involvement has amplified, as per the former officials.
Neither the White House nor representatives for Musk and Vought responded to requests for comments.
One former administration official referred to Musk as a “game changer” for Vought.
Without Musk, “it would have been more confined to what OMB can do versus sending roving gangs of people to the agencies and doing, like, a hostile takeover,” they explained.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) serves as a prominent example of how Musk and Vought have combined their expertise to make significant changes and create the “trauma” impacting the federal workforce that Vought has advocated for. DOGE led the initial charge into the agency, setting the stage for Vought and OMB’s general counsel, Mark Paoletta, to manage the intricate legal aspects of closing it down.
“Russ is pretty much a ‘by any means necessary’ guy. He’s aggressive,” the former official noted. “In the first term, the president didn’t care all that much about spending. Now, the dynamics have changed.”
Critics, however, argue that this tactic is reckless and cruel, instilling anxiety among federal employees concerned about job security while reducing funds for essential services. Max Stier, CEO of the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, suggested that Musk’s “reign of chaos furthers much of what Vought desires” but expressed skepticism about the sustainability of their “marriage of convenience.”
“Vought wants to reshape our government into a bludgeon for his ideological vision while Musk seems much more focused on destruction without understanding or care for the many harmful consequences of his actions,” Stier commented.
Musk's rapid and direct approach is prone to mistakes, a fact he has acknowledged publicly. As a result, many of DOGE's initiatives—such as the closure of the CFPB, cessation of foreign aid, and large-scale layoffs of probationary staff—have been impeded or delayed by legal challenges.
The former administration officials maintained that OMB could assist DOGE in navigating—or some would argue stretching—legal boundaries to enact their agenda. Yet Vought's methods also face obstacles, utilizing legal theories once deemed unconventional, with several being rejected in court as well.
OMB's expertise is crucial for distinguishing between genuine issues and those that are overstated.
For example, DOGE officials believed they had found significant evidence when they reported that millions of individuals listed as alive in Social Security were over 100 years old, a claim echoed by Trump during a recent address. However, these individuals were not receiving incorrect payments, and the situation was revealed to be a complicated data issue rather than waste or fraud.
Winfree pointed to this instance to illustrate the valuable technical knowledge OMB offers, not only through Vought but also through the skilled staff he has recruited, like former Federal Housing Finance Agency director Mark Calabria. Given its control over funding, OMB also possesses the mechanisms to implement changes, whether through withholding budgetary allocations, auditing improper payments, submitting adjustments to Congress, or even engaging in legal battles about budgetary impoundments, a goal Vought has long pursued.
“They’re trying to figure out where that integration is going to be most fruitful,” Winfree noted. “There’s a lot of energy that Russ and the whole team over there is extending to leverage this opportunity.”
Even a representative from DOGE has acknowledged that the reasons behind some of the issues they highlight are not always clear.
Appearing on Fox News, Sam Corcos, special adviser to the Treasury Department, stated that DOGE found the IRS employing 8,000 people in its IT department, with an annual maintenance budget of $3.5 billion, a stark contrast to typical mid-sized banks, which employ fewer than 200 IT staff members with budgets around $20 million. Yet he admitted, “I don’t really know why yet.”
Another former official suggested that Musk's connection to the president has helped mitigate potential tensions related to Vought's budget cutting initiatives vis-à-vis Cabinet members' interests for their respective agencies. This official described Musk as “the key to that kingdom.”
“The problem Russ faces is that the Cabinet members are his colleagues,” the official explained. “Normally this might limit Russ’s ability to implement major reforms or restructure an agency in a way that we’re witnessing today. Musk, on the other hand, has a special status and relationship with the president, giving him far more influence and power than Russ might have on his own.”
Moreover, Musk has fostered an environment where the kind of cuts Vought and his supporters have aimed to achieve are more feasible. Some former administration officials pointed out that Trump is generally unconcerned with federal debt—once calling himself the “king of debt”—while other Republicans traditionally hesitate to endorse such drastic cuts.
Concerns have arisen within Congress regarding the ramifications of DOGE's cuts in their districts, particularly regarding significant layoffs in public safety and health positions. Others have raised alarms about the cuts' effects on veterans, a group that constitutes a considerable portion of federal employees.
Nevertheless, the Musk-Vought partnership has helped alleviate worries among hardline members of the House Freedom Caucus regarding the recent budget resolution, persuading many to support it for the first time. In private discussions, Vice President JD Vance highlighted the work being done by DOGE and Vought to tackle federal workforce and spending issues to address some of their concerns.
“Elon gives the permission structure or the political will for Republicans who would have normally dragged their heels,” a third former administration official commented. “The Overton window has just shifted entirely on this issue.”
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
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