Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Apr 6: In a sweeping push for federal reform under his second term, US President Donald Trump has triggered a nationwide stir with the formation of a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by his close ally Elon Musk. The move, seen as part of Trump’s renewed ‘Make America great again’ drive, is aimed at drastically downsizing government agencies and cutting costs, all while stirring intense legal and political scrutiny.
DOGE has reportedly uncovered widespread corruption and inefficiencies across federal departments. Acting with Trump's backing, the department has swiftly begun mass layoffs and structural overhauls, especially targeting education and health sectors traditionally regarded as pillars of public welfare.
Trump dismantled the Department of Education via an executive order on March 20, citing its failure in improving academic outcomes and calling it a “liberal indoctrination hub.” Even before the order, nearly half of the department's workforce had been terminated. The President stated that education must be returned to the states, free from federal interference and ideological influence.
Similarly, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., is undergoing a major transformation. HHS has reduced its divisions from 28 to 15, aiming to slash its 82,000-strong workforce by 25 percent. Kennedy claimed the move would save $1.8 billion annually and enable the department to "do more with less.”
Astonishingly, DOGE found 3.2 million people aged over 120 still on the Social Security register, flagging gross irregularities in records and administration.
Meanwhile, Trump has dismantled media agencies like Voice of America, accusing them of leftist bias and undermining American interests. The abrupt halting of services has been legally challenged, with a district judge restraining any move to bypass Congress’s control over funding.
In higher education, the Trump administration has cracked down on elite institutions such as Harvard and Columbia, citing alleged harassment of Jewish students. Federal grants to several Ivy League schools have been suspended pending investigation.
Trump’s reorganisation has also hit international aid and civil society bodies. USAID funding has been cut, citing concerns over liberal activism under the guise of human rights. Agencies like the Woodrow Wilson Center and the US Interagency Council on Homelessness are under review for budgetary reductions.
Critics have labelled the reforms as ideological warfare against liberal values, while the administration maintains that this is an essential purge of inefficiency, corruption, and administrative overreach.
Security too has come under the spotlight. A sensitive group chat regarding US military action against Houthis in Yemen was accidentally leaked via the encrypted app Signal. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz admitted to the breach, prompting Trump to discontinue the use of such platforms for military communication, stressing that speed must never compromise national security.
Despite international concern, India has tactfully navigated the Trump administration’s sharp turns. Aligning with the US on key issues like counter-terrorism and containing China, New Delhi has maintained a pragmatic and balanced approach. While immigration and trade tensions remain, India’s maturity in diplomacy continues to foster a stable Indo-US relationship.
As Trump continues to reshape American governance at breakneck speed, questions loom over the long-term effects—both domestically and globally. Whether these changes bring efficiency or fuel deeper divides, only time will tell.