President Donald Trump has endorsed redirecting DOGE savings from Elon Musk’s government efficiency initiative to American households, calling it a "common-sense dividend" during a Miami conference Wednesday. The plan would allocate 20% of cost-cutting gains to citizens and 20% toward national debt reduction, incentivizing public oversight of federal spending.
In a sweeping executive order, Trump targeted four entities for reduced operations, including the conflict-focused United States Institute of Peace and San Francisco’s Presidio Trust. “These agencies shall minimize functions to the absolute legal requirement,” the directive states. Advisory committees facing elimination include:
- Health Equity Advisory Committee
- Advisory Committee on Long COVID
- Community Bank Advisory Council
Trump intensified his push for federal control over Washington, D.C., telling reporters aboard Air Force One:
“I think we should take over Washington, D.C. — make it safe. We need to govern it properly.”Although Congress already reviews district laws, some GOP members advocate revoking Home Rule entirely.
The Senate advanced Kash Patel’s FBI director nomination despite Democratic concerns about his loyalty to Trump. Patel, who criticized the bureau he now leads, survived a 12-10 party-line Judiciary Committee vote. His confirmation would consolidate Trump’s influence over federal law enforcement amid ongoing staffing upheaval.
Trump’s partnership with Musk faced scrutiny during their Fox News joint interview, where both dismissed media rumors of friction. The president praised Musk’s DOGE restructuring:
“When you find billions in waste, why not let citizens benefit? It’s smart governance.”Analysts suggest the proposed payout system could reshape public engagement with federal budgets.