As Economy Hangs On Cliff of Recession, the DOGE CR Gives It a Big Shove
Since taking office, President Trump and Elon Musk have pursued a singular campaign to tear down public services trusted by everyday Americans so they can privatize the government and enrich themselves and their billionaire friends. Trump and Elon Musk have imposed an unconstitutional funding freeze, illegally breached an untold number of contracts with American businesses, crippled critical government services that families and communities rely upon, fired tens-of-thousands of federal employees without cause or authority to do so (with exponentially more firings in the works), and imposed tariffs that effectively create a new double-digit tax on Americans when they buy products from our closest allies.
After two months of Trump’s presidency, the economy is teetering on the edge of a recession: costs remain high, unemployment claims are up and the stock market is down.
The DOGE continuing resolution will drive the economy toward disaster by enabling Musk and his minions to finish the job of lawlessly destroying agencies from the inside, to direct contracts to Musk’s own businesses, and creating more uncertainty for consumers and companies across the economy.
The Trump Administration Is Pushing The U.S. Economy Into Recession Fueled By DOGE’s Lawless Funding Cuts and Agency Gutting. Trump and DOGE’s lawless funding cuts and reckless tariffs are fueling widespread business uncertainty and risks pushing the U.S. economy into a recession. Trump is prepared to send the U.S. into a full-scale recession in order to continue DOGE’s efforts to dismantle the government and impose tariffs that tax Americans and hurt our allies. Trump dismissed his policies’ impact on the economy, stating, “Look, we’re going to have disruption, but we’re OK with that…You can’t really watch the stock market.”
DOGE’s Mass Layoffs Leave Tens of Thousands Jobless and Create Chaos In Government Services. 172,000 layoffs were recorded in February alone, the highest levels since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include over 60,000 DOGE firings, compounded by rising private sector layoffs. Rising job losses put the U.S. at an even greater risk of falling into a recession. Elon Musk and DOGE are responsible for a third of these layoffs, crippling agencies’ ability to provide critical government services like Social Security checks and disability claims. Reports indicate that Musk had been intending to scrap direct phone services for SSA disability benefit claims until his plan was brought to light. The IRS has lawlessly fired 7,000 staff and is preparing to fire tens-of-thousands more ahead of tax season, potentially slowing down tax returns for Americans while allowing wealthy tax cheats skirt paying what they owe. This is just the beginning for Trump and DOGE, who have ordered all government agencies to submit a plan for large-scale reductions in force (RIFs) by March 13th.
The Trump Administration Is Pushing To Privatize Government Service To Benefit Elon Musk and His Billionaire Friends As The Economy Tanks. Private companies with military contracts like Palantir, Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman have applauded DOGE as they see new opportunities to further privatize government services and expand their profits. Musk’s own SpaceX is primed to benefit from the DOGE CR as the bill provides a $4 billion blank check to the Federal Aviation Administration, where Musk’s former SpaceX employees have taken up residence and can steer contracts to Musk businesses.