Conservative scholar and historian Victor Davis Hanson has posted a great video to explain to those in doubt whether Elon Musk’s work with DOGE is legal and legitimate.
The answer is “yes,” of course, but Hanson explains it for those who need the full information.
He starts this way:
Is the Left taking the bait? While many in the legacy media continue to berate Elon Musk for his role in defunding bloated federal programs and agencies, Donald Trump remains largely unscathed. Is this part of a larger strategy by the president, wonders Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”
“He’s more legitimate—or he has more statutory legitimacy—than earlier presidential advisors, like Harry Hopkins, who moved into the White House under the FDR administration, or Bernard Baruch, who basically ran two world wars, in terms of domestic production, under Woodrow Wilson and FDR. So, let’s just dispel the idea that he’s doing anything unusual. …
.@VDHanson: Sorry, Liberals. DOGE Is 100% Legal. Here’s Why.
Is the Left taking the bait? While many in the legacy media continue to berate Elon Musk for his role in defunding bloated federal programs and agencies, Donald Trump remains largely unscathed. Is this part of a larger… pic.twitter.com/Mah9CV5PET
— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) February 10, 2025
“As far as the executive orders that created the DOGE program and eliminated USAID—that was perfectly legal in itself—USAID was created by John F. Kennedy in 1961 by an executive order. There was a statutory direction for the president to disperse foreign aid into a comprehensive body, but it didn’t say USAID—he could do whatever he wanted. …
“And so, Donald Trump has decided to end an autonomous USAID and fold it into the State Department for disaster relief or poverty relief or famine relief. …
“All Donald Trump is doing is saying, ‘I don’t believe the impoundment act is legal. We’ll see what the Supreme Court says—but I’m just following the precedent that Joe Biden did.’ But now, the shoe’s on the other foot.”
For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com
Exactly.
Now you know.
If you want to skip around:
00:00 Introduction to Elon Musk’s Role
00:24 Clarifying Elon Musk’s Government Position
02:04 Historical Context and Legal Authority
03:29 Controversies and Legal Precedents
05:45 Media Perception and Public Reaction
06:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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