The Technocracy of Elon Musk: A New Era of Governance or the Folly of a Teenager?

Elon Musk is THE big man in Washington, some would say more than the newly anointed Trump, whose election was probably made possible by the millions of dollars, and the visibility, that Musk gifted to him. In return, Trump has handed over the reins of government to the billionaire whose ambition seems to know no bounds. Musk’s reach is into technology, information, industrial development, and now politics. His geographical limits are just as wide-ranging; he is meddling in the internal politics of European countries like Italy, France, the UK and Germany.

Having been given the keys of the kingdom by Trump, he has emerged as a central figure in the establishment of a form of governance known as technocracy. This concept, which dates back to the early 20th century, advocates for the rule of society by technical experts rather than elected representatives. Certainly, no one has elected Musk to any position in the US government, yet Musk’s influence  seems to be growing by the day, sparking admiration among the die-hard conservatives—principally, MAGA–and fear among others who don’t share a view of an American government that aims to control both the minds and bodies of its citizens through legislation and the takeover of the information-dissemination apparatus. The most restrictive abortion laws, diktats on vaccination, censorship of media—are all part of the attempt to turn back the clock to a time when the country was ruled by a white, male, heterosexual hegemony.

It seems that every day more shocking news comes out of Washington, we can hardly keep up with Trump and Musk’s attempts to reshape the government and accrue more power to the office of the president while trampling on the role of the other branches. Representatives in Congress might as well go home; if Trump and Musk have their way, their approval on new legislation will not be needed. Lawmakers should just leave their rubber stamps on their desks as they make their way out, heads hanging in shame and humiliation.

Elon Musk’s involvement in government reform began with his appointment as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). From the start, it was controversial, as it was established by an executive order from President Donald Trump on the first day of his second term, on January 20, 2025. Its legality has been a subject of debate and legal challenges. Critics argue that DOGE oversteps its authority and raises concerns about conflicts of interest, especially given Elon Musk’s involvement. There is widespread public concern about the concentration of power in the hands of a non-elected individual with extensive business interests.

His mission is to cut government spending and implement reforms that streamline bureaucratic processes. Yet, Musk’s approach is characterized by a relentless pursuit not only of efficiency and innovation, but a strategy that aims to obliterate disagreement with the Trump ideological agenda. He has focused on reducing federal spending by targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, consulting contracts, and underutilized federal leases. Trump, on the other hand, has targeted entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, advocating for cuts or reforms to reduce government spending and address the national debt.  Yet cutting may not be the word that applies to their efforts, it is more a matter of redirecting the funds, for while these programs have indeed been cut or downsized, spending has increased for space exploration, the military, innovation and infrastructure.

Critics worry that Musk’s influence could undermine democratic processes and lead to a system where decisions are made based on technical expertise rather than public input. Many see this as a fundamental threat to democracy and claim that we are already witnessing its enfeeblement.

Elon Musk’s appointment is legitimized through a designation that allows him to work for the federal government temporarily, without being a full-time employee or receiving a paycheck. This is not new, but it is not commonly used. The idea is that his expertise and private sector experience can help identify and eliminate wasteful spending in federal programs, but critics question his judgement, pointing out how he destroyed Twitter by deploying the same methods. While he purchased Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, recent valuations by Fidelity indicate that X is now worth $12.32 billion, which is 72% less than what Musk paid.

So much for efficiency and cost-cutting.

The idea of technocracy first gained traction in the 1930s with the Technocracy Movement, which proposed replacing politicians and business leaders with scientists and engineers. That belief, once dead, has seen a resurgence, but the backlash against Elon Musk’s powerful role in the government has been significant and multifaceted.

It has sparked protests and demonstrations. Rep. Jamie Raskin and fellow Democratic legislators, federal workers, and outraged Americans protested outside the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters. It has led to legal challenges as several lawsuits have been filed against Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). These lawsuits focus on privacy law violations, the structure of DOGE, and potential conflicts of interest.  Democratic lawmakers have expressed alarm over Musk’s actions, warning that bypassing established safeguards could damage national security. They have also criticized the lack of transparency and accountability in Musk’s role.

Despite protests and lawsuits, the prevailing attitude in Washington is to ignore all obstacles and forge ahead with the master plan. As proof, Musk has hired as his “lieutenant,” Edward Coristine a 19-year-old tech wiz who is known online as ‘Big Balls’. This is one of the prodigies who, drawing on his vast experience as a teenager, will slash government waste in the new technocracy.