Military heads address Musk: Prepared to adopt DOGE currency for operational expenses
It's Going Down Doge-Style: The Army's Unconventional Budget Cuts
In a surprising move, the Army has decided to take matters into its own hands as it grapples with budget cuts. No more begging Congress for money, no more pleading for jobs in their districts - they're cutting the waste themselves, inspired by elite tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
An informal meeting at the White House, attended by Vice President JD Vance (a Marine vet), Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, General Randy George, and Musk himself, kickstarted the motion. Army leaders, under pressure to make drastic cuts, wanted to ditch the outdated and expensive equipment. Musk and Vance, on the same page, approved the audacious plan.
The ambitious plan involves eliminating unnecessary Army programs, reducing redundancies in general officer billets and civilian roles, and convincing the public and Capitol Hill that the programs the Army doesn't want are failing. Army leaders determine to cut anywhere between 8-20% of their workforce, with early estimates suggesting around 20,000 jobs on the line.
Two programs facing the chopping block are the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (Humvee). Instead, they're pinning their hopes on the newer Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). There's also the possibility of opting for the AH-64E Apache helicopter over the Delta variant, and replacing the Gray Eagle drone with newer models. Lastly, at least seven other programs are under review for potential changes.
However, this ambitious plan is expected to face significant opposition from Congress, especially due to concerns about jobs and money in their districts. In anticipation, the Pentagon has prepared a "DoD Directive," granting Army officials more autonomy in what they can buy and reducing Congress' overruling power in the budget process.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, a close friend of Vance's, has hired a public affairs consulting firm, MAD Global Strategy, to make the case for why certain programs should be cut. The firm will provide evidence that the current acquisition process is costly, time-consuming, and inefficient, shedding light on vehicles too heavy to cross bridges, overpriced software, and expensive historic buildings.
The ultimate goal? To show the public that the current acquisition process is wasteful and in need of an overhaul. From the Army's perspective, it's time to stop DOGEing themselves and focus on the essentials - war-winning technology. It's a bold move that the military world can't ignore.
- The Army, citing cost-effectiveness and inspired by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is planning to consolidate their budget by eliminating unnecessary programs and reducing redundancies.
- In the wake of budget cuts, Musk, Vice President JD Vance, and Army leaders have approved a plan to reduce military expenditure by cutting up to 20% of the Army's workforce and reconsidering certain programs, including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (Humvee).
- Anticipating resistance from Congress, the Pentagon has issued a "DoD Directive" to increase the Army's autonomy in budget decisions, which is expected to face controversy due to concerns about jobs and funding in politicians' districts.
- Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Vice President JD Vance have enlisted the services of MAD Global Strategy, a public affairs consulting firm, to make a case for costly, time-consuming, and inefficient military programs that are on the chopping block, with the ultimate goal of demonstrating the necessity of streamlining the acquisition process and focusing on essential war-winning technology.
