The actual math behind DOGE’s cuts
Today’s must-read: “If you thought Elon Musk was really trying to cut costs, you weren’t in on the joke,” Jessica Riedl writes.
 

One Story to Read Today highlights a single newly published—or newly relevant—Atlantic story that’s worth your time.

“As an effort to meaningfully reduce federal spending,” Jessica Riedl writes, “DOGE remains wholly unserious.”

(Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Roberto Schmidt / AFP/ Getty; Julia Nikhinson / Bloomberg / Getty.)

 

In November, when Donald Trump first announced his plan to place Elon Musk in charge of a new Department of Government Efficiency, the idea was widely written off as a joke. Then Trump took office, and DOGE began its very real stampede through the government …

Musk initially promised that he would eliminate $2 trillion of the $7 trillion federal budget, before scaling back his ambitions to $1 trillion, and then $150 billion. Even that revised target is highly improbable.

Previous One Story picks:

Sign up for This Week, our editors’ Sunday-evening selection of stories that are sparking conversation right now.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here. For full access to our journalism, subscribe to The Atlantic.

Give The Atlantic. Save $20. Now until June 2.

 

When you give an Atlantic subscription to someone special, you’re giving them the tools to understand this moment and every moment to come: fearless reporting, bold ideas, and fair-handed insight on all of today’s most urgent issues. For a limited time, save $20 when you give any Atlantic subscription.

Give Unlimited Access

This email was sent to npsge3tx@nie.podam.pl
You've signed up to receive newsletters from The Atlantic.

If you wish to unsubscribe from The Atlantic newsletters, click here.

To update your email preferences, click here.

The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC · 610 Water Street, SW · Washington, DC 20024