From Public Citizen <president@citizen.org>
Subject department of government deficiency
Date January 14, 2025 7:46 PM
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As you may know, Donald Trump tapped Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, and
Vivek Ramaswamy, another billionaire, to spin up a so-called “Department of
Government Efficiency” (a.k.a. DOGE).

According to a 1972 law called the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the
membership of an entity like DOGE must be “fairly balanced in terms of the
points of view represented and the functions to be performed.”

Two billionaires is not “fairly balanced.”

That’s why we sent a letter
[[link removed]] to Trump’s transition team yesterday formally requesting that the two of us —
Public Citizen Co-Presidents Lisa Gilbert and Robert Weissman — be appointed to
the Department of Government Efficiency.

Here’s some of what we said in our letter:

* “Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy both hold financial interests that will be
directly affected by federal budgetary policies — presenting substantial
conflict of interest concerns.”

* “In bringing the consumer and public perspective to DOGE, we can offer views
that are untainted by the appearance of corruption or self-dealing.”

* “All signs suggest the non-representative DOGE co-chairs aim to use
‘efficiency’ as a cover to drive a pro-corporate, anti-regulatory agenda and
an ideologically driven social service cuts program. This would constitute an
anti-efficiency agenda.”

* “We are prepared to offer a range of evidence-based efficiency proposals — to
slash drug prices, end privatized Medicare, reduce the wasteful Pentagon
budget — that would save American taxpayers and consumers hundreds of
billions of dollars every year.”

* “We also have recommendations for smart, efficient public investments — in
human development and to address climate change — that will have a positive
monetary return for the government and society.”

Help get Public Citizen Co-Presidents Lisa Gilbert and Robert Weissman appointed
to DOGE.

To Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Vivek Ramaswamy:
[[link removed]]

As currently constituted, your so-called “Department of Government Efficiency”
is actually deficient in at least two major ways. First, you have appointed
exactly nobody who represents everyday consumers and the public interest (as
opposed to the wishes of billionaires and Big Business). Second, and as a result
of the first deficiency, DOGE is in violation of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act. You can address both of these deficiencies by appointing Public Citizen
Co-Presidents Lisa Gilbert and Robert Weissman to the committee right away.
[[link removed]]

Click to add your name now. [[link removed]]

Thanks for taking action.

For progress,

- Lisa Gilbert & Robert Weissman, Co-Presidents of Public Citizen


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