Connect with us

Washington, D.C

Trump Impact: DC mayor would ‘absolutely’ share ideas with Musk’s government efficiency task force – WTOP News

Published

on

Trump Impact: DC mayor would ‘absolutely’ share ideas with Musk’s government efficiency task force – WTOP News


There seems to be some common ground between D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Elon Musk, who will head a task force that will make recommendations to President-elect Donald Trump on how to reshape the federal workforce.

This story is part of WTOP’s ongoing series, Trump Impact, which looks at how the new administration could change the D.C. region.

Mayor Muriel Bowser answers questions about DOGE at a news conference on Nov. 21, 2024. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)

The D.C. region will be hearing more and more about the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, in the coming months as he leads a task force that will make recommendations to President-elect Donald Trump on how to reshape the federal workforce.

Advertisement

At least in some areas, Musk and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser seem to agree.

Musk will lead a task force called the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. The group posted a statement on social media late Wednesday saying federal agencies are using, on average, just 12% of the space in their D.C. headquarters.

“Why are American taxpayer dollars being spent to maintain empty buildings?” the statement asked.


More Trump Impact


When asked whether Bowser had any advice for the group related to that topic, the D.C. mayor said, “We think the federal government needs a centralized remote work policy.”

Advertisement

“Our message about that is the same as it’s been for the last almost four years,” Bowser said. “We think that government workers should be in their offices more than they’re on telework.”

When asked whether Bowser would be willing to work with the task force if it reached out to her, she responded by saying, “I absolutely will share my ideas.”

Plans for the Department of Government Efficiency are still coming into focus.

The group put out a call for “small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.”

Applicants are encouraged to submit their resumes through X, the social media company that Musk owns.

Advertisement

In an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, Musk and Ramaswamy said that they want to “identify the minimum number of employees required at an agency for it to perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions,” leading to “mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy.”

Some employees could choose “voluntary severance payments to facilitate a graceful exit,” the pair wrote.

Others would be encouraged to quit by mandating that they show up at the office five days a week, ending the pandemic-era flexibility that remote work provides.

The requirement “would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome,” Musk and Ramaswamy said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Advertisement

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Washington, D.C

See photos: Military vehicles set up in Washington DC ahead of parade

Published

on

See photos: Military vehicles set up in Washington DC ahead of parade


play

Preparations are underway for the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade in Washington D.C., which also falls on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.

Held in the nation’s capital, the event is set to include Army parachutists jumping from aircraft, landing and giving Trump an American flag for his birthday, Pentagon officials said, according to Axios.

Advertisement

More than two dozen M1 Abrams tanks, scores of infantry vehicles and thousands of soldiers are also expected to be involved in the event.

A rare sight in Washington D.C., the last major military parade was held in 1991 to celebrate the end of the first Gulf War. The large military movement into the city comes only days after Trump sent 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles amid an immigration crackdown and protests.

With only days before the Saturday, June 14 event, tanks, helicopters and other military vehicles are beginning to stage in the nation’s capital.

Photos: Preparations underway for US Army’s 250th anniversary parade

Contributing: George Petras and Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY

Advertisement

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.



Source link

Continue Reading

Washington, D.C

DC leaders announce plan to increase waterfront access in Georgetown

Published

on

DC leaders announce plan to increase waterfront access in Georgetown


Changes are coming to the Georgetown Waterfront.

D.C. leaders unveiled a plan Tuesday morning to increase public access, specifically for non-motorized boating activities along the Potomac River, after a decade in the making. The District, Georgetown University and the National Park Service will take part in land swap.

Advertisement

What we know:

D.C. officials say Georgetown will donate a parcel of land on the Potomac River to the National Park Service to be added to the boundary of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. This will allow for a continuous path from the Capital Crescent Trail to the Georgetown Waterfront Park.

Advertisement

The National Park will then transfer jurisdiction of two parcels at the base of the Key Bridge to the district, which will then transfer the site to the west of the bridge to Georgetown to create a university boathouse, serving as a hub for the men’s and women’s rowing teams.

“Mayor Bowser has made this a big point. D.C. is a waterfront city and we’ve got wonderful access to the water and recreational opportunities, and this final push to complete the land swap is going to unlock this access to the river at this particular point which is right under the Key Bridge,” said Nina Albert, D.C. Deputy Mayor for planning and economic development.

Dig deeper:

Advertisement

Georgetown will provide year-round public access to the boathouse docks, giving the community access to kayak, paddle board and canoe along the Potomac River.

This increased access will benefit rowers, like D.C. resident Ivin Boddy, who frequents the Potomac River.

Advertisement

“I think it would increase more of our foreign visitors and our domestic visitors coming to town. So, I think it would definitely do some great justice for them,” Boddy said.

Others like D.C. resident Zaidun Jawdat, who frequents the area often, are curious to see what eventually happens.

“We enjoy it completely. We’re happy with it,” said Jawdat.
“I’m not sure just how much is going to change. I guess if they invest in structures and docking wharfs – maybe that changes the character.”

Advertisement

The land transaction is currently being finalized – and residents should expect to see changes within the next few years.

GeorgetownWashington, D.C.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Washington, D.C

Showers, storms possible Tuesday across DC region; Canada wildfire smoke returns Wednesday

Published

on

Showers, storms possible Tuesday across DC region; Canada wildfire smoke returns Wednesday


A humid and cloudy Tuesday across the D.C. area, with highs in the mid-80s and a chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Morning temperatures range from the upper 60s to low 70s, with dense air making outdoor conditions uncomfortable.

Advertisement

Storms and humidity 

What we know:

Spotty showers may develop early, particularly south toward Fredericksburg and southern Maryland, as well as northwest near Hagerstown and parts of West Virginia.

Advertisement

A cold front is expected to move through later in the day, bringing relief from high humidity and reducing the risk of showers and storms.

Temperatures should peak around 84 degrees, with a chance of pop-up storms through the afternoon. Skies will clear overnight, and humidity will drop, leading to drier conditions by Wednesday.

Wildfire smoke returns

Advertisement

Wednesday will be less humid, though Canadian wildfire smoke is expected to return, creating hazy sunshine.

By late this week, clouds will build again as temperatures rise, bringing unsettled weather heading into the weekend.

https://static.fox5dc.com/www.fox5dc.com/content/uploads/2025/06/weathertuesday-5.jpeg

Advertisement

The Source: Information in this article comes from the FOX 5 Weather Team and the National Weather Service.

NewsWeatherWashington, D.C.MarylandVirginia



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending