America in Brief

DOGE publishes its vision; the Pentagon fails seventh audit in a row; Texas targets CCP infiltration; and Calexit aims for California to exit the United States.
America in Brief
(Left) Vivek Ramaswamy speaks before Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump takes the stage at the campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Oct. 27, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Right) Tesla CEO Elon Musk leaves the Phillip Burton federal building in San Francisco, Calif., on Jan. 24, 2023. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Musk, Ramaswamy Publish DOGE’s Vision

Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy have laid out their vision as co-heads of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a Nov. 20 Wall Street Journal opinion piece.

The mission is to hire a crew of people to “cut the federal government down to size,” which includes cutting government spending, slashing regulations, and removing wasteful agencies, eventually eliminating the need for its existence by American Independence Day on July 4, 2026.

The plan was created during a pre-election interview between President-elect Donald Trump and Musk on his social media platform X.

Trump has hailed DOGE as the “Manhattan Project of our time.”

Pentagon Fails Audit for 7th Year in a Row

The U.S. Pentagon has failed its seventh audit in a row since 2018, saying that it cannot explain its budget of more than $800 billion.

In a Nov. 15 statement, the Department of Defense claimed that although “significant work remains and challenges lie ahead,” significant progress has been made and the “path forward is clear.”

Its next deadline will be in 2028.

Texas Targets Chinese Communist Influence in State

Texas is targeting Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence in the state in terms of cyber security, foreign interference, and protecting local dissidents from harassment.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbot is ordering a review to study potential vulnerabilities within the government systems and critical infrastructure from any potential cyberattacks, as well as state agencies and public institutions of higher education.

Employees of higher education institutions are also forbidden from being involved in “any foreign recruitment program by a foreign adversary nation.”

Abbott also issued an order on Nov. 21 prohibiting any state funded investments in China.

In addition, the state ordered the protection of Chinese dissidents from “coordinated harassment and coercion” by the CCP of forcible repatriation.

Poll workers attach a sign as they set up a voting station at Laguna Beach City Hall in Laguna Beach, California, on Nov. 6, 2018. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)
Poll workers attach a sign as they set up a voting station at Laguna Beach City Hall in Laguna Beach, California, on Nov. 6, 2018. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Californian Group ‘Calexit’ Aim for the State to Leave US

A Californian group called Calexit is following in the footsteps of Brexit, aiming for the state to leave the United States.

The group filed a petition with the state on Nov. 19 to start the process of asking voters whether they approve of the process for California’s independence.

If approved, the question will appear on the 2026 ballot.

It’s common for voters in the United States to vote on a number of issues during elections, with each state having its own succession of related issues up for vote.

Stuart Liess
Stuart Liess
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