(5 Dec 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington, DC - 5 December 2024
1. Elon Musk walks down stairs in Capitol with his son, X Æ A-Xii Musk, on his shoulders
POOL
Washington, DC - 5 December 2024
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House:
"This is an important day. It's the beginning of a journey. You've heard what DOGE is all about, the Department of Government Efficiency. It's a new thing and this is a new day in Washington and a new day in America. We have long lamented the size and scope of the government, that it has grown too large. And let me be frank about this: government is too big, it does too many things, and it does almost nothing well. And the taxpayers deserve better. They deserve a more responsive government, a more efficient government, one that is leaner and more focused on its primary objectives. And that's the opportunity that we have here now. We believe it's an historic moment for the country and these two gentlemen are going to help navigate through this exciting new day."
3. Musk, Ramaswamy and Johnson walk through hallway between meetings ++PARTIALLY COVERS SOUNDBITE ABOVE++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House:
"As we're laying the groundwork for the new year and the new Congress and you're going to see a lot of change around here and in Washington in the way things are run."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington, DC - 5 December 2024
5. Elon Musk walks out of meeting with Vivek Ramaswamy and House Speaker Mike Johnson, his 4-year-old son X Æ A-Xii sitting on his shoulders
6. UPSOUND (English) Reporters shout questions at Elon Musk:
"(Reporter: Elon, do you want to see Democrats here?)
Musk: Yes!"
7. Musk and company walk around corner into meeting
STORYLINE:
It's DOGE time at the U.S. Capitol.
Billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy arrived Tuesday on Capitol Hill meeting with legislators behind closed doors about President-elect Donald Trump's plans to “dismantle” the federal government.
Trump tapped the two business titans to head his Department of Government Efficiency, tasked with firing federal workers, cutting government programs and slashing federal regulations — all part of what he calls his "Save America" agenda for a second term in the White House.
“We're going to see a lot of change around here in Washington,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, as Musk, with a small child on his shoulders, breezed by and into the private meeting.
Washington has seen this before, with ambitious efforts to reduce the size and scope of the federal government that historically have run into resistance when the public is confronted with cuts to trusted programs that millions of Americans depend on for jobs, health care, military security and everyday needs.
But this time Trump is staffing his administration with battle-tested architects of sweeping proposals, some outlined in Project 2025, to severely reduce and reshape the government.
Musk and Ramaswamy said they plan to work alongside the White House's Office of Management and Budget, headed by Trump's nominee Russ Vought, a mastermind of past cuts.
The duo were invited to Capitol Hill for what Johnson called a “brainstorming” session with House and Senate lawmakers.
Despite its name, the Department of Government Efficiency is neither a department nor part of the government, which frees Musk and Ramaswamy from having to go through the typical ethics and background checks required for federal employment. They said they will not be paid for their work.
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