Elon Musk's recent announcement of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked controversy, with many questioning the true intentions behind this proposed entity. As it turns out, DOGE is not a new concept, but rather a rehashing of old right-wing ideas aimed at dismantling the federal government and concentrating power among a select few.

Behind the memey name and Musk's charismatic persona lies a sinister plot to gut the civil service, a plan that has been floated by right-wing thinkers and politicians for years. The incoming Trump administration has already expressed support for similar ideas, and with a friendly Supreme Court, the stage is set for a radical overhaul of the federal government.

Musk and his partner, Vivek Ramaswamy, have proposed cutting "thousands" of federal regulations and determining the "minimum number of employees required at an agency for it to perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions." These plans sound eerily familiar to those proposed by Curtis Yarvin, a "neoreactionary" philosopher and self-proclaimed monarchist, who in 2012 suggested "rebooting" the government by firing all government employees.

Yarvin's ideas have gained traction among members of the incoming Trump administration, including Michael Anton, a fellow at the right-wing Claremont Institute who is in the running to be Trump's deputy national security adviser. While Yarvin's ultimate goal is to do away with liberal democracy altogether, Musk's vision for DOGE isn't far off, aiming to weaken checks and balances and cut basic government services to concentrate power among a small group of plutocrats.

The implications of DOGE are far-reaching and alarming. By cutting regulations and dismantling the civil service, Musk and the Trump administration are paving the way for unchecked corporate power and a erosion of democratic institutions. The recent Supreme Court decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturned Chevron deference, has given the administration a historic opportunity to push through these radical changes.

As the incoming administration prepares to take office, it's clear that DOGE is more than just a pet project for Musk – it's a Trojan horse for a broader assault on the federal government. With the courts unlikely to stop Trump, the stage is set for a radical transformation of the US government, one that could have far-reaching consequences for democracy and the rule of law.

In the end, DOGE is not about cutting costs or increasing efficiency – it's about consolidating power and wealth among a select few. As Musk and his allies continue to push for this radical overhaul, it's essential that Americans remain vigilant and critical of these plans, lest they wake up to a government that is no longer of the people, by the people, and for the people.