Pennsylvania Avenue near the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 12.
Photographer: Al Drago/BloombergDOGE Unleashes Wrecking Ball That Rips Into DC’s Special Status
The US capital usually enjoys a steady economy with stable employment. Elon Musk’s cost-slashing campaign is causing unprecedented upheaval.
Many American cities have suffered after the disruption of a crucial hometown industry. The nation’s capital never has, until now.
The swift and comprehensive campaign by President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk to rein in government spending is expected to throw a wrench into the economic engine that built modern Washington. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has fired thousands of federal employees, and wants to close agencies, abandon leases and tear up billions of dollars in government contracts.