Prof. June Carbone Co-Authors Op-Ed in Washington Monthly About Musk’s Dictatorial Power Similar to Other CEOs

Professor June Carbone co-authored a Washington Monthly op-ed about Elon Musk and how his slash-and-burn style of firings of government officials is not unlike how many CEOs of today treat their employees. She said the problem isn’t just the DOGE czar. It’s a culture of charismatic CEOs being more interested in short-term gain than stewardship. Prof. Carbone wrote, “The federal government, however, is not a business. One-man rule is inconsistent with the separation of powers. The objectives of government agencies are not the whims of one person — or even the administration — currently in power; they reflect long-term and frequently bipartisan public commitments. Cutting costs is not the same as increasing efficiency; cashiering experienced employees, both in business and government, undermines institutional effectiveness. Instead, Musk’s co-presidency should be seen as a naked — and quite possibly illegal — power grab. These tactics, which have dramatically increased economic inequality, benefit the new oligarchs at the expense of everyone else. In government, like business, these tactics are a recipe for dictatorship.”