Trump’s threat to impose tariffs could raise prices for consumers, colliding with promise for relief

NoneNoneHONG KONG , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited ("Dunxin" or the "Company") (OTC Pink: DXFFY), a company engaged in real estate operation management and investment and a digital technology security business in Hong Kong , today announced that it plans to change the ratio of its American depositary shares ("ADSs") from one (1) ADS representing four hundred and eighty (480) Class A ordinary shares to one (1) ADS representing sixty thousand (60,000) Class A ordinary shares. The effect of the ratio change on the ADS trading price on the OTC Pink (the "OTC") is expected to take place at the open of trading on December 4, 2024 (U.S. Eastern Time). For the Company's ADS holders, the ADS ratio change will have the same effect as a one-for-one hundred and twenty-five reverse split. There will be no change to the Company's Class A ordinary shares. ADS holders of record on the effective date will need to surrender their ADS to the depositary bank for cancellation and exchange in connection with the ADS ratio change, with further details to be provided in the notice by the depositary bank. As of the effective date for the ADS ratio change, Dunxin's ADSs will continue to be traded on the OTC under the symbol "DXFFY". No fractional new ADSs will be issued in connection with the change in the ADS ratio. Instead, fractional entitlements to new ADSs will be aggregated and sold by the depositary bank and the net cash proceeds from the sale of the fractional ADS entitlements (after deduction of fees, taxes and expenses) will be distributed to the applicable ADS holders by the depositary bank. As a result of the change in the ADS ratio, the ADS price is expected to increase proportionally, although the Company can give no assurance that the ADS price after the change in the ADS ratio will be equal to or greater than the ADS price on a proportionate basis. About Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited Dunxin is a licensed microfinance lender serving individuals and SMEs in Hubei Province , China . Dunxin suspended offering loans to its customers since 2020. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as "may, "will, "intend," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate" or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; the growth of market in China and the other international markets the Company plans to serve; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and the international markets the Company plans to serve and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov . The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dunxin-financial-holdings-limited-announces-planned-ads-ratio-change-302321596.html SOURCE Dunxin Financial Holding Limited

NoneSocial Security COLA 2025: Here's How Much Your Check Will Increase in January

Shailene Woodley didn’t want to say much about Aaron Rodgers in a new interview, because, she said, reflecting on her relationship with the controversial NFL quarterback “always makes me cry.” During an overnight camping trip in Malibu with a reporter for Outside magazine , the 33-year-old actor and environmentalist also said that her relationship with Rodgers, which reportedly began during the COVID-19 pandemic and ended in February 2022, “was not right.” “But it was beautiful,” she added in the interview published Tuesday. Later in the conversation, Woodley also alluded to how difficult the relationship became and how devastated she was when it ended. She and Rodgers reportedly began dating during the pandemic lockdown in July 2020, around the time he ended his two-year relationship with race car driver Danica Patrick. The revealed their engagement in 2021. “I had a really awful, traumatic thing happen in early 2022,” Woodley told Outside later in the conversation. Yes, the “Divergent” star wasn’t being specific here about the “awful, traumatic thing,” but Outside noted that her engagement to the former Green Bay Packers quarterback was called off that February. “I felt like I lost my soul, my self, my happiness, my joy,” Woodley said. “I really understood depression and anxiety and, like, complete soul detachment.” Woodley also said she chose to remain in a “toxic situation” because she was empathizing with “someone else.” “Empathy,” she says, “kind of kept me in this loop of feeling everything for everyone.” For Outside magazine, the “Big Little Lies” actor was being profiled as the publication’s Outsider of the Year. In a previous interview, Woodley opened up about “the darkest, hardest time in my life,” taking place in the fall of 2021, a time that coincided with the final months of her relationship with Rodgers and when he sparked national controversy by ranting critically about the COVID-19 vaccine. In a 2023 interview with Net-A-Porter’s Porter magazine, Woodley talked about dating “somebody in America who was very, very famous,” without naming Rodgers. In the fall of 2021, she also was filming the series, “Three Women.” But she talked about how it was difficult to focus on her work. “It was winter in New York, and my personal life was (expletive), so it felt like a big pain bubble for eight months,” Woodley said to Porter magazine. “I was so grateful that at least I could go to work and cry and process my emotions through my character,” Woodley said. In early November 2021, Rodgers did serious damage to his public image as a popular NFL star by going on an angry anti-COVID vaccination rant on “The Pat McAfee Show.” The reigning Most Valuable Player was then accused of being an arrogant, narcissistic crackpot with a persecution complex after he claimed he was a victim of “the woke mob” and that the media had launched “a witch hunt” to pin him down on whether he had been vaccinated. Unfortunately for Woodley, she was caught up in Rodgers’ controversy, mainly by coming to his defense in ways that were seen as tone-deaf, given that public health officials had raised serious concerns about the potential harm caused by Rodgers’ anti-vaccination statements in the midst of a global pandemic. Woodley took to social media to post snarky, expletive-laced and even sexually suggestive Instagram defenses of Rodgers. Over the next month, one source close to Woodley and Rodgers told People that they were trying to make their relationship work, while another insider said that they “disagreed on a lot of things,” including politics, but that they tried to keep the peace by not debating those topics. But the likelihood of a split became apparent when the Chico-reared Rodgers failed to thank Woodley or even mention her name when he won his third NFL MVP award in early February 2022. Reports soon followed that they had ended their engagement. Rodgers then appeared again on “The Pat McAfee Show,” during which he said he didn’t regret speaking his mind about the COVID-19 vaccine, but said he regretted how those comments impacted his loved ones. Rodgers, now the embattled quarterback for the losing New York Jets , then apologized directly to Woodley — or “Shai” — and others, saying he was “very sorry” for the blowback they encountered. A year later, Woodley acknowledged to Porter that being in “a quote-unquote ‘famous’ relationship” became difficult. “It honestly never really hit me that millions of people around the world were actually watching these things and paid attention to them,” she said. “I watched (the) scrutiny, opinions, the desire for people to know my life and his life and our life — it just felt violating in a way that, before, it was fun. I’m a very private person, and so I found that any time I posted anything, I instantly felt like I was sharing too much of who I am with people I didn’t necessarily trust.”World No.1 chess player Magnus Carlsen feels that the ongoing World Chess Championship 2024 has reached a point where India’s D Gukesh is no more a favourite. Gukesh, who won FIDE Candidates 2024 at the age of 17 and helped India win a historic gold medal at the 45th Olympiad, was seen as a clear favourite going into the World Chess Championship 2024 against reigning champion Ding Liren of China. Ding, 32, had not won a classical chess game since January 2024 before the Championship began on 25 November at the Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore but stunned the world with a victory in Game 1 before losing to Gukesh in Game 3. The other seven matches so far have ended in a draw and the scores are tied at 4.5-4.5. The 14-game series has five more games left and will resume with Game 10 on Saturday (7 December). “We have finally arrived at a point where Gukesh is not a favourite in this match anymore. We have a pure 50-50 match at this point,” Carlsen said on the Take Take Take app while reviewing the Game 9. Carlsen, a five-time world champion, has been quite critical of the standard of chess played so far at the World Chess Championship 2024. The 34-year-old Norwegian also analysed Gukesh’s game and felt that the Indian Grandmaster is not doing enough in the Championship to secure a win. “If Gukesh had been more vigilant or more accurate, he could have put Ding under pressure here,” Carlsen said analysing a move in Game 9. “This is what he’s done wrong. When Ding has little time, he has sort of forced Ding to play well.” “It is easier to say in hindsight, but I think Gukesh could have done a little better to keep the tension in a position that is objectively drawn, but at the moment not completely equal. I think he made it a little too easy for Ding.”

DETROIT — For most of a century, the Detroit Lions making the playoffs was a banner day. Suddenly, it has become old hat. After winning their last NFL championship in 1957, the Lions only played 13 playoff games in the next 75 seasons. They only won one of them — a 38-6 rout of the Dallas Cowboys in 1991. That all changed last season. The Lions beat the Rams, 24-23, on Jan. 14 and then defeated Tampa Bay, 31-23, a week later. They led the NFC championship game 24-7 at halftime, but the San Francisco 49ers rallied to win 34-31. This year, things have been even better. A week after a Thanksgiving win over the Chicago Bears, the Lions beat Green Bay, 34-31, to move to 12-1 and clinch a second straight postseason berth — the first time they’ve done that since going three years in a row from 1993-95. Coach Dan Campbell didn’t even notice his team had secured a playoff spot after beating the Packers. “I just found that out — I didn’t even realize,” he said after the game. “It’s good. It’s good, but it’s like, man, we’ve got four (games) left and we want to get in a different way. We want to go in on our terms and find a way to get this one seed. That’s the priority.” Campbell was so oblivious to locking up a spot that he didn’t even mention it to the team after the game — although they might have seen “Playoffs Clinched” plastered all over the scoreboards. “I wish I had told the team, but I had no idea,” he said. “Honestly, I think they know. They feel like I feel. We can do the old golf clap, but we know what we want to do.” Jared Goff, who followed Campbell into the interview room, agreed with his coach. “I just heard that,” he said. “It’s pretty cool, but it is certainly not what our ultimate goal is. We want to win this division, and we’ve still got some work to do.” What’s working At 12-1 and on an 11-game winning streak, it is hard to find something that isn’t working. The Lions offense, though, has been remarkable. They have scored at least 23 points in 10 straight games, including six games over 30, four over 40 and two over 50. They are leading the league in scoring at 32.1 points per game and are fourth in passing touchdowns (27) and rushing touchdowns (22). What needs help The Lions are second in the league in scoring defense (18.0 ppg), but injuries are starting to catch up to them. Jordan Love averaged 10.3 yards per attempt and 17.2 yards per completion Thursday — both season-worsts for Detroit’s defense — and the Packers were the first team this season to score 30 points against them. Stock up Seven Lions defenders registered a quarterback hit Thursday night. Linebacker Jack Campbell was a first-round pick in 2023 and has been a fixture on the Detroit defense, but the other six — Al-Quadin Muhammad, Myles Adams, Trevor Nowaske, Za’Darius Smith, Ezekiel Turner and Jonah Williams — have joined the team during the regular season to replace injured players. Stock down Rookie CB Terrion Arnold had a rough day, including yet another pass interference penalty in the end zone, this one wiping out a Lions interception. He hasn’t recorded an interception in his 12-game career and is averaging 0.6 passes defensed. Injuries The Lions were missing 11 defensive linemen and linebackers against the Packers, then lost key defensive tackle Alim McNeill to a head injury. Most of those players are on injured reserve, but it isn’t clear if McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring), Josh Paschal (knee) or D.J. Reader (shoulder) will be available to face Buffalo on Dec. 15. Key number 18 — the number of Lions on injured reserve, more than any other team in the NFL. If anything can derail them between now and the Super Bowl, it is going to be running out of healthy players in places other than the defensive front seven. Next steps Get as much rest and healing as possible with a long week ahead.

Ed Sheeran, Sir Bob Geldof and the Band Aid controversy — everything we know so farNone

By MEAD GRUVER and AMY BETH HANSON A judge on Monday rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she is transgender. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to continue competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship scheduled for later this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players who are suing the Mountain West Conference to challenge the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Judge Crews referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender” player in his ruling and noted that no defendant disputed that San Jose State rosters a transgender woman volleyball player. He said the players who filed the complaint could have sought relief much earlier, noting that the individual universities had acknowledged that not playing their games against San Jose State this season would result in a forfeit in league standings. He also said injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player had been in effect since 2022 and the San Jose State player has been on the roster since 2022 – making that the status quo. Related Articles The player competed at the college level three previous seasons, including two for San Jose State, drawing little attention. This season’s awareness of her identity led to an uproar among some players, pundits, parents and politicians in a political campaign year. The tournament starts Wednesday and continues Friday and Saturday. San Jose State is seeded second. The judge’s order maintains the seedings and pairings for the tournament. Several teams refused to play against San Jose State during the season, earning losses in the official standings. Boise State and Wyoming each had two forfeits while Utah State and Nevada both had one. Southern Utah, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, was first to cancel against San Jose State this year. Nevada’s players stated they “refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” without providing further details. Crews served as a magistrate judge in Colorado’s U.S. District Court for more than five years before President Joe Biden appointed him to serve as a federal judge in January of this year. Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Hanson from Helena, Montana.

Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie insists title talk is premature

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that defenseman Filip Hronek will be out eight weeks with a lower-body injury. According to GM Patrik Allvin , Hronek, who has also dealt with an upper-body injury, was hurt during a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 27. The defenseman underwent a procedure that will keep him out of action, leaving the Canucks with questions about how to replace his minutes. The good news is, the team also announced that he will not need surgery on his upper-body injury. General Manager Patrik Allvin provides an update on Filip Hronek: pic.twitter.com/qKvHAeQnRO The 26-year-old defenseman has nine points in 21 games this season, often paired with captain Quinn Hughes . His absence leaves a significant gap in the Canucks’ lineup. Mark Friedman and Noah Juulsen have stepped in, but the Canucks may explore trade options to bolster their defensive depth. The Canucks were already rumored to be in the trade market for a defenseman. This news with likely add a sense of urgency to their exploring the market in an attempt to find someone who can keep the Canucks in the playoff picture. There are several players potentially available, but the question of salary cap and LTIR will be something Vancouver will have to monitor. Hronek is not out long enough that the Canucks can spend his cap hit and get him back without implications for the playoffs. They’ll need to ensure they have enough room on the roster to activate him around the end of January. This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.Even Justin Baldoni’s publicist called him ‘unlikable’ before Blake Lively ‘smear campaign’

Nikki Kaye was an MP for Auckland Central. Photo: RNZ A close friend of Kaye's, who did not want to be named, told RNZ she passed away after a long battle with cancer. Prime Minster Christopher Luxon and Deputy Leader of the National Party Nicola Willis led tributes for the MP, describing her today as a "cherished colleague and friend". Kaye represented the Auckland Central electorate and had been a deputy leader during her time at Parliament. “Nikki’s contribution to our party, her community, and New Zealand has left an indelible mark. Her tireless dedication, sharp intellect, and tenacity earned her the respect of people across the political spectrum,” Mr Luxon said in a statement this morning. “Nikki was a remarkable person and a crusader for what she believed in, and her contribution has left our country in a better place.” Willis said Kaye was one of the bravest Parliamentarians New Zealand has seen. "She was not only a colleague, but a brilliant friend to many of us. She was fiercely committed to her constituents and her values and she contributed so much of her soul to this country party and our party. “Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time." Devastating news. Nikki was one of the bravest parliamentarians New Zealand has had, fiercely advancing the liberal values and causes she believed in. She loved the National Party and contributed so much of her soul to it. I will be forever grateful for the contribution she made... — Nicola Willis (@NicolaWillisMP) November 25, 2024 Other colleagues also praised Kaye for her "caring heart" and "ferocious energy". Health Minister Dr Shane Reti said he was saddened by the news of her death. He said she made a valued contribution to education and he would miss her as a friend and colleague. Former National MP Maggie Barry posted on Facebook today a picture of them with the caption: "farewell my friend". Kaye was in Parliament for 12 years, entering in 2008 aged 28, before announcing in July 2020 she wouldn't contest the upcoming election. Kaye had worked for Bill English when he was Leader of the Opposition in 2002. In January 2013, she was appointed to Cabinet by then-Prime Minister Sir John Key, eventually holding ministerial (and associate) responsibilities for ACC, Civil Defence, Education, Food Safety, Immigration, Youth and Youth Affairs over the next seven years. In 2016, Kaye took leave after being diagnosed with breast cancer at 36 and returned to Parliament and her ministerial roles in 2017 after successful treatment. She held the electorate of Auckland Central during her entire time in Parliament, overthrowing Labour's Judith Tizard in 2008, and was the first National MP to win the electorate. She became the Deputy Leader of the National Party in May 2020 when Muller took over from Simon Bridges. A beautiful soul with a deeply caring heart fueled by a ferocious energy to serve her party, community and country often at the expense of her own health. I will miss her dearly. Rest in peace Nikki — Todd Muller (@toddmullerBoP) November 25, 2024 Kaye has always been more on the socially liberal side of the National Party, voting in favour of MP Louisa Wall's Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013, allowing same-sex couples to legally marry. In an interview with RNZ's Nine to Noon programme in 2020, Kaye spoke about having breast cancer. "The other thing is, being diagnosed with breast cancer, and I've not talked in detail about my health before, I don't see life as a situation whereby you can always plan things and my view is that you have to live every moment and I have given everything to the party and the country," she said in tears. "You have to know when your time is up and you've given it your all."I'm obsessed with golf, and these are the 29 Black Friday golf deals I'm buying

By KRISTEN WOOD Chilly weather and early nights make the holiday season the best time of year for cuddling up with your favorite games. From enjoying a quiet afternoon alone to gathering with family, these board, video and card games will bring cozy vibes to your holiday gaming. The holidays are prime time for coziness. Cold weather, hot drinks and days off work or school are perfect for snuggling up under a blanket. With many games designed to be cozy, relaxed and lighthearted, accompanying your cozy afternoons with a game might be your new holiday tradition. Many holidays bring together friends and family as well. While some families may look forward to feuding over the Risk board or resources in Settlers of Catan, more low-key games can be an opportunity to bond with loved ones. Cooperative games or games with a bit of friendly competition let you focus on who you’re playing with. Since these cozy games often have easier instructions, everyone can get involved. A busy holiday season also benefits from rest. Take a break from shopping, cooking, traveling and other holiday tasks with some games. Stress-busting games let you enjoy a couple of hours of quiet gameplay or raucous laughter, both sure to provide some relaxation. Relaxing board games are great for a lazy afternoon with friends or after dinner at a holiday party. These games often feature cooperative play or minimal competition, beautiful artwork and straightforward gameplay ideal for all ages. For the holidays, these games provide a whimsical escape from seasonal chaos. Patchwork Patchwork is a chill two-player puzzle game where you and your opponent compete to create the best quilt. The tactile experience and cozy results are relaxing on a chilly day. If you have more than two players, try Calico instead where you’ll create quilts for cats. Carcassonne In Carcassonne, players compete to build Medieval cities and fields by laying tiles. The game takes a bit of strategy and luck, and it will generate some friendly competition among children and adults alike. The charming artwork of parks, featuring America’s national parks, will also transport you on a road trip from the comfort of your home. Everdell and Flamecraft For those looking for longer gameplay, Everdell will have you playing as cute forest creatures building new cities during a game that averages a little over an hour. Flamecraft is another delightfully whimsical game where players try to attract dragons to improve the reputation of their shops. Each of these games is simple to pick up and, with every playthrough offering something new, they’ll get you through the entire holiday season. Parks, Everdell and Flamecraft can also be single-player games if you need a break from socialization. Snuggling up on the couch with a video game is inherently relaxing. Whether you enjoy mobile, computer, handheld or console games, the cozy game genre provides dozens of options. This season, try games ranging from relaxing to enchanting. If having everything in its place provides calm in the chaos of the holiday season, you’ll love Unpacking. This puzzle game, available on Switch, PC and Xbox, has you unpacking boxes and putting items away. Playing games like Unpacking can be a meditative experience. Other puzzle games like A Little to the Left and Spiritfarer blend stories into the gameplay. For spooky autumn vibes, try Strange Horticulture and play as the owner of a plant shop and potion maker. Maintaining a virtual farm or building a make-believe castle from your sofa can be a great stress reliever. Stardew Valley is a quintessential farming game surrounded by charming townspeople. With the highly anticipated November update, you can now play on console, mobile and PC. Palia , a massively multiplayer online game, features farming, quests and community building with other players. It’s also free. For those with a Nintendo Switch, the Animal Crossing series has you interacting with other animal players in a peaceful village. With multiplayer modes, these games are great options for playing with friends and family from afar during the holidays. For a single-player escape, try the recently-released Tiny Glade on PC where you’ll build castles. This cozy game’s detailed artistry and conflict-free gameplay will bring hours of relaxation. Or build a world from tiles in Dorfromantik. The game can be entirely chill or provide a bit of strategy if you want to go for a high score. A pack of cards is reliable entertainment at any gathering. From classics to innovative new card games, having a few in your game collection can be worthwhile. Card games can range from simple to complex, a few minutes to a few hours and single-player to dozens of players. If you have a standard deck of playing cards, Blitz is a great option for any number of players. Also known as Thirty One, this game gives every player three cards and lets them trade out a card on each turn, trying to get a value of thirty-one. President is another simple social card game where players race to get rid of their cards in ascending order. If you are imbibing this holiday season, some people play it as a drinking game. For a two-player card game, try The Fox in the Forest. This trick-taking card game features cozy graphics, and its fast, simple gameplay is perfect for a winter date night. For two to four players, Arboretum has darling tree graphics on its cards. Players lay cards down with the goal of creating a beautiful garden. This holiday season, be sure to take time to connect with loved ones and catch a few moments to yourself. Cozy games are a lighthearted escape. As the genre grows, there are options for everyone this season, from mindless games to those that require a touch of strategy – perfect for any mood or moment. Kristen Wood is a writer, photographer, avid cozy gamer and creator of The Cozy Gaming Nook , your source for everything cozy games. Her work has been featured in various online and print publications, including Elle, NBC, Forbes, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, Seattle Times and more.

WASHINGTON — When Elon Musk first suggested a new effort to cut the size of government, Donald Trump didn’t seem to take it seriously. His eventual name for the idea sounded like a joke, too. It would be called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a reference to an online meme featuring a surprised-looking dog from Japan. But now that Trump has won the election, Musk’s fantasy is becoming reality, with the potential to spark a constitutional clash over the balance of power in Washington. Trump put Musk, the world’s richest man, and Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, in charge of the new department, which is really an outside advisory committee that will work with people inside the government to reduce spending and regulations. Last week, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would encourage Trump to make cuts by refusing to spend money allocated by Congress, a process known as impounding. The proposal goes against a 1974 law intended to prevent future presidents from following in the footsteps of Richard Nixon, who held back funding that he didn’t like. “We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington,” Musk and Ramaswamy wrote in an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal. “We expect to prevail. Now is the moment for decisive action.” Trump has already suggested taking such a big step, saying last year that he would “use the president’s long-recognized impoundment power to squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy for massive savings.” It would be a dramatic attempt to expand his powers, when he already will have the benefit of a sympathetic Republican-controlled Congress and a conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court, and it could swiftly become one of the most closely watched legal fights of his second administration. “He might get away with it,” said William Galston, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. “Congress’ power of the purse will turn into an advisory opinion.” Right now, plans for the Department of Government Efficiency are still coming into focus. The nascent organization has put out a call for “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.” Applicants are encouraged to submit their resumes through X, the social media company that Musk owns. In the Wall Street Journal, Musk and Ramaswamy provided the most detailed look yet at how they would operate and where they could cut. Some are longtime Republican targets, such as $535 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Other plans are more ambitious and could reshape the federal government. The two wrote that they would “identify the minimum number of employees required at an agency for it to perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions,” leading to “mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy.” Civil service protections wouldn’t apply, they argue, because they wouldn’t be targeting specific people for political purposes. Some employees could choose “voluntary severance payments to facilitate a graceful exit.” But others would be encouraged to quit by mandating that they show up at the office five days a week, ending pandemic-era flexibility about remote work. The requirement “would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome.” Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said such cutbacks would harm services for Americans who rely on the federal government, and he suggested that Musk and Ramaswamy were in over their heads. “I don’t think they’re even remotely qualified to perform those duties,” he said. “That’s my main concern.” Kelley said his union, which represents 750,000 employees for the federal government and the city of Washington, D.C., was ready to fight attempts to slash the workforce. “We’ve been here, we’ve heard this kind of rhetoric before,” he said. “And we are prepared.” There was no mention in the Wall Street Journal of Musk’s previously stated goal of cutting $2 trillion from the budget, which is nearly a third of total annual spending. Nor did they write about “Schedule F,” a potential plan to reclassify federal employees to make them easier to fire. Ramaswamy once described the idea as the “mass deportation of federal bureaucrats out of Washington, D.C.” However, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would reduce regulations that they describe as excessive. They wrote that their department “will work with legal experts embedded in government agencies, aided by advanced technology,” to review regulations that run counter to two recent Supreme Court decisions that were intended to limit federal rulemaking authority. Musk and Ramaswamy said Trump could “immediately pause the enforcement of those regulations and initiate the process for review and rescission.” Chris Edwards, an expert on budget issues at the Cato Institute, said many Republicans have promised to reduce the size and role of government over the years, often to little effect. Sometimes it feels like every budget item and tax provision, no matter how obscure, has people dedicated to its preservation, turning attempts at cuts into political battles of attrition. “Presidents always seem to have higher priorities,” he said. “A lot of it falls to the wayside.” Although DOGE is scheduled to finish its work by July 4, 2026, Edwards said Musk and Ramaswamy should move faster to capitalize on momentum from Trump’s election victory. “Will it just collect dust on a shelf, or will it be put into effect?” Edwards said. “That all depends on Trump and where he is at that point in time.” Ramaswamy said in an online video that they’re planning regular “Dogecasts” to keep the public updated on their work, which he described as “a once-in-a-generation project” to eliminate “waste, fraud and abuse.” “However bad you think it is, it’s probably worse,” he said. House Republicans are expected to put Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Trump ally from Georgia, in charge of a subcommittee to work with DOGE, according to two people with knowledge of the plans who were not authorized to discuss them publicly. Greene and Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, have already met with Ramaswamy, the two people said. Musk brought up the idea for DOGE while broadcasting a conversation with Trump on X during the campaign. “I think we need a government efficiency commission to say like, ‘Hey, where are we spending money that’s sensible. Where is it not sensible?’” Musk said. Musk returned to the topic twice, volunteering his services by saying “I’d be happy to help out on such a commission.” “I’d love it,” Trump replied, describing Musk as “the greatest cutter.” Musk has his own incentives to push this initiative forward. His companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, have billions of dollars in government contracts and face oversight from government regulators. After spending an estimated $200 million to support Trump’s candidacy, he’s poised to have expansive influence over the next administration. Trump even went to Texas last week to watch SpaceX test its largest rocket. DOGE will have an ally in Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who has railed against federal spending for years. He recently told Fox News that he sent “2,000 pages of waste that can be cut” to Musk and Ramaswamy. “I’m all in and will do anything I can to help them,” Paul said.