Elon Musk Leads AI-Driven Federal Deregulation Push

Federal agencies are using the DOGE AI Deregulation Decision Tool, developed under Elon Musk’s leadership, to identify and potentially eliminate up to 50% of approximately 200,000 federal regulations by the first anniversary of President Trump’s second inauguration. The tool, already implemented at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, automates regulatory review to flag rules deemed non-essential or no longer required by law. Internal estimates suggest up to 100,000 regulations could be removed, possibly saving the government trillions in compliance and budget costs, though the basis for these savings is unclear. Legal experts and staff have raised concerns about the AI’s accuracy, the limits of executive authority in deregulation, and documented errors in the AI’s statutory interpretations. The White House describes the initiative as transformative but notes that it remains in the early stages with ongoing review and consultation. The project is considered one of the most ambitious and controversial uses of AI in federal regulatory reform.