Trump shaking rafters of establishment with DOGE, tariffs, Gaza plan, hoping for lasting changes

President Trump is shaking the rafters of the establishment from the new Department of Government Efficiency to trade policy and potential administration control of the U.S. Postal Service, hoping such actions will lead to lasting change. 

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who Trump chose to lead DOGE, is examining records at the Treasury Department, Health and Human Services, Education Department and Pentagon to find waste and fraud as a way to reduce federal spending.

Musk has said the U.S. government cannot sustain its rising national debt, which is now a record $36 trillion. 

James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said his committee is currently working “very closely” with DOGE.

DOGE has found about $16 billion in savings so far, according to its official website. 

“There's so much waste and fraud in the government right now,” Comer said on the “Just the News Not Noise” TV program. “We want to hold people in the deep state accountable.” 

Comer said Musk and DOGE will tackle the problem of improper payments in government programs, including Social Security and Medicare. In fiscal year 2024 alone, there were more than $160 million worth of improper payments made.

On the war between Israel and Hamas, Trump recently suggested turning the Gaza Strip into the “Riviera” of the Middle East. Arab leaders met in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Friday to discuss proposals in response to Trump’s idea. 

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., told Just the News that he agrees with Trump’s strategy on the war in Gaza, adding that the U.S. cannot let Hamas take back control of Gaza. 

Donalds said the goal should be making Gaza a flourishing society, which is in the best interest of all parties involved. 

“What President Trump is doing is correct. Now, there will be some changes as to how this thing is going to get organized because that’s how it always happens but you have to come out with a bold vision and a bold agenda and the president has done that," he said on Friday. 

"This is actually probably the most viable thing that could actually happen to the Gaza Strip and for the Palestinians that live there. I mean, what are they are supposed to do, live in the rubble while it’s being rebuilt? We already know that can’t possibly happen so we have to be realistic," he added. 

Trump is also looking to make a major change at the U.S. Postal Service. The Washington Post reported Thursday that Trump is preparing to eliminate the leadership of the U.S. Postal Service and move the agency under the control of his administration’s Commerce Department. 

Trump addressed the USPS news on Friday. 

“We want to have a post office that works well and doesn’t lose massive amounts of money,” he said. “We’re thinking about doing that. And it’ll be a form of a merger, but it’ll remain the Postal Service, and I think it’ll operate a lot better.” 

On trade, Trump had proposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada as a way to force them to do more to stop illegal migration and drug trafficking, specifically fentanyl. 

In early February, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum deployed 10,000 troops to the country’s northern border with the U.S. after Trump agreed to pause a proposed 25% tariff on Mexican goods. The troops were reportedly heading to border towns such as Tijuana, Juárez and Chihuahua. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government would step up its efforts to combat illegal immigration and fentanyl to avoid the 25% tariffs temporarily. 

"I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border," he wrote on X. 

Trump said he was “very pleased with this initial outcome” and that the tariffs announced would be paused for 30 days to “see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured,” Trump posted on social media earlier this month, adding that the outcome represented “fairness for all.”

On Saturday, Trump said at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that he plans to move forward with his "reciprocal" tariffs plan.

"I will soon impose reciprocal tariffs on any country that charges us. And by the way, the reciprocal means they charge us, we charge them, same thing. So nobody can be upset, right?" he said.

Trump argued that he has achieved more in 4 weeks than most administrations in four years.

"We're going to forge new and lasting political majorities that will drive American politics for generations to come," said Trump.