by Neeta Delaney

Those of us naive enough to think that our Democracy can’t fail, need to wake up! It’s happening before our very eyes. Elon Musk–an unelected billionaire–has been given free reign by elected President Donald Trump and Musk is doing whatever he wants under the guise of improving government efficiency (DOGE). And he’s doing it so quickly that the fact that his actions are both illegal and unconstitutional seems to be moot. The legal system (and the public) simply can’t keep up. Chaos, confusion and disbelief are rampant among those immediately impacted and those of us just paying attention.

This is not hyperbole or unwarranted alarmism. It’s real and the lives of every American, except the small group of “oligarchs” emerging as indispensable members of the trump “regime,” will be impacted.

In the past few days, Elon Musk has already shut down and/or is in the process of dismantling major federal programs (USAID) and departments over which the Congress has sole constitutional authority. With the blessing of President Trump, Musk locked out federal employees from the Office of Personnel Management Computer systems and most egregious of all, he has accessed the U.S. Treasury payment systems which means he has access to our social security numbers, our money and personal information to do with what he will. Let that sink in.

Preventing something like this is why we have democratic institutions–to protect us from the tyranny, corruption and injustice that history tells us is always the legacy of a small unfettered ruling class allowed to call the shots. But that’s the picture that’s emerging right now and right here in our own country.

And while President Trump’s recent Executive Order to create a Sovereign Wealth Fund for the U.S. hasn’t received as much attention as other controversial actions taken in his first weeks in office, it too should raise red flags especially when paired with the Musk’s unconstitutional access to the U.S. Treasury payment systems. While the spin is otherwise, the likelihood that the average American would benefit in any way from such a fund, is zero to none. However, President Trump and the billionaire’s surrounding him definitely will.

Regardless of who you voted for, Musk was not on the ballot and does not have legal or constitutional authority to bypass Congress. Further, an elected President, even one as brazen as Donald Trump, can’t just give him that authority. That’s why we have three branches of government to ensure checks and balances on power.

Congress and the courts must stop Musk’s illegal and unconstitutional actions now! Regardless of personal politics, we all need to open our eyes and stop letting the divisions strategically fomented among us keep us blind and distracted. What just a few short weeks ago might have been fairly dismissed as alarmism, is now clearly a legitimate crisis and call for action!

Our way of life and the futures of our children and grandchildren are at stake.