The “Government Efficiency Department” (DOGE) uses artificial intelligence to create a “deletion list” for federal regulations. It proposes using the tool to cut 50% of regulations by the first anniversary of Donald Trump's second inauguration.
The Doge AI Deregulation Decision Decision Tool analyzes 200,000 government regulations and selects what is no longer mandated by law, according to internal documents obtained by the Washington Post.
Doge, which was run by Elon Musk until May, claims that 100,000 of these regulations can then be eliminated according to staff feedback.
The PowerPoint presentation published by the Post claims that the Housing and Urban Development Authority (HUD) used it to write “100% Regulatory Therapy” to make “decisions of 1,083 Regulatory Sections” using AI tools.
The post spoke to three HUD employees who told the newspaper that AI was “used recently to review hundreds of regulatory lines, even if not over 1,000.”
During the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump pledged “the most aggressive regulatory cuts” in history, claiming that government regulations “had increased the cost of goods.” He repeatedly criticised rules aimed at tackling the climate crisis, and as president, he ordered the heads of all government agencies to work with Doge to review all regulations.
Asked about the post's use of AI in deregulation, White House spokesman Harrison Fields said “all options are being explored” to achieve the president's deregulation promise. Fields said “there is “no single plan approved or green lighting approved,” and the work is “in the early stages and is being carried out creatively in consultation with the White House.”
Fields added: “The Doge experts who create these plans are the best in the business and are embarking on transforming the unprecedented aspects of government systems and operations to increase efficiency and effectiveness.”
Musk has appointed a large number of staff members to Doge, including 19-year-old Edward Coristine, who was previously known for his online handle “Big Ball.” Earlier this year, Reuters reported that Coristine was one of two Doge associates promoting the use of AI across federal bureaucratic agencies.
