John,

After months of dismantling government agencies and gutting federal funding for many crucial programs that Americans rely on, Elon Musk’s harmful crusade is in retreat.

He announced that he’ll be stepping back from his Department of Government Efficiency work starting next month. [1]

Together, we helped make this happen.

You sent letters to Congress and you added your name to petitions calling for an end to an unelected billionaire calling the shots on what gets funded and what doesn’t — when that’s actually Congress’ job.

We published an ad in The Wall Street Journal that called attention to the risks of unchecked power threatening the system of checks and balances enshrined by our Founders in the Constitution. [2]

We did all of this and more to shine a light on the dangers posed by Elon Musk grabbing power over the government’s purse strings, taking a “chainsaw” to important government functions, and his mass firings putting not only the livelihoods of dedicated civil servants on the line, but also those of everyday Americans.

While we wish we could put this all in our rearview mirror, the unfortunate reality is that we can’t. Musk stated that he still sees a future for his slashing and burning where needed.

That means we’re keeping our foot on the gas, because we can’t let our democracy be hollowed out from within by the ultra-wealthy, special interests whose deep pockets get them a seat at the table. We will keep standing up for everyday Americans, like you, and work to make sure that Congress does too — because, after all, we are the ones who got them there.

At a time when our democracy feels under greater stress than it has been in generations, we’re thankful that you’re with us.

In solidarity,
The Issue One Team

P.S. The work continues, and we aren’t letting up. The risk of unchecked power remains, and we’re mobilizing to stand up against this overreach and ensure that Congress works to defend our democracy and hear our voices. Chip in to help us keep up this increasingly important work!

^{[1] https://www.axios.com/2025/04/22/elon-musk-doge-tesla-earnings-call}

^{[2] https://issueone.org/press/new-effort-to-defend-americas-checks-and-balances/}