DOMESTIC
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established by President Trump with Tesla and SpaceX entrepreneur Elon Musk at the helm, is set to expire in July of 2026. In Trump’s own words, he thinks the department “will end” and Musk will step aside from his role as a “special government employee,” returning to his typical role of overseeing his nearly trillion dollar corporate empire. DOGE and Musk’s position, created to facilitate massive cuts to government spending, should, according to Trump, achieve satisfactory results over the next few months. Musk’s role contains a built-in tenure of 130 days of employment; this tenure should expire roughly around May 30. Given Trump and Musk’s continually strong relationship, which runs contrary to trends from the previous Trump administration, there seems minimal chance that Musk will leave his post prior to that expiration date, despite heightened discussion surrounding the end of DOGE. President Trump admitted, “I’d keep him as long as I could keep him.” Nevertheless, conversation regarding Musk’s exit follows a setback for the Trump administration in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, where a liberal judge defeated a conservative judge heavily financed by Musk and his allies. Musk’s enterprise Tesla has also suffered a considerable decline in share price over recent months. However, news of his return to private-sector work raised his shares by over a percentage point, providing a potential economic incentive to focus more heavily on nongovernmental endeavors.
The US job market this past month pleasantly shocked economists, generating 155,000 new jobs over the course of March, a result much higher than expected following February’s outcome of only half that size. The majority of jobs created fall within the private sector, particularly in service. Goods-producing and manufacturing industries also made considerable gains. Given President Trump’s announcement of “Liberation Day,” proposing new tariffs on a number of imported products, economists have been pessimistic about possibly rising prices and a consequent decrease in hiring. This positive job report does quell some fears, at least for the moment. Pay gains have nevertheless slowed. Should the economy slow and inflation persist, the US could experience a period of stagflation. Details surrounding the new tariffs, though, remain to be finalized, and it is still uncertain whether a flat levy will be involved or merely targeted tariffs for particular countries or products. While tariffs are initially paid by exporting countries, effects trickle down to consumers through higher prices on goods they purchase. Automobiles and groceries are of particular inflation concern. Ultimately, though, according to ADP chief economist Nela Richardson, “The March topline number was a good one for the economy and employers of all sizes.”
INTERNATIONAL
Almost 250 individuals are sick with norovirus (more commonly known as the “stomach flu”) aboard the Queen Mary 2 Luxury Cruise Ship, which departed from Southampton, England, for a month-long trip to the Caribbean on March 8. The vessel continued along its planned route despite reporting the norovirus outbreak only 10 days into its voyage. Officials from the Cunard Line state that the crew has exerted a “swift response,” enacting “additional measures”— such as increased cleaning and disinfection procedures and isolation of sick passengers and crew members— to contain the spread of the virus. However, given that no medicinal treatment exists for “curing” norovirus, infected individuals must simply manage the symptoms, which for most healthy adults will resolve in a couple of days. The case of the Queen Mary 2 is not unusual; the stomach flu is a highly common and contagious foodborne illness, particularly on ships. Infection tends to spread through contaminated food, water or surfaces. Fruits and vegetables that are not properly washed or shellfish that is not cooked to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit are common culprits of initiating norovirus. While 250 cases sounds like an impressive number, this population represents only a small percentage of the cruise ship’s passengers and staff. Nevertheless, despite heavy precautions, cruise ships create an ideal environment for a virus like the stomach flu to spread.
The death toll in Myanmar continues to rise following last Friday’s earthquake of a 7.7 magnitude which has “flattened communities” and toppled buildings located as far from the epicenter as Bangkok. More than 2,000 deaths have been reported. Thousands are injured, and hundreds more are still missing, but, according to UN representatives, the “window for lifesaving response is closing.” A lack of funding from the international community and poor sanitation and electricity on the ground are hampering the search-and-rescue response. Relief workers from India, Russia, Thailand, Bangladesh and China, specifically, are investing extensive effort to aid the recovery process, especially in the wake of aftershocks. The US, however, has contributed a comparatively small $2 million, reflecting President Trump’s intent to seriously diminish the size of the US Agency for International Development. This US absence has created a “void” for a nation such as China — seeking greater economic and political influence through initiatives such as the Belt & Road infrastructure projects — to step on the scene and gain the trust of the citizens of Myanmar. China’s creation of a humanitarian corridor spanning both rebel- and junta-controlled territory in war-torn Myanmar has contributed to a significant decline in anti-China sentiment online. As China continues to build approval through humanitarian and investment efforts, US influence seems to suffer an increasingly downward trajectory.
