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<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Department of Government Efficiency wouldn't be a department, but an outside advisory group.</li><li>Under current law, Congress needs to approve most budget changes, limiting the DOGE's power.</li></ul>President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a new effort to slash what he sees as federal inefficiency, with Elon Musk as cost-cutter-in-chief.Trump <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-trump-cabinet-election-x-2024-9">made good on a campaign promise</a> when he tapped Musk to co-lead the proposed "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE, alongside former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.Musk says he wants to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget to make it more efficient and effective. Beyond that, though, little is known about how the DOGE will function and how much power it — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-adopts-elon-musk-plan-cut-government-spending-efficiency-reform-2024-9">and Musk</a> — will have.Musk did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment for this article. A representative for Ramaswamy declined to comment.<h2 id="2dc0c03e-9977-4403-9201-3d55e844524d">What do we know about the DOGE?</h2>Despite its name, the DOGE will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musks-doge-gets-a-government-checkmark-on-x-2024-11">not actually be a government department</a>, as departments are permanent and can only be created by Congress. Instead, it will function "outside of the government" and disband by July 4, 2026, Trump said in a statement.<div type="image" title="Trump and Musk at a rally" height="2584" width="4184" msid="115360794" hostid="261" sizebytes="161264"></div>The name DOGE is an homage to Musk's preferred cryptocurrency, Dogecoin, which shot up in value after Trump won the election. Under current law, the DOGE might not be able to accomplish much, since Congress controls federal spending."They have no power. No power at all," Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Brookings Institute who led efforts to reform the federal government under former President Bill Clinton, told Business Insider. "They do make recommendations, and once they make recommendations, the expectation is that the government will act on them."There's no guarantee that a recommendation will turn into a policy, especially given that many of the DOGE's suggestions will likely require congressional approval, Kamarck said.<h2 id="0f11a880-6c1f-4025-a722-a860ae33d16c">The DOGE's $2 trillion goal is something of a pipe dream.</h2>Federal spending <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-department-government-efficiency-doge-2024-11">reached $6.75 trillion in 2024</a>. Multiple experts told BI that it's unlikely Musk will be able to cut his desired $2 trillion without sacrificing programs that have wide bipartisan support or fall under federal mandatory spending, like Medicare and Social Security. Kamarck called the $2 trillion goal the "most unrealistic" part of the whole DOGE plan.Trump has long been preoccupied with cutting what he sees as Washington's waste and fraud."The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will ultimately be staffed and dedicated to this mission," Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump's transition team, told BI in a statement.Quoting former Rep. Barney Frank, Kamarck said that excess federal spending is "marbled" <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-doge-government-efficiency-what-us-spends-2024-11">throughout the budget</a>, like fat throughout a steak, making the DOGE's desired $2 trillion in cuts tricky."It just doesn't work, unless you decide to start cutting Social Security benefits or Medicare, at which point all hell breaks loose," she told BI. "And you know, the bromance between Trump and Musk will end very quickly."Known for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-efficiency-companies-tesla-spacex-x-2024-11">streamlining efficiency at his companies</a>, Musk says he wants to cut bureaucracy, shrink the federal workforce, and trim the number of federal agencies down to no more than 99 (there are currently <a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies">more than 440</a>).Douglas Holtz-Eakin, the former director of the Congressional Budget Office, told BI that he doubted that the loosely defined group would be able to accomplish much given its sprawling $2 trillion target."It is hard for me to get seriously ginned up about it until there's a real structure there that suggests that this makes some sense and has a purpose," he said. "If something is designed to do everything, it will do nothing."<h2 id="6bcaf431-1be5-4839-9b83-d0f24a7146cf">The DOGE will exist "outside of government."</h2>In one scenario, the DOGE could function as an advisory committee, which Trump can create through an executive order. The president-elect said the DOGE will work with the Office of Management and Budget, which prepares the president's budget request for Congress."They have made clear that this is a non-governmental department, which is not a familiar term, and so it's not really clear how the organization will operate because of that," Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the progressive nonprofit advocacy group Public Citizen, told BI. "It might be an advisory committee of non-governmental actors, but even from that posture, it won't have the authority to alter budgets or fire employees or rescind regulations."<div type="image" title="Donald Trump and Elon Musk" height="1910" width="2707" msid="115360796" hostid="261" sizebytes="118134"></div>Kamarck said that there are specific rules laying out how much interaction external committees can have with the government, but it's not clear how Trump, Musk, and Ramaswamy envision the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-doge-hiring-staff-how-to-apply-2024-11">internal infrastructure of the DOGE</a>."How are they going to talk to each other? How are they going to meet with each other? Are they going to go talk to anybody in the government, or are they just going to make up things from 50 miles away?" she said.On November 14, the DOGE <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/DOGE/status/1857076831104434289">said in a post on X</a> that it is seeking "super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ per week on unglamorous cost-cutting." Musk said on his <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1857112441529700671">personal X account</a> that the positions will not be paid.<h2 id="4c25da3e-39de-44e2-a1c5-c7249f9fc728">Trump has talked about changing a key law that limits his federal spending power.</h2>Trump, Musk, and Ramaswamy may try to circumvent the congressional obstacles standing in the way of their cost-cutting agenda. Last year, Trump expressed interest in going after the Impoundment Control Act, a 1974 provision that requires the president spend funds that Congress has appropriated."Bringing back Impoundment will give us a crucial tool with which to obliterate the Deep State, Drain the Swamp, and starve the Warmongers," the president-elect <a target="_blank" href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/agenda47/agenda47-using-impoundment-to-cut-waste-stop-inflation-and-crush-the-deep-state">said in a video</a> in June 2023.Holtz-Eakin said attempting to skirt the impoundment act would be like rewriting history, and Kamarck told BI that any attempt to not spend money that Congress has appropriated poses big Constitutional questions."If he tries to change the law so that he can impound funds, my guess is there'll be a fight in the Congress and he'll lose," she said.<h2 id="4956dc95-91da-4028-b1b3-d843a1509397">Musk could bump up against many conflicts of interest but likely wouldn't have to divest from his companies.</h2>If the DOGE is a federal advisory committee, Musk and Ramaswamy would likely be "special government employees," who are experts or consultants that can work for a federal agency or the White House for up to 130 days. They do not get paid and, crucially, would not have to divest from their companies."They've been clear also that they're staying in their roles as the heads of companies and in other places," Gilbert said. "Not being a part of government means they don't have to deconflict themselves."In a press release for Public Citizen, Gilbert said that Musk's "own businesses have regularly run afoul of the very rules he will be in position to attack" as the DOGE co-lead.<div type="image" title="Donald Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy" height="5504" width="8256" msid="115360795" hostid="261" sizebytes="4296554"></div>In the role, Musk and Ramaswamy would still be bound to federal ethics laws and have to recuse themselves from conversations that affect them personally, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-14/doge-what-can-musk-do-with-the-department-of-government-efficiency?srnd=homepage-americas">Bloomberg</a> reported. With his companies under investigation from at least 20 federal regulatory agencies and SpaceX having more than $15 billion in federal contracts, Musk could face many such conflicts.Kamarck said that there's no "firm line" about when employees need to take themselves out of discussions, but that lawyers address questions on a case-by-case basis.Musk has expressed public frustration with what he views as overbearing federal oversight, which he said has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/us/politics/elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-trump.html">slowed down his pace of business</a>.By law, meetings of advisory committees, like the kind the DOGE could be, need to be open, and Musk has no problem with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-doge-leaderboard-federal-government-spending-trump-2024-11">transparency</a> — in fact, he seems to invite it. In a post on X, the billionaire promised to post all of the group's actions online <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-leaderboard-government-spending-marketing-genius-doge-donald-trump-2024-11">"for maximum transparency</a>" and said the public should chime in with their opinions.It's also possible the group might intentionally avoid becoming a federal committee because of the increased oversight and scrutiny, Holtz-Eakin said."It's not a federal committee as far as I can tell," he said. "I think that's deliberate. If you do that, then you're subject to lots of things like a conflict of interest you have to sign off on, and I think that would be a nightmare for Mr. Musk. And so they're not going to let it tiptoe toward federal jurisdiction."Until Trump actually forms the DOGE, if he ever does, the legal and bureaucratic details remain murky, and the experts BI spoke with aren't convinced that it will work well."It sounds a little screwy, frankly," Kamarck said.

How Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency could actually work

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Elon Musk would co-lead his new government efficiency drive.</li><li>The unofficial Department of Government Efficiency is already verified on X with a gray tick.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk">Elon Musk's</a> Department of Government Efficiency is already verified on X as an official government entity, and could be in violation of the platform's rules on verification.President-elect <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-department-government-efficiency-doge-2024-11">Donald Trump announced on Tuesday</a> that Tesla CEO Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency, nicknamed DOGE.Trump said the new agency would work to cut regulation and slash spending.The former and future president said Musk and Ramaswamy will "provide advice and guidance from outside of Government."After less than two days, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/DOGE">DOGE account on X</a> has the platform's gray verified checkmark, which is used to identify government or multilateral organization accounts.According to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/profile-labels">X's rules on checkmarks</a>, organizations eligible for the gray checkmark are generally reserved for executive office accounts, government agency accounts, and embassy and state-level accounts, as well as accounts held by government officials and heads of state.As DOGE is not an official government department, having the gray checkmark may violate X's rules.Musk used X as a megaphone for his outspoken support of Donald Trump during the election campaign, frequently posting messages of support for the former president and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-going-all-in-recruit-billionaire-peers-trump-vance-2024-7">using the site to try and win over other Silicon Valley billionaires</a>.After the president-elect confirmed Musk's new role, the Tesla CEO said he planned to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-leaderboard-government-spending-marketing-genius-doge-donald-trump-2024-11">post a public leaderboard of "the most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars"</a> and let users weigh in on specific potential cuts.Musk has also hailed Trump's election victory as vindication of his $44 billion purchase of X, then called Twitter, in 2022, repeatedly telling users, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1856637767758815323">"You are the media now"</a> in the aftermath of the result.X did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside normal working hours.

Elon Musk's DOGE isn't an official department. It has a government checkmark on X.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A California police department spent at least $140,000 on a Cybertruck, per a Forbes report.</li><li>It bought the pricest model, the Cyberbeast, and spent extra customizing it. </li></ul>A California police department reportedly spent at least $140,000 on buying and customizing the priciest version of Tesla's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-my-favorite-features-wireless-charging-speed-range-2024-6">Cybertruck</a>.According to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahemerson/2024/09/10/california-police-spent-150000-on-a-souped-up-tesla-cybertruck/">public records obtained by Forbes</a>, Irvine Police Department opted for the $99,990 Cyberbeast and paid an extra $20,000 for the "Foundation Series" package, which includes "premium accessories" such as laser-etched Foundation Series badges and a glass roof sunshade.Another invoice obtained by Forbes showed that the police department also paid Unplugged Performance, a company that offers custom Tesla modifications, $20,000 to add "law enforcement equipment" to its Cybertruck. This included car lighting, radios, and exterior graphics, it wrote.Irvine PD teased the imminent arrival of the Cybertruck on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/IrvinePolice/status/1815922681247850591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1815922681247850591%7Ctwgr%5E1336d67aed5a7f9a2c88d342bddf16e9d5b9c949%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmuse.insider.com%2Fstory%2F66e2a64078044123bec2d95f">its X account in July</a>. Sergeant Karie Davies of the force told Forbes that the Foundation Series model was the only one available at the time.She added that Irvine's Cybertruck would be used as a publicity tool for the department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, rather than for active patrolling.The idea of turning the stainless steel-clad Cybertruck into a police vehicle has been around for a while.Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who previously served on Tesla's board of directors, showed off a police Cybertruck concept in 2023. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-pleased-cybertruck-added-dubai-police-luxury-fleet-2024-6">expressed his approval</a> after Dubai police added the Cybertruck to its fleet of luxury police vehicles. Despite this, it is unclear how effective the Cybertruck, which Musk has previously described as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-cybertruck-apocalypse-inequality-2023-12">"apocalypse-proof,"</a> would be as a police vehicle.Musk has described the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-cybertruck-bulletproof-tough-critics-doubts-2023-11">Cybertruck as bulletproof</a>. However, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-fails-youtubers-bulletproof-test-2024-3">a test by the YouTube channel JerryRigEverything</a> showed that while the pickup can withstand bullets fired by small-caliber guns, larger weapons can seriously damage the vehicle's exterior.The Cybertruck has also faced questions over its offroading ability. A series of viral videos have spread online showing pickup <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cybertruck-tesla-stuck-snow-video-driver-error-ford-viral-2023-12">struggling in the snow</a>, getting <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-apocalypse-vehicle-thwarted-stuck-sand-snow-regulator-recalls-2024-5">stuck</a> on a beach, and having trouble <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-offroading-videos-struggling-climb-steep-hill-2023-11">climbing a dirt hill</a>.The futuristic truck has hit a series of speed bumps since it launched last year. The Cybertruck has been recalled multiple times, including over concerns that the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-recalls-cybertrucks-accelerator-fault-pad-pedal-electric-vehicle-truck-2024-4">truck's accelerator pedal</a> could jam.Irvine Police Department and Tesla did not respond to a request for comment, sent outside normal working hours.

A California police department spent at least $140,000 on a custom Cybertruck: report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Amy Lentz is the chief people officer at Toms Shoes, and she posts HR content on social media.</li><li>While HR departments can be helpful, they can't fix your problems unless you help yourself first.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Amy Lentz, the Chief People Officer at Toms and founder of Hack Your HR in Los Angeles. It has been edited for length and clarity.I've been the chief people officer at <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/toms-blake-mycoskie-talks-growing-a-business-while-balancing-profit-with-purpose-2016-6">Toms Shoes</a> for four years. I manage the nuts and bolts of human resources, including recruiting, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-small-business-help-onboard-support-new-hires-trainees-2023-10">onboarding</a>, and succession planning.I also began <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.instagram.com/hackyourhr/?hl=en">Hack Your HR</a> in 2023, where I create short-form content in the HR space. In my Instagram videos, I share advice to help people get ahead in their corporate jobs and information about the back end of HR.I help people understand how to advocate for themselves at work, what language to use with their managers, and how to ask for help if they're not getting the support they need.Although HR can help with a lot, they can't fix every problem you may have as an employee. Here are three things you're wasting your time on if you take them to HR.<h2 id="42d9c325-db7e-4c68-a2d0-fc6350e149fd">1. HR can't make decisions alone</h2>Every HR department is run differently, so while HR tasks may vary, HR isn't typically a decision-making entity but more of a recommending entity.If someone wants a promotion and their manager says no, they might go to HR, thinking, "I'm going to appeal to HR, and then they will be able to decide if I get it."That's like saying if I go to Mom and she doesn't give me what I want, I will go to Dad. It doesn't work like that.Similarly, it can sometimes be misperceived that HR approves salaries. Typically, HR is the messenger for budgets, not the one deciding. We might recommend a number based on what's legal, compliant, and makes sense within compensation guardrails, but ultimately, someone else might make that decision, like executive leadership or finance.<h2 id="d637ae75-a7ff-45d1-b552-48837da9b7f7">2. HR can't guarantee your growth</h2>You might want to grow in your role or make more money, but as HR, I need to support the department's needs, which may have other hiring priorities that don't have room for your growth.The best thing you can do is know what you want. If you've expressed a desire to grow and haven't been able to showcase your value, I recommend bringing it up with your manager during <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mistakes-managers-make-during-performance-reviews-2023-9">performance review season</a>.On HR's end, they need to be transparent on whether a promotion is possible for you. If a company isn't profitable, if there's been a communicated hiring freeze, or if a promotion is desired but the direct manager has provided performance-related feedback and there hasn't been enough time to show improvement, then it's not the right time to ask.<h2 id="dcbffdd3-b6c6-4144-b000-7feffc3290f7">3. HR can't advocate for you without you</h2>People often assume that their boss or HR will come to them with promotions or opportunities, but HR can't just get you a job or a promotion — you have to advocate for it.People who create growth plans and are a positive squeaky wheel get much further ahead than those who are passive. They ask themselves: What do I want? Where am I now? Where do I want to go? Then, they make a plan to get there, and they're vocal about it.When you first start with a company, I recommend setting up an informational conversation with HR so you can ask about available resources. Also, ask about the performance review process, resources for growth and development, whether a mentor program exists, and any opportunities HR provides to staff that may not be publicized.HR can't do everything for you, but they can help you to the greatest of their ability if you do your part, too.

3 work problems HR can't solve for you, from an HR professional

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="20781003" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Klarna" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Klarna" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Klarna">Klarna</keyword> CEO <keyword id="23150803" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sebastian-Siemiatkowski" source="keywords">Sebastian Siemiatkowski</keyword> said that he plans to reduce the company's workforce by half.</li><li>He said the company can "do much more with less" through <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">artificial intelligence</keyword>.</li></ul>Klarna plans to employ half the people it did last year, betting on artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency and cut costs. CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski said in a statement to the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/bfd9af3d-d607-4877-9571-078ab82a837e" target="_blank">Financial Times</a> that the company could operate effectively with half its current staff, which numbered about 4,000 at the end of June. Siemiatkowski s<keyword id="19899640" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI" source="keywords">ai</keyword>d the company can "do much more with less" using AI. The Swedish <keyword id="20050492" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="buy-now-pay-later" source="keywords">buy-now-pay-later</keyword> company lost about 24% of its staff in the last year, per its annual report. Spokesman Joel Hedin told Business Insider those losses were "natural attrition" and that with the company's hiring freeze, "headcount is gradually decreasing." Last year, Klarna halted hiring for most positions outside its engineering team as it increasingly relied on AI technology to fill gaps left by departing staff. He added that the marketing team had been more productive, working with half its size compared to the previous year. Last year, Klarna <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/klarna-ai-chatbot-work-700-people-2024-2">halted</a> hiring for most positions outside its engineering team as it increasingly relied on AI technology to fill gaps left by departing staff. In a February blog <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.klarna.com/international/press/klarna-ai-assistant-handles-two-thirds-of-customer-service-chats-in-its-first-month/">post</a>, the company claimed its AI assistant could handle the workload of 700 full-time employees. Klarna said that the chatbot outperformed human agents in "errand resolution" accuracy and matched human employees in customer satisfaction levels. Klarna also projected that this technology could boost the company's profits by $40 million this year. Meanwhile, Klarna competitor Affirm is also doubling down on AI chatbots — but isn't publicly seeking to cut its staff. "No one has yet to lose their job to be replaced by robot at Affirm, so that's not a short-term cost saving," CEO Max Levchin said on a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-prefers-ai-chatbots-phone-calls-affirm-ceo-bnpl-2024-5">May earnings call</a>, adding that AI could save the company money over the next one to three years. <h2>AI shakes up tech staff</h2>Other tech companies are axing staff as they transition to AI-centric businesses. Earlier this month, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dell-layoffs-ai-strategy-workers-more-effective-jobs-fulfilling-2024-8">Dell</a> announced the significant restructuring of its sales division, resulting in mass layoffs. Tech companies, including Google and Apple, have laid off over 350,000 workers since the beginning of 2023, according to data from online tracker <a target="_blank" href="http://Layoffs.fyi">Layoffs.fyi</a>. While many of these layoffs were attributed to overhiring during the pandemic, the need to reallocate capital for AI investments is also a significant factor for the layoffs. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-job-losses-spending-new-tech-meta-google-amazon-layoffs-2024-7">said</a> in a February earnings call that layoffs were necessary to invest in "long-term, ambitious visions around AI." Google CEO Sundar Pichai also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-ceo-says-more-layoffs-to-come-2024-1">wrote</a> in a January memo that job cuts were needed to "create the capacity for investment" in AI. Klarna had credited an improvement in its <keyword id="20088085" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-performance" source="keywords">financial performance</keyword> to AI, with net losses declining from 854 million Swedish Krona, around $84 million, during the second quarter of 2023, to 10 million Krona, around $900,000, in the most recent quarter. The company also reported a 27% increase in revenue and a 73% increase in revenue per employee over 12 months. Klarna is gearing up for an <keyword id="19913114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="initial-public-offering" source="keywords">initial public offering</keyword> as early as next year, although Siemiatkowski told the FT that the company has not made any IPO decisions yet. Klarna did not respond to a request for comment by BI sent outside standard business hours. Correction: August 28, 2024 — This story has been updated with a more exact headcount change and to specify why Klarna lost staff in the last year. After publication, a Klarna representative told Business Insider that the loss — about 24% of staff — came from natural attrition.

Klarna only needs half its staff, because AI lets the buy-now-pay-later company 'do much more with less'

The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cheaper-flights-with-vpn-2024-11" target="_blank">Business Insider</a> for current information.Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/our-partners" class="not-content-link" target="_blank">advertiser disclosure with our list of partners</a> for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/how-we-rate-credit-cards" class="not-content-link" target="_blank">how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews</a>.<ul class="summary-list"><li>A virtual private network (VPN) protects your online privacy and security through a secure server.</li><li>Some people also believe flights can be cheaper if you use a VPN. Here's what our research found.</li></ul>There are countless rumors on social media about the best ways to book flights for less. With the winter holidays approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, you can be sure that the more persistent among them will pop up in your feeds.In particular, someone may tell you that the trick to finding cheap airfare is to use <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-is-vpn">a VPN</a> when you book. On the face of it, this makes sense. A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts your data and masks your IP address, which ties your internet connection to a specific location. By using a VPN, you can appear to be in a different country from where you actually are. <h3>Why and when should you use a VPN?</h3>A VPN is great for eluding government censors, keeping safe from eavesdroppers, and viewing or streaming content from locations where it would be blocked. But would appearing to be in a different country result in cheaper airfare?We tested the premise against five of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/deals/best-vpn-deals">best VPNs</a>, and the results are pretty unequivocal: Flights aren't cheaper when you shop through a VPN.<h2>How we checked flight prices with a VPN</h2>We picked two popular routes in the United States at two popular travel times, using Google Flights to look up prices. We first searched flight prices via a regular connection to an Internet service provider in the US. Then we switched to a VPN, using five of the most popular services, and repeated the searches while appearing to be in a different country. The routes and times we picked were: <ul><li>Chicago to Seattle, around the Thanksgiving holiday, departing Tuesday, November 26, and returning Saturday, November 30</li><li>Nashville to New York City, for a long weekend just before Christmas, departing Thursday, December 12, and returning Monday, December 16</li></ul>Here's what we found for each VPN provider.<h2>ExpressVPN</h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/expressvpn-review">Express VPN</a> has proven its worth with its ease of use, clean interface, and straightforward installation on multiple devices. We've used it on the road, without a hitch, in dozens of different countries including China, where it bypassed the Great Firewall easily. Original flight price, Chicago to Seattle: $361ExpressVPN price: $361 Original flight price, Nashville to New York: $99ExpressVPN price: $99 The prices were the same, with or without VPN.Learn more at the <a href="https://secure.money.com/pr/p9e974312255" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Express VPN website</a>.<h2>NordVPN</h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/nordvpn-review">NordVPN</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/nordvpn-review"> stands out for the number of servers around the world it can use, and for its speed and reliability when streaming and gaming. </a>But when it came to flight booking, using NordVPN yielded the exact same prices for our sample flights as using a regular connection: Original flight price, Chicago to Seattle: $361NordVPN price: $361 Original flight price, Nashville to New York: $99NordVPN price: $99 Learn more at the <a href="https://secure.money.com/pr/s3d20bcf4593" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NordVPN website</a>.<h2>Surfshark</h2><a href="https://get.surfshark.net/aff_c?offer_id=1391&amp;aff_id=23760" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Surfshark</a> can use more than 3,200 servers across 100 countries, and has a wider selection of servers based in Africa than most competitors. But when it came to finding low fares for our sample flights, using Surfshark did not produce different results from other VPNs: the prices were the exact same.Original flight price, Chicago to Seattle: $361Surfshark VPN price: $361 Original flight price, Nashville to New York: $99Surfshark VPN price: $99 Learn more at the <a href="https://secure.money.com/pr/xd2b84ad818c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Surfshark website</a>.<h2>Cyberghost</h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/cyberghost-vpn-review">Cyberghost</a> offers 24/7 live chat support and an especially good list of servers optimized for streaming, at relatively low prices. But when it comes to airfare? You guessed it: on Cyberghost's VPN, we found identical prices to a U.S.-based connection. Original flight price, Chicago to Seattle: $361Cyberghost VPN price: $361 Original flight price, Nashville to New York: $99Cyberghost VPN price: $99 Learn more at the Cyberghost website.<h2>PIA VPN</h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/private-internet-access-pia-vpn-review">Private Internet Access (PIA)</a> is a VPN with servers in 90 countries and the ability to block ads, trackers, and malware.Using it to look up our sample itineraries on Google Flights, though, found the same prices as searching from the US:Original flight price, Chicago to Seattle: $361PIA VPN price: $361 Original flight price, Nashville to New York: $99PIA VPN price: $99 Learn more at the <a href="https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/offer/insider_v2egnky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PIA website</a>.<h2>Are flights cheaper with a VPN? </h2>The results are straightforward: No, flights are not cheaper with a VPN. Using several VPNs did not result in a single cent of difference in our test. But that does not mean that there aren't ways to find cheaper airfare. It just takes some flexibility. <h2>Travel hacks for cheaper flights</h2><h3>Travel mid-week</h3>For example, you can look for flights in the middle of the week, when fewer businesspeople travel and demand is often lower. Studies show the cheapest day to fly is Wednesday, and the most expensive Sunday. <h3>Avoid last-minute travel</h3>Booking in advance is a good idea, although you don't have to buy tickets months before flying.Try to book at least 21 days before departure; prices rarely go down after that window. <h3>Consider traveling from a different airport</h3>If you are based somewhere with access to multiple airports, you can also expand your search to more than one airport. Google Flights makes this easy by allowing you to search for flights from a given city rather than a single airport. If you look up flights from New York City, for example, the site will show results including all three main airports — JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark. Prices can differ significantly among them. <h2>What influences the price of flights?</h2>There are still misconceptions about some other hacks that can get you cheaper airfare. Unfortunately, they don't work, and here's why. <h3>Using your browser in incognito mode</h3>Websites track your online habits, so why wouldn't airlines tailor their prices to what they know about you? Airfare indeed fluctuates, but it does so according to factors that have nothing to do with your digital identity. Pricing is determined by algorithms based largely on demand. You won't defeat those algorithms by masking your identity with incognito mode, any more than you would by masking your location with a VPN. <h3>Booking on Tuesdays </h3>There's an old adage that booking on a Tuesday gives you lower prices. This may have been true when airlines loaded prices manually onto electronic systems, but pricing changes in real time these days. what day you fly, not on what day you book. Google Flights recently reported on the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cheapest-time-to-book-flights-thanksgiving-christmas-holidays-2024-10">cheapest time to book flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays</a>. While flights really are cheapest on Tuesdays, according to historical data, they have only been 1.3% cheaper than tickets booked on Sundays — the most expensive day of the week for buying airfare. <h3>Some websites offer special rates or "secret" deals </h3>Online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia and its several competitors can sometimes find cheaper flights than you'll find directly from the airline, but you can see all of these rates via Google Flights. If an OTA has a lower price than the airline's own, it will be displayed in the search results. <h2>VPNs: When they're useful</h2>While a VPN can't reliably help you book cheaper flights, having one can protect your digital privacy and security, especially when you travel. VPNs allow you to get online through a private, secure server connection that makes your internet activity far more difficult to trace. They can also allow you to stream shows from other countries and access international websites from anywhere in the world.You can often find the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/deals/best-vpn-deals">best VPN deals</a> on longer-term plans, typically by subscribing for a year or longer. Many companies also offer free trials so you can test out the service before you commit.

A popular TikTok travel hack recommends using VPNs to find cheaper flights, but other strategies work better

<keyword id="19895037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru" source="keywords">Bengaluru</keyword>, Karnataka’s bustling capital, is currently witnessing a worrying surge in dengue fever cases, sending waves of concern across its populace. In just 20 days, the city has recorded an alarming 1,000 cases, highlighting a drastic surge compared to previous years. Alongside dengue, there has been a notable uptick in viral fever cases, further straining local healthcare resources. Experts point to the unusual weather conditions as a key culprit. The lack of rain and unexpected cold winds have created a breeding ground for mosquitoes, the carriers of dengue. Additionally, BBMP's increased vigilance with fever surveys has led to more detections, contributing to the higher case numbers. Chief Health Officer Dr. Syed Madani emphasised the proactive stance of the health department, noting a quadrupling in checks compared to previous years. In the first half of 2024 alone, Bengaluru has already reported nearly 5,000 dengue cases, significantly surpassing last year’s figures for the same period. Most of the surge came after May this year. The eastern and Mahadevpura zones of Bengaluru have been hit the hardest by dengue, with construction work creating stagnant water – a perfect haven for mosquitoes. The southern zone, meanwhile, is grappling with chikungunya, another mosquito-borne illness. The health department is pulling out all the stops to combat the outbreak. Fogging drives are underway to kill mosquito larvae, and public awareness campaigns are educating residents on preventing water stagnation around their homes. Continuous fever surveys are also being conducted to identify potential cases early on. The severity of the outbreak hit close to home when Chief Civic Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath tested positive for dengue. Despite the setback, Nath is expected to resume his duties shortly, underscoring the personal toll of the city's health crisis. In response to mounting cases, <keyword id="19909918" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-Minister-Siddaramaiah" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Chief Minister Siddaramaiah" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Chief Minister Siddaramaiah">Chief Minister Siddaramaiah</keyword> has convened high-level meetings with BBMP officials and health authorities to strategize further containment efforts. With June alone witnessing 1,036 reported cases, Bengaluru braces for potentially higher numbers during the monsoon season, traditionally conducive to mosquito proliferation. However, BBMP officials are confident that their preventative measures, including extensive surveillance, fever detection, and source reduction activities, will help control the situation.

Bengaluru on dengue alert: City reports over 1,000 cases in 20 days; BBPM Chief falls prey to disease

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Department of Justice and 17 state attorneys general seek to break up Google's adtech business.</li><li>Arete Research analysts suggest spinning off Google's adtech as a B Corp instead.</li></ul>The US Department of Justice and 17 state attorneys general are seeking to break up Google in a landmark <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-google-adtech-antitrust-trial-could-transform-advertising-2024-9">adtech antitrust trial</a>.Closing arguments are set to be delivered in November, with a ruling expected next year. The government is hoping the judge will force <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google">Google</a> to divest some or all of its adtech business.But shutting or splitting up <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/leaked-deck-doubleclick-acquisition-pitch-google-adtech-antitrust-trial-2024-9">Google's adtech business</a> "might cripple publishers," according to analysts at Arete Research, who wrote in a note last week that Google's adtech should instead be spun out into a public-benefit B Corp.Companies receive B Corp certification from the nonprofit organization <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bcorporation.net/">B Lab</a> if they meet standards regarding their social and environmental performance, as well as other areas of transparency and accountability.The complaint against Google alleges that the tech giant used acquisitions and anticompetitive ad auction tactics, and tied its various adtech pieces together to build an illegal monopoly of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-ads-adwords">digital ad market</a>. The case hones in on the "open web display" digital ad market and the tools that power the ad auctions that take place in the milliseconds it takes for a webpage to load. Google owns the tools publishers use to sell ads, the software advertisers use to buy ads, and the ad exchange that connects them.Should the judge rule in the government's favor, many experts believe a likely outcome of the case would be to order Google to spin off or otherwise <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-trade-desk-ceo-jeff-green-google-breakup-antitrust-trial-2024-9">exit the so-called "sell side"</a> of the adtech business. Here, Google operates an ad server that helps publishers manage their ads as well as the Google Display Network, where it allows advertisers to buy ads across millions of third-party websites that it doesn't own.A brute-force breakup or shutdown of parts of Google's sell-side business could have <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-google-adtech-antitrust-trial-could-transform-advertising-2024-9">unintended consequences for publishers</a>, Arete's analysts wrote. They argue that almost every publisher relies on Google's adtech tools and that separating its ad server from its ad exchange would be highly disruptive at a time when publishers are already struggling due to other platform changes and shifts in advertiser spending.A publisher tech executive shared with Business Insider their own <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-google-adtech-antitrust-trial-could-transform-advertising-2024-9">concerns about a potential breakup</a> of Google's adtech business earlier this month. And execs who had worked at publishers including News Corp. and The Daily Mail took to the stand in the antitrust trial this month to testify that switching from Google's adtech to a rival would have cost them millions of dollars in lost revenue a year.A Google spokesperson declined to comment for this story but pointed Business Insider toward a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/public-policy/ad-tech-trial-key-takeaways/">blog post</a> published Friday. In it, the company argues that its changes over the years have benefited competitors and brought down prices for publishers and advertisers. It contends that the adtech market remains fiercely competitive.<h2 id="5bf85c0b-b21d-4a88-9c61-81ec3350f826">NetworkB — the public-benefit adtech company</h2>Enter "NetworkB," Arete's hypothetically named Google adtech B Corp.Arete suggests Google's parent company, Alphabet, should spin out its entire Network business, which generated $31.4 billion in 2023 (slightly down from the prior year). Some analysts have predicted the unit was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/analysis-google-ad-tech-trial-114952541.html">likely to shrink further</a> over the coming years anyway, regardless of any antitrust enforcement, as Google prioritizes its own properties versus third-party sites.Arete proposes Google Network become a B Corp with a capped profit margin that it could extract from its clients, known in the industry as a take rate. Right now, adtech industry players retain anywhere between 8% and 42% of the ad dollars that flow through their pipes, according to Arete's estimates.The spinoff would free Google of accusations of self-preferencing and unfair tying within its adtech stack, while also charging lower fees than rival adtech companies, Arete said. That would ultimately mean publishers end up getting paid more, Arete's analysts wrote. And, as a stand-alone business not attached to YouTube, Network B could press further into other areas like connected-TV advertising, they said.Arete calculated that while such a move would mean Google forgoing an estimated $29 billion in Google Network revenues this year, it's only expected to generate around $3.5 billion of EBITDA, or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization.The B-Corp solution would be attractive to Alphabet shareholders, who would end up owning the largest adtech intermediary with a potential market capitalization of between $120 billion and $150 billion — a conservative estimate, according to Arete's analysts. Meanwhile, Alphabet itself would become a smaller but higher-margin business with fewer antitrust risks."Google could shed its lowest-margin unit, end its regulatory overhang and raise the value of its O&amp;O inventory, while helping publishers globally," the analysts wrote. O&amp;O refers to owned and operated inventory, such as Google Maps and Gmail, where its proprietary data on its logged-in users are valuable to advertisers.Arete founder Richard Kramer told Business Insider that the antitrust case unearthed some "surely unwelcome disclosure" for Google, but also other adtech players, such as actual financials on adtech operations and how they charged advertisers and publishers."As analysts we were delighted with the trial because it just opened a window onto cost structures that had always been opaque and hidden," Kramer said.

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