Nicholas Nehamas

Washington, D.C., United States

Political Correspondent at The New York Times

Political correspondent @nytimes, based in DC. Former @MiamiHerald. Helped break #PanamaPapers. Co-author of "The Grifter's Club" and "Dirty Gold."

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Articles

Missteps, Confusion and ‘Viral Waste’: The 14 Days That Doomed U.S.A.I.D.

6 days ago | nytimes.com | Christopher Flavelle |Nicholas Nehamas |Julie Tate

It was the day of President Trump’s inauguration, and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s new director looked like he might pass out, as the color drained from his face. Jason Gray, U.S.A.I.D.’s chief information officer, who had been at the agency for only two years, had just learned he would be in charge, effective immediately. Mr. Gray wasn’t supposed to be the boss.
Can Anyone Replace Elon Musk?

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Teddy Schleifer |Kate Conger |Nicholas Nehamas

Joe Gebbia, a close friend of Mr. Musk's, is expected to be a part of a small council of advisers that will oversee the Department of Government Efficiency. Who wants to lead the Department of Government Efficiency?
After His Trump Blowup, Musk May Be Out. But DOGE Is Just Getting Started.

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Christopher Flavelle |Coral Davenport |Nicholas Nehamas |Kate Conger |Zach Montague

President Trump and Elon Musk With members embedded in multiple agencies, the team's approach to transforming government is becoming "institutionalized," as one official put it. Elon Musk's mission for the Department of Government Efficiency - deep cuts in spending, personnel and projects - appears to be taking root, with DOGE staff now in key jobs across the federal government. Credit...
Trump's Push to Defund Harvard Prompts Clash Over Veteran Suicide Research

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Nicholas Nehamas

The proposed termination of medical research funded by the V.A. is part of the Trump administration's broader pressure campaign against the university. The Trump administration's move to cancel a slew of federal contracts at Harvard University has sparked an internal clash over the impact on medical research intended to help veterans, including projects involving suicide prevention, toxic particle exposure and prostate cancer screening, according to emails reviewed by The New York Times.
Musk se aleja de Washington, pero su proyecto permanece

2 months ago | infobae.com | Jonathan Swan |Maggie Haberman |Nicholas Nehamas |Teddy Schleifer |Teddy Schleifer

United States Politics and GovernmentGovernment EmployeesLayoffs and Job ReductionsGovernment Contracts and ProcurementGovernment Efficiency Department (US)Social Security (US)Social Security AdministrationMusk, ElonTrump, Donald JPolls and Public OpinionRepublican PartyTesla Motors IncEl Departamento de Eficiencia Gubernamental ya ha dejado una inmensa huella en el gobierno, aunque no se ha acercado a la promesa de Elon Musk de recortar 1 billón de dólares.
Musk se aleja de Washington, pero su proyecto permanece

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Jonathan Swan |Maggie Haberman |Nicholas Nehamas |Teddy Schleifer |Teddy Schleifer |David Fahrenthold

El Departamento de Eficiencia Gubernamental ya ha dejado una inmensa huella en el gobierno, aunque no se ha acercado a la promesa de Elon Musk de recortar 1 billón de dólares. El martes, mientras Elon Musk intentaba tranquilizar a los analistas de Wall Street al afirmar que pronto reduciría su colaboración con el gobierno federal, la tensión de su situación se podía sentir en su voz.
Elon Musk Backs Away From Washington, but DOGE Remains

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Jonathan Swan |Maggie Haberman |Nicholas Nehamas |Teddy Schleifer |Teddy Schleifer |David Fahrenthold

As Elon Musk sought to reassure Wall Street analysts on Tuesday that he would soon scale back his work with the federal government, the strain of his situation was audible in his voice. The world's richest man said that he would continue arguing that the Trump administration should lower tariffs it has imposed on countries across the world.
Pressuring Migrants to 'Self-Deport,' White House Moves to Cancel Social Security Numbers

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Alexandra Berzon |Hamed Aleaziz |Nicholas Nehamas |Ryan Mac |Tara Siegel Bernard

ICE collects as much information as possible to target, surveil and detain undocumented immigrants, although addresses in their records can sometimes be outdated. Mr. Dudek gave permission to DOGE engineers and ICE leaders to use his agency's data for law enforcement, the documents show. Michael Russo, the Social Security Administration's then-chief information officer and a member of Mr. Musk's team, also asked for the information to be sent to D.H.S. urgently.
Staff Cuts, Rushed Changes and Anxiety at Social Security

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Jack Healy |Alexandra Berzon |Tara Siegel Bernard |Nicholas Nehamas

President Trump promised not to touch Social Security, but as Elon Musk's team trims staff and plans cuts to phone services, the system is groaning under the pressure. The line started forming outside the Social Security office in suburban Glendale, Ariz., not long after sunrise, dozens of retirees and people with disabilities, shuffling papers, some leaning on walkers, all anxious to know whether President Trump's government overhaul had put their safety nets at risk.
Inside the DOGE Cuts Disrupting the Veterans Agency

Mar 9, 2025 | nytimes.com | Roni Rabin |Nicholas Nehamas

At the Veterans Affairs hospital in Pittsburgh, researchers spent months preparing for a clinical trial of a new drug to treat advanced cancers of the mouth, throat and voice box. They were ready last month to start enrolling patients - veterans whose cancer had spread to other tissue and who had run out of treatment options.