Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has opened up about his controversial stint leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), admitting that while it was “somewhat successful,” he would not take on the role again.
During a nearly hour-long discussion on The Katie Miller Podcast this week, Musk reflected on his time heading Doge under former President Donald Trump. The initiative, aimed at reducing the size and cost of the U.S. government, made headlines for its ambitious plans and dramatic public presence.
Doge: A Bold Attempt at Government Cost-Cutting
Elon Musk assumed the leadership of Doge with the ambitious goal of saving the federal government up to $2 trillion annually. The department sought to achieve this by eliminating unnecessary programs, cutting federal jobs, and streamlining government operations. According to the latest update on Doge’s website from October 4, the department claims to have saved an estimated $214 billion in the year-to-date.
Despite these reported savings, Musk admitted he would not reprise the role. “I mean no, I don’t think so,” he told Miller, adding that he would have preferred to focus on his companies instead. Musk’s remark came in the context of a series of vandalism attacks on Tesla vehicles earlier this year, which were widely attributed to public backlash over his political involvement.
Political Fallout and Business Impact
Musk’s leadership at Doge coincided with a turbulent period for Tesla. The company experienced a decline in sales, which fell to the lowest levels in three years, partly due to changing public sentiment and boycotts connected to Musk’s political engagement. Tesla’s Cybertruck vehicles were also targeted in acts of vandalism, reflecting the polarizing nature of his role in U.S. politics.
Even with these challenges, Musk maintained that Doge achieved limited success. “We were somewhat successful,” he said, emphasizing that the group stopped “a lot of funding that really just made no sense.” Musk explained that the overarching goal was to ensure the federal government accomplished the least possible, streamlining operations wherever feasible.
The Origin and Role of Doge
Created by executive order on President Trump’s first day back in office, Doge was not an official government department but an advisory group tasked with tackling inefficiencies in federal spending. The name “Doge,” Musk explained, was a playful creation inspired by online suggestions rather than any formal government nomenclature.
The department aggressively pursued reductions across the federal workforce and pushed for the closure of certain programs and agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Some of Doge’s initiatives faced legal challenges or were quickly reversed. For instance, after federal officials were fired during a bird flu program cost-cutting effort, the Trump administration re-hired them just days later.
Musk and Trump: From Allies to Tension
Musk’s time at Doge strained his relationship with former President Trump, despite his prior support. Initially, Musk was a prominent backer of Trump, donating millions to his campaign and frequently attending White House meetings. However, their alliance fractured in June when Musk criticized a Trump-backed spending bill, leading to a highly publicized social media exchange.
Today, the relationship appears to have softened. Musk attended a White House dinner in November with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and spoke positively about Trump during his interview with Miller, describing the former president as “the funniest person I know” with a “great sense of humor.”
Musk’s Takeaway
Reflecting on his Doge experience, Musk highlighted the lessons learned and his preference for focusing on his companies. “They wouldn’t have been burning the cars,” he joked, referencing the vandalism incidents that affected Tesla vehicles. While the department may have achieved modest fiscal success, Musk’s overarching sentiment is clear: leading Doge was a unique experiment in government efficiency, but one he would not repeat.
Leave a Reply