Elon Musk Reflects on DOGE Experience as ‘Somewhat Successful’

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has characterized his tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as “a little bit successful.” In a podcast interview released on March 15, 2024, he expressed regret over not dedicating that time to his companies, namely Tesla and SpaceX. The discussion took place with Katie Miller, a former DOGE spokeswoman and spouse of Stephen Miller, who served as deputy chief of staff under former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Musk led the initiative for several months, operating from a small bureau within the executive office building. His role involved making significant cuts to the U.S. federal workforce and various agencies after Trump began his second term. However, Musk’s relationship with Trump soured in June 2023 due to disagreements over the administration’s major tax and spending bill, which he criticized as “utterly insane and destructive.”

When asked if he would consider returning to DOGE, Musk was unequivocal. “No, I don’t think so,” he stated. He elaborated that he would have preferred to focus on his companies during that time, suggesting that their operations were adversely affected. “They wouldn’t have been burning the cars,” he noted, referencing incidents of vandalism reported at Tesla dealerships and charging stations during his leadership of DOGE.

Reflecting on his time in the role, Musk acknowledged the mixed results of the initiative. “We were a little bit successful. We were somewhat successful,” he remarked, emphasizing that the team halted funding for projects he deemed wasteful. Despite Musk’s claims, independent observers have expressed skepticism about the reported savings attributed to DOGE. The initiative’s website currently asserts that cuts amount to $214 billion, but critics argue that these figures do not accurately reflect actual savings.

As Musk returns his focus to his companies, the impact of his brief governmental stint continues to be debated. While he views some achievements in cutting unnecessary funding, the lasting effects of DOGE on the federal landscape remain uncertain.