Elon Musk Reflects on DOGE Leadership, Expresses Regret and Mixed Success
Elon Musk shares his regrets about the Department of Government Efficiency, stating it was only 'somewhat successful' and he wouldn't repeat the experience.
Overview
Elon Musk confirmed he would not participate again in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), citing mixed feelings about its success.
He expressed regret over his involvement with DOGE, preferring to focus on his own companies instead.
Musk described his leadership of DOGE as 'somewhat successful', acknowledging that it impacted his businesses negatively.
He mentioned the potential for the agency to save up to $200 billion annually in 'zombie payments', reflecting on its original goals.
Despite ambitious promises of significant savings, Musk concluded that he wouldn't repeat the DOGE effort due to its controversial nature.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by contextualizing Elon Musk's interview as "friendly" with an "aide and conservative influencer," immediately labeling DOGE as "controversial." They highlight the interviewer's failure to press Musk on critical details and contrast his current claims of $200 billion in savings with past "trillions" promises, subtly questioning the agency's impact and the interview's depth.
Sources (9)
FAQ
The primary purpose of DOGE was to modernize federal technology, maximize governmental efficiency, dismantle bureaucracy, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies to improve accountability and cost-effectiveness in government operations.
Elon Musk expressed regret because, despite DOGE's goals to save up to $200 billion annually, its leadership proved only 'somewhat successful' and its activities negatively impacted his own businesses, leading him to decide he would not participate again.
DOGE claimed to have saved more than $200 billion per year through various measures, including contract cancellations and workforce reductions; however, estimates of its cost and savings have been disputed, with some sources claiming the agency cost taxpayers billions.
DOGE was established in 2025 but by November 2025 it was announced that DOGE no longer existed, with most of its functions transferred to the Office of Personnel Management, due to controversies over its cost, effectiveness, and leadership issues.
DOGE was not a cabinet-level department; it was created by an executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, as a reorganization of an existing agency to improve government efficiency.
History
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