Elon Musk expressed regret over his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in an interview, stating it was only somewhat successful and strained his businesses. He indicated he would not repeat the experience, preferring to focus on Tesla and SpaceX. The initiative, aimed at cutting federal spending, faced controversy and was shuttered recently.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, shared his reflections on heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during a podcast interview with Katie Miller. He described the advisory role under the Trump administration as 'a little bit successful' and 'somewhat successful,' but ultimately not worth the personal and professional costs. 'Instead of doing DOGE, I would have, basically, worked on my companies,' Musk told Miller.
Musk assumed the position earlier in the year, promising to save the government up to $2 trillion through efficiency measures. The group, which was never a formal department, focused on terminating contracts, grants, and leases to reduce spending and eliminate fraud. According to DOGE's records, it ended 13,440 contracts, 15,887 grants, and 264 leases over its 10-month existence. Musk highlighted identifying $200 billion annually in 'zombie payments' that could be cut via automation, a figure far below initial projections.
The initiative drew significant backlash, contributing to public protests against Tesla. Musk referenced demonstrators setting cars on fire, noting wistfully, 'They wouldn’t have been burning the cars' if he had stayed out of government. He also mentioned avoiding public events due to selfie demands and hostility. DOGE's operations included rapid access to federal data and job cuts, with the Office of Personnel Management reporting 317,000 employee departures in 2025 amid 68,000 hires.
Last month, Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, confirmed DOGE 'doesn’t exist' as a centralized entity, despite eight months left in its planned 18-month agenda. Musk departed in the spring following controversies, including a reported rift with Trump. Since leaving, Tesla shareholders approved a major compensation package for Musk.
