Elon Musk Says Federal Cost-Cutting Effort Was “Somewhat Successful”
- Elon Musk says DOGE delivered limited results, showing tensions between tech and government.
- Slow government processes hindered Musk’s DOGE reforms and reduced the scale of savings.
- Musk’s regret reflects a growing gap as tech innovation outpaces slow government systems.
Elon Musk’s admission that the Department of Government Efficiency delivered only moderate results adds new weight to a growing divide between major tech leaders and slow-moving government structures. Musk discussed the issue during a podcast appearance with former Trump administration official Katie Miller. He described the work as “somewhat successful” but said he would not repeat the experience.
Musk Reflects on DOGE and Its Limited Progress
Musk said he joined the Trump administration’s efficiency push with the goal of cutting wasteful federal spending. He said he met the team with optimism and believed the office could deliver major savings. He also said the role felt surreal, and he often questioned why he was spending time away from his company.
Musk helped launch DOGE at the start of Trump’s second term. The office aimed to cut billions in unnecessary expenditures and shrink the federal workforce. He said the team halted several spending streams that lacked a clear purpose and also targeted so-called zombie payments by enforcing tighter verification rules.
He said those adjustments stopped some questionable payments and trimmed costs in key departments. However, he noted that the overall structure slowed meaningful progress. He said government processes held back stronger reforms because approval chains grew too long and political pressure limited flexibility.
Musk said the backlash to his involvement created additional challenges. Tesla owners vandalized some vehicles during political tensions, and investors raised concerns about Musk’s time away from corporate operations. Musk said these incidents reinforced his belief that the role created more trouble than it solved.
He said he originally projected savings of about $2 trillion over several years. Later, he revised the figure and said a realistic target approached $150 billion in cuts for the 2026 fiscal cycle. Analysts reported smaller verified results, including $1.4 billion in confirmed cancellations and a slight decline in federal spending.
DOGE disbanded eight months before the end of its mandate. Musk said he understood the decision and believed the project lacked the speed required to deliver large structural gains. He also said the lack of detailed public reporting made it difficult to show real outcomes.
Related: DOGE Ends Early as Trump Shifts Toward Fragmented Control
Tech-Government Tensions Shape the Broader Context
Musk’s regret fits into a larger pattern across the tech industry. Leading executives increasingly argue that government-led modernization efforts move more slowly than private-sector innovation cycles. They also say bureaucratic limits make it harder to build efficient systems at scale.
Recent policy debates in the U.S. and Europe echo this point. Lawmakers continue to push for digital reforms, but complex rules slow every step. Meanwhile, private tech companies increase automation, advance AI tools, and reduce operating costs at higher speeds.
Musk said he now believes he should have continued focusing on Tesla and SpaceX during the period. He said his time in government delayed key projects and exposed him to political risks that added no value to his companies. He also said the pressure from the role contributed to public tensions with Trump before their reported reconciliation.
He said he sees value in the idea of reducing wasteful spending but believes government teams must adopt faster methods. He said tech companies use smaller groups, clearer goals, and rapid decision cycles, while public offices rely on slower layers of oversight.
Musk ended the discussion by saying he learned from the experience. He said he respects the mission but would not return to the role.
