Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — a signature initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration — was only “a little bit successful.” Speaking on a podcast with former Trump official Katie Miller, Musk revealed he would not take on the role again, noting that the political backlash and strain on his companies outweighed the program’s achievements.
Musk Reflects on DOGE’s Limited Success
Musk, a key financial supporter of Trump’s presidential campaign, became an influential adviser during Trump’s second term. He was appointed to lead DOGE, a team tasked with slashing federal spending and reducing the government workforce. According to Musk, the group managed to stop “a lot of funding that made no sense” and succeeded in cutting wasteful expenditures.
However, he acknowledged that the effort fell short of major structural reform. “We were a little bit successful. We were somewhat successful,” Musk said. Reflecting on the backlash that followed his political involvement, Musk added that he would have preferred to focus on his companies. “I think instead of doing DOGE, I would have basically worked on my companies. And they wouldn’t have been burning the cars,” he said, referring to cases of vandalism involving Tesla vehicles.
Investors had also expressed concern during the period, fearing Musk was distracted from Tesla at a time when the company faced slowing sales and mounting competition.
Political Fallout, Disbanding of DOGE and Signs of Reconciliation
Musk’s relationship with Trump soured midyear over disagreements tied to the president’s sweeping tax and spending bill. Despite the public fallout, reports suggest some recent signs of reconciliation between the two figures.
The DOGE program itself has now been disbanded with eight months remaining in its mandate, according to Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor. While DOGE claimed to have slashed tens of billions of dollars in government expenditures, outside experts were unable to verify the numbers because the unit did not release detailed public records of its cuts.
Asked whether he would ever lead DOGE again, Musk gave a definitive answer: “No, I don’t think so.” His remarks suggest a clear shift away from high-profile political involvement and a renewed focus on business operations.
