Regret and Retrenchment: Elon Musk Says Controversial DOGE Project 'Somewhat Successful,' Vows Not to Repeat

Elon Musk, the head of Tesla, recently reflected on his experience running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting program launched during President Donald Trump’s administration. Speaking on a podcast, he said the project achieved only limited results and made clear he would not participate again, pointing to the backlash he faced from the public and from some corporations.

Musk, a prominent supporter and donor to Trump, led the DOGE effort during the first several months of Trump’s second term. The initiative sought major reductions in federal spending and staffing. Looking back, Musk characterized the results cautiously. In his discussion with former Trump aide Katie Miller, he suggested the team managed to stop some spending he viewed as unnecessary, estimating that roughly $100–200 billion in problematic payments might exist annually and could be caught with better coding and verification processes. Although he initially spoke of possible savings approaching $2 trillion, the forecast was later scaled down to about $150 billion in projected reductions for the 2026 fiscal year, shortly before he stepped away from the role in May.

Musk acknowledged he would have preferred to focus on his companies instead, remarking that his involvement with DOGE created intense public backlash, including vandalism of Tesla vehicles and organized protests. Analysts noted that investors worried he was taking on too many responsibilities. After he formally exited the program—following a public disagreement with President Trump over a major spending bill—Tesla’s stock began to rebound and ended the year with gains of more than 10%.

According to Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, the DOGE initiative has since been wound down ahead of schedule. The group claimed it had cut federal expenditures by tens of billions of dollars, but outside financial experts were unable to substantiate those numbers due to the lack of detailed public documentation. A confirmed analysis by Politico verified $1.4 billion in canceled contracts and reduced spending. Some of DOGE’s self-reported achievements were found to be overstated; for example, a supposed $655 million reduction in the USAID budget amounted to just $18 million. Musk admitted the unit’s name originated from online suggestions, and when asked whether he would take on the role again, he responded definitively that he would not.