Elon Musk has discontinued his affiliation with President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, alleging that his squad’s initiatives have resulted in a $160 billion financial gain for taxpayers. Upon reflecting in the Oval Office, Musk recognized the enormity of the federal budget reduction task they undertook. His appearance was notably marked by a black eye, a playful memento from his son, X, who he had jocularly encouraged to land a punch.
Despite the separation from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk maintains his belief in the continued influence and growth of the organization. DOGE is an entity that, according to Musk, won’t soon be extricated from the government’s fabric. His comparison of DOGE to the philosophy of Buddhism suggests his view of the organization as a persistent and dynamic force within government operations.
Musk shared thoughts about DOGE and his tenure in a concluding press session with President Trump. His designated term was set for 130 days, which has now run its course. He feted the achievements of DOGE in helping the government save up to $160 billion for fiscal years 2025-2026, postulating these savings could potentially escalate to $200 billion.
Previous public commitments by Musk aligned with his recent campaigns, which ambitiously aimed at a whopping savings of $2 trillion, that was subsequently cut in half for realistic aims. Musk expressed his optimism in achieving the $1 trillion mark in cost-cutting in the inexorable combat against waste within the governmental setup.
Musk expounded on the complexity of curbing expenditures, due to a multitude of detailed items to be prudently examined. He painted an image of DOGE’s meticulous labor in assessing each expense for its propriety and value, which he confessed was indeed a herculean task.
Critiques of Musk’s departure were apparent among Democratic state leaders. Michael Frerichs, Treasurer of Illinois, openly expressed his contentment. He doubted the fiscal responsibility evinced by DOGE under Musk’s leadership, tagging Musk as a symbol of the rampant greed inherent in Trump’s administration.
Frerichs took issue with Trump’s perceived bias, which according to him, favored the affluent and grossly neglected state residents struggling with the rigors of unemployment, homelessness, and a hand-to-mouth existence. Simultaneously, the Oregon Treasurer, Elizabeth Steiner, suggested a shift in Musk’s focus towards Tesla, the company he currently helms.
According to Steiner, DOGE’s decisions had cost American workers their jobs, impeded crucial medical research, and disrupted vital services like Social Security, thereby adversely affecting the economic survival of families and communities. She proposed that Musk redirect his acumen towards innovation and entrepreneurship at Tesla.
Investors echoed Steiner’s sentiment recently through a written appeal to Tesla Chairperson Robyn Denholm. They requested the board to ensure Musk commits a minimum of 40 hours a week to Tesla. The commitment was seen as a requisite condition in any fresh remuneration plan earmarked for Musk.
Musk himself had hinted his intent to dedicate more time to Tesla last month, addressing investors’ concerns. On the day of his departure, he reassured all that he would continue his relationship with Trump in an informal capacity, to serve as a friend and advisor when needed.
President Trump confirmed Musk’s continued involvement with the administration, stating Musk would return intermittently. He hinted at Musk’s unwavering commitment to DOGE, analogizing it to a parent’s undying love for their child. Trump and Musk assured that the bulk of the DOGE team would be retained.
Musk admitted to facing resistance when it came to imposing cost cuts, paralleled by instances of compliance where their austerity measures faced zero objections. He revealed an instance of unused software licenses which ran into millions and were audited and removed without prompting any objections.
Musk also addressed the criticism of DOGE being perceived as a culprit for all governmental spending cuts, often bearing the blame for decisions made independently of them. A spurious narrative emerged, involving a friend’s daughter, an intern who erroneously believed DOGE was responsible for the withdrawal of funding for U.S. Senate legal internships.
Musk lamented the extent to which DOGE was wrongfully used as a scapegoat for all expenditure reductions, regardless of their involvement. He criticized this narrative for absolving responsibility from other players, and for damaging DOGE’s perception, even in situations that made no fiscal sense to be associated with DOGE.