Elon Musk recently shared that he’ll be stepping away from the DOGE project beginning in May. At least for now, he intends to spend just a day or two a week on the project. After all that it seems Musk is now patting himself on his back for his first 100 days as DOGE. He can boast that under his tenure this initiative has saved the federal government $160 billion. In a White House meeting with Donald Trump and his Cabinet earlier this month, Musk thanked them for the chance. He said he’d keep doing it as long as it’s helpful.
As a result of Musk’s remarks, there has been renewed debate over the economic impact of DOGE. Last fall, he had the audacity to tell us that the initiative would save at least $2 trillion from the federal budget. Pros say the real savings would be far less than he’s projecting. In a follow-up interview in January, Musk tried to walk back the $160 billion figure, stressing that it’s an estimate of the best case.
During the meeting, Trump acknowledged Musk’s contributions, stating, “The vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you,” and thanked him for his efforts. The Cabinet Secretaries in attendance responded with deafening applause after Musk’s statements regarding DOGE and its many success.
Musk remarked, “It’s been an honor to work with your incredible Cabinet,” before confirming that he will now focus more on Tesla as the major work of establishing the Department of Government Efficiency is complete. He stated, “Starting next month, I’ll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla now that the major work of establishing the Department of Government Efficiency is done.”
Despite Musk’s reduced involvement, he assured Trump that he would remain engaged with DOGE for as long as it is useful. He continued by noting how he now speaks to Trump on the phone instead of operating out of the White House.
“I think we’ll try for $2 trillion. I think that’s the best-case outcome.” – Elon Musk
While some officials expressed optimism about DOGE’s potential impact, not all were convinced by Musk’s projections. Trump responded to Musk’s ambitious target by saying, “I do think that you kind of have to have some overage. I think if we try for $2 trillion, we’ve got a good shot at getting 1,” indicating a more cautious approach to the projected savings.
Musk’s statements are a great example of the often inherent tension in pairing innovative spirit with fiscal prudence, especially in government-backed efforts. DOGE is leaving its previous era behind as Musk withdraws his support. This change begs the question of how official it is — is it a government department in the conventional sense, or merely an individual-driven initiative lacking institutionalization?
Musk is taking a bit of a backseat in DOGE. His departure leaves behind a legacy paved by ambitious goals and high-profile claims. DOGE’s future is in the hands of its few leaders dogecoin. Their success will depend on whether they can improve upon the robust foundation built during Musk’s tenure.