Elon Musk Doubts the Value of His DOGE Initiative

Elon Musk has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of his campaign to reduce government waste through the Department of Government Efficiency, commonly known as DOGE. He mentioned that the disruption caused by this initiative may not have been worth it.

During a conversation with Katie Miller on her podcast, Musk revealed his uncertainty about whether his efforts to manage what he referred to as Washington’s most meme-centric agency made a significant impact. He remarked, “We’ve had a little bit of success. We’ve had some success.”

However, he quickly tempered that assessment, highlighting the deep-rooted nature of waste within the system. “There were probably $100 to $200 billion worth of zombie payments,” he noted, adding that DOGE has managed to eliminate only a minor fraction of that total.

As the CEO of SpaceX, Musk acknowledged that cutting down the cash flow related to these issues would be met with strong resistance. “They will lash out if you stop the money flowing to political corruption,” he explained. “They really want the money to keep flowing.”

When Miller asked if he would undertake the DOGE initiative again, Musk seemed hesitant, stating, “No, I don’t think so. I think instead of doing DOGE, I was basically… working on my own company.” He reflected that, in a different scenario without political turmoil, “cars would not have been burned.”

This statement referred to the vandalism of Tesla vehicles that occurred earlier this year as he began collaborating with the second Trump administration. Musk also expressed a realistic perspective regarding his involvement in government, criticizing what he described as “huge remittances” to immigrants, which he believes act as a strong incentive for people to relocate to the U.S.

Musk admitted he was never really naive about the political landscape, launching into a sharp critique of government spending overall. Despite engaging in heavy political discussion, he occasionally shared some personal insights. For instance, he mentioned still suffering from “AI nightmares” that keep him awake for days, managing only around six hours of sleep.

When questioned about the source of these nightmares, Musk replied somewhat humorously, “Why do I wake up in a nightmare? Oh, AI. That’s right.” He asserted that he doesn’t harbor “irrational fears,” claiming that he suppresses any fears that might hinder him, as “fear kills the soul.”

Nonetheless, even someone as wealthy as Musk has limitations, especially in public settings. He noted that he can’t engage with the general public without facing instant selfie requests and serious safety concerns, particularly following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. “Life is in hardcore mode,” he commented. “If you make a mistake, you die.”

Throughout his discussion with Miller, who is married to Stephen Miller, an aide to President Trump, Musk’s uncertainty regarding DOGE remained evident, though he avoided committing to whether he would lead the initiative again if given the opportunity. “I don’t think so,” he reflected, suggesting that hindsight offers a clearer perspective.