As chief doge of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) After May, he’ll only be able to commit a day or two per week to the initiative. In August, Musk suggested that DOGE might one day rescue the entire federal budget by a conservative $2 trillion. Now, that narrative has played a huge role in this ruling. In an extraordinary meeting with Donald Trump and his new Cabinet, Elon Musk pulled a fast one. He further claimed that DOGE had previously “saved $160 billion, but who’s counting?”
Musk’s comments were met with applause from the audience, including Trump’s Cabinet secretaries. The New York Post reported that Musk is no longer working out of the West Wing, marking a shift in his role within the administration. What would a DOGE economy even look like? Experts have recently implied that DOGE’s economic repercussions likely range far below the amounts Musk has cited. This leads to key questions about how much savings the initiative is really generating.
In a reflective tone, Musk stated, “A tremendous amount has been accomplished in the first 100 days.” He emphasized the importance of his work, noting that he would continue with DOGE “for as long as Donald Trump would like him to do so, and as long as it’s useful.” Musk’s commitment underscores his focus on ensuring that the project’s objectives align with the administration’s goals.
During the meeting, Trump acknowledged Musk’s contributions, stating, “The vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you… you have really been a tremendous help.” He further expressed his desire for Musk to remain involved, saying, “You know, you’re invited to stay as long as you want.”
Musk’s previous estimates on how much DOGE could save had previously featured a doggedly optimistic goal of $2 trillion. He tempered expectations by admitting, “I think if we try for $2 trillion, we’ve got a good shot at getting 1.” His comments show a note of cautious optimism when it comes to the project’s potential long-term impact on government efficiency.
As he prepares to allocate more of his time to Tesla in May, Musk remarked, “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.” This pivotal shift marks Musk’s elite commitment to control his myriad of other new money ventures. It pays homage to his past advocacy for DOGE.
There remains plenty of skepticism toward DOGE’s financial boasts. When Musk says “that’s the best-case outcome” it indicates that he is already keen to raise the bar high on any expectations for government reform. Those experts must continue tracking DOGE as well as its actual effects on federal budget savings. We hope this first installment in the ongoing dialogue will inspire further talk.
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