Elon Musk Says Doge Was ‘Somewhat Successful’ but He Wouldn’t Do It Again – BBC
Elon Musk has admitted that his work running the Department of Government Efficiency, nicknamed Doge, under former President Donald Trump was only “somewhat successful”, and he would not take the role again, according to BBC reports.
Musk made the comments during a nearly hour-long interview on The Katie Miller Podcast on Tuesday, reflecting on the controversial cost-cutting advisory group he led.
BBC explains that Doge was created by executive order on Trump’s first day back in the White House, aiming to reduce federal jobs, close government programs, and save money—Musk promised up to $2 trillion a year, though the organization reported only $214 billion saved so far.
Musk told BBC that if he could go back, he would have focused on his own companies instead, referencing vandalism attacks on Tesla showrooms and vehicles earlier this year, which were partly in response to his visible political role.
Musk said Doge achieved some success, such as stopping funding for programs that made little sense, but the political spotlight caused problems for both him and his businesses.
According to BBC, Doge pushed for aggressive cuts to federal agencies, even targeting organizations like USAID, and firing some staff only to have them rehired days later. The advisory group’s name, Musk explained, was “made-up” and came from internet suggestions.
BBC also notes that Musk’s involvement in politics strained his relationship with Trump at times, particularly after Musk criticized a Trump-backed spending bill in June. This led to social media conflicts and threats from Trump to investigate Musk’s business dealings.
However, BBC reports that their relationship seems to have improved, with Musk recently attending a White House dinner with the Saudi Crown Prince.
From a unique perspective, BBC reporting shows that Musk’s political experiment highlights the risks for billionaires who mix business with government work. While Doge had some measurable successes in cutting unnecessary spending, it also created major challenges for Musk’s companies and sparked public backlash.
It raises a broader question about whether corporate leaders can effectively run government projects without creating chaos, according to the lessons highlighted by BBC.
In the end, Musk described Trump positively, calling him “the funniest person I know” with a “great sense of humour,” suggesting that despite the clashes, personal relationships can survive political turmoil, BBC reports.