Camilla Jessen
Elon Musk says he wouldn’t run DOGE again despite ‘somewhat successful’ results
Elon Musk has admitted he would not take on the leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) again, despite claiming the agency achieved partial success in cutting federal spending under President Donald Trump.
Musk on a turbulent year
Speaking on The Katie Miller Podcast, Musk said that if he could redo 2025, he would have stayed focused “on my companies, basically.”
Asked whether he would still accept the DOGE role, he replied: “No, I don’t think so.”
He added that he “wouldn’t have set cars on fire,” referring to the wave of vandalism against Tesla vehicles earlier this year, which followed global protests over his political role.
DOGE, created by executive order on Trump’s first day back in the White House, aimed to streamline federal operations.
Musk initially pledged savings of up to $2 trillion a year, though the agency’s website — last updated on October 4 — lists around $214 billion saved so far in 2025.
Cost-cutting and controversy
Musk said DOGE “stopped a lot of funding that just didn’t make sense” and defended the goal of limiting government activity. However, his involvement drew widespread backlash.
Several countries saw protests and boycotts targeting Tesla, while Cybertruck vandalism surged.
In April, the company reported its lowest sales in three years, citing the “changing political climate.”
The businessman noted that DOGE began as “a made-up name, based on suggestions from the internet,” but the role quickly grew into a political flashpoint that strained his relationship with Trump.
Rift, then repair
Musk and Trump clashed publicly in June after Musk criticised a federal spending bill endorsed by the president.
The dispute escalated on social media, with Trump threatening to direct DOGE to scrutinise Musk’s federal dealings.
The tensions appear to have eased. Musk attended a White House dinner in November alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and he told Miller that Trump is “the funniest person I know” and has “a great sense of humor.”
Sources: BBC.
