Elon Musk's Role in Trump's Department of Government Efficiency and Its Aftermath
Elon Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), an initiative funded with over $250 million from Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, aiming to overhaul federal government spending. The ambitious goal was initially set at up to $2 trillion in savings but was later scaled back to about $1 trillion. By December, reports indicated approximately $214 billion had been saved, though these figures faced skepticism.
Following Trump's return, tens of thousands of federal workers were fired, leaving many agencies in disarray and triggering legal challenges. Musk exited the administration after four months, and Doge was reportedly terminated six months later. Musk later stated he would not repeat the effort.
Critics argued that Doge was poorly conceived and often detracted from government missions, with experts noting that fast, disruptive approaches generally do not work within government institutions. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has logged $1.45 trillion in savings since 2002, leading some experts to contend that Doge was unnecessary. Additionally, questions were raised regarding the team’s budgeting expertise.
There were concerns over transparency and legality surrounding Doge's operations. Office of Personnel Management director Scott Kupor stated that Doge did not officially exist. Meanwhile, the watchdog group CREW filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit demanding better recordkeeping and transparency. Despite Doge's official end, some staff reportedly remained embedded within agencies.
In a related February incident at the Social Security Administration, a whistleblower alleged insecure handling of cloud-based data. This resulted in the resignation of Chief Data Officer Chuck Borges, who later ran for Maryland state senate.
