>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
“I don’t think so,” Musk said when Miller asked if he’d do DOGE again. “Instead of doing DOGE, I would have basically worked on my companies.”
That blunt statement was about as close as Musk ever comes to admitting failure.
DOGE was billed as a revolutionary effort to overhaul government efficiency. Musk promised massive savings—up to $2 trillion—and claimed he would bring private-sector discipline to a bloated federal bureaucracy.
Instead, the project quickly unraveled.
Big Promises, Tiny Results
Musk and his allies repeatedly touted DOGE as a cost-cutting triumph. At one point, Musk claimed the initiative eliminated massive amounts of waste.
DOGE was “somewhat successful” and stopped “$100 billion, maybe $200 billion of zombie payments per year.”
But investigations told a very different story.
Multiple media outlets examined DOGE’s so-called “wall of receipts” and found that the numbers didn’t add up. Contracts listed as canceled were still active. Savings were double-counted. Some cuts never existed in the first place.
Verified savings came in at a tiny fraction of what was advertised—barely a rounding error in the federal budget.
In short, DOGE talked big and delivered little.
Tesla Paid the Price
Musk’s regrets weren’t just about politics—they were personal and financial.
During the interview, he referenced the wave of vandalism and attacks targeting Tesla facilities after his high-profile government role.
“They wouldn’t have been burning the cars,” Musk said wistfully.
Those words weren’t metaphorical.
Tesla dealerships and charging stations were attacked across multiple states. Vehicles were vandalized. Protesters organized nationwide demonstrations branding the company as a political enemy.
The backlash devastated Tesla’s brand overseas. In parts of Europe, sales collapsed. Profits plunged. Deliveries fell sharply.
What was once a symbol of innovation became a magnet for political outrage.
Silicon Valley Hubris Meets Government Reality
Musk entered Washington convinced he could run government like a startup.
He brought chainsaws to political events. He mocked bureaucracy. He promised ruthless efficiency.
But the federal government doesn’t operate like Tesla or SpaceX.
Procurement rules exist to prevent corruption. Regulations keep planes from colliding and diseases from spreading. Programs Musk labeled “waste” often serve critical national functions.
Career officials quickly realized DOGE’s leadership lacked even basic knowledge of how federal contracts and grants work.
As one former contracting officer bluntly explained:
“They don’t understand the processes, they don’t understand how things work, they don’t understand contracts, they don’t understand grants.”
Instead of saving money, DOGE’s chaos reportedly cost taxpayers more through lost productivity, forced rehiring, and mass administrative disruption.
A Political Disaster for Trump
President Trump championed DOGE as proof that outsiders could finally tame Washington.
He gave Musk unprecedented access and authority, presenting the effort as a cornerstone of conservative reform.
Now Musk himself is walking away.
That puts Trump in a bind.
If DOGE failed, it reflects poorly on Trump’s judgment. If it succeeded, why won’t Musk stand by it?
The situation is made worse by the public feud between the two men earlier this year, when Musk blasted Trump’s tax legislation as a “disgusting abomination,” prompting Trump to threaten Musk’s federal contracts.
While the relationship appeared patched up briefly, Musk’s latest remarks reopen old wounds.
Even Musk Knows It Was Mostly Theater
Musk did offer one explanation for the backlash he faced.
“If you stop money going for political corruption, they will lash out big time,” Musk said. “So they really want the money to keep flowing.”
That sentiment resonates with many conservatives.
But DOGE’s failure shows that slogans and shock tactics are not enough. Real reform requires deep understanding, strategic action, and political discipline—not chainsaws and bravado.
In the end, Musk’s retreat back to his companies confirms what skeptics warned from the beginning.
Washington isn’t a startup. And even the world’s richest CEO couldn’t bend it to his will.
