DOGE Hasn't Been 'As Effective As I'd 'Like', Says Elon Musk, Calls Reform 'Really Difficult', Like 'Changing The Direction Of A Fleet of Supertankers' - Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Elon Musk, has expressed mixed feelings about his first 100 days in office, acknowledging progress in Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but admitting limitations.

What Happened: Musk described his initial tenure in Washington as “very, very intense.” He praised his team’s efforts but pointed out the hindrance of an “entrenched set of interests” in achieving their goals.

Musk, along with top DOGE officials Steve Davis, Antonio Gracias, and Anthony Armstrong, discussed their early experiences in Washington, the allegations of fraud, the shifting goals of DOGE, and Musk’s association with President Donald Trump, reported ABC News.

While Musk acknowledged his team’s progress, stating they had saved American taxpayers “$160 billion so far,” he accepted, “we haven’t been as effective as I’d like.”

Musk had initially promised that DOGE would save the country “at least $2 trillion” in federal spending, a goal later revised to $1 trillion. On Wednesday, Musk maintained that the $1 trillion target is “possible” but acknowledged that it’s “really difficult.”

Musk criticized the structure of the federal budget, likening the difficulty of reform to “changing the direction of a fleet of supertankers.”

Start Futures Trading Fast — with a $200 Bonus

Join Plus500 today and get up to $200 to start trading real futures. Practice with free paper trading, then jump into live markets with lightning-fast execution, low commissions, and full regulatory protection.

Why It Matters: Musk’s role at DOGE has been a topic of much discussion. David Sacks, President Donald Trump‘s AI and Crypto Czar, stated that Musk was not completely out of DOGE, but was rationing his time more efficiently.

These comments came on the heels of Musk’s announcement that he would be reducing his involvement with DOGE to refocus on Tesla Inc. TSLA.

Meanwhile, as per a Senate report, Musk’s influence over DOGE could potentially help him avoid over $2 billion in financial liabilities for his companies. This influence has led to major changes in Washington, with President Trump supporting Musk’s push for cuts.