Politics

Elon Musk Expresses Regret Over Leading Government Efficiency Department

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Dec 10, 2025

THE BARE STORY

Elon Musk stated that if given the chance, he would not repeat his experience leading the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a podcast interview released Tuesday, Musk said that knowing what he knows now, he would have preferred to focus on his companies rather than lead the government cost-cutting initiative.

Musk attributed his regret to the backlash his companies faced, particularly Tesla. He stated that had he remained at his companies, arson and vandalism incidents at Tesla dealerships, which he said included cars being burned, would not have occurred. In the interview, Musk attributed these attacks to "left-wing activists."

President Donald Trump appointed Musk to lead DOGE after his inauguration, with Musk initially suggesting the initiative could save up to $2 trillion. In the podcast, Musk described the department as "somewhat successful," claiming it stopped what he called "entirely wasteful" spending, which he estimated at $100 billion to $200 billion annually. The department’s actions reportedly included shutting down programs, pushing for large-scale federal workforce reductions, and closing some agencies, which drew criticism from federal workers and Democratic lawmakers.

After Musk left the administration in May, his relationship with President Trump deteriorated. According to one account, Musk publicly attacked the president, who in turn threatened to cut federal subsidies for Musk's companies. The relationship has since shown signs of mending, with Musk attending a White House dinner last month. Last week, President Trump stated, "I like Elon a lot," while Musk described the president as the "funniest person he knows."

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• The department’s actions negatively impacted federal workers and programs. The article notes that the department’s methods drew criticism from federal workers and Democratic lawmakers. These actions included shutting down government programs, pushing for large-scale reductions in the federal workforce, and closing some agencies.

• The leader of the initiative has expressed personal regret over his involvement. Elon Musk stated in a podcast interview that, knowing what he knows now, he would not repeat the experience of leading the department. He said he would have preferred to remain focused on his own companies rather than taking the government position.

• The role led to a significant public political feud. After Musk left the administration in May, his relationship with President Trump deteriorated significantly. According to one account, Musk publicly attacked the president, which prompted the president to threaten cutting federal subsidies for Musk’s companies, highlighting the political volatility of the position.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• Government spending was reportedly cut by $100-$200 billion annually, which could affect federal taxes, national debt, or funding for other programs.

• The closure of some government agencies and programs, along with federal workforce reductions, may have altered or reduced public services available to citizens.

• Political disputes could create market instability, as threats to cut federal subsidies can impact private companies that rely on government support.

• The reported backlash may discourage other private sector leaders from taking similar government roles, potentially affecting future cost-cutting initiatives.

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