Musk Says DOGE Hasn’t Been as Effective as He Wanted — Are More Cuts Coming?

Elon Musk said his high-profile effort to cut government waste with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has made “some progress but not enough.”

The tempered assessment comes amid reported tensions between Musk and President Donald Trump, whose administration launched the initiative. Although Musk announced his intention to step down from leadership of DOGE, the department will continue in its attempt to cut unnecessary spending by the federal government.

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Musk said DOGE hasn’t been as effective as he wanted. So, are more cuts coming?

Musk envisioned DOGE as a transformative force to streamline federal operations. His ambitious plan aimed to eliminate wasteful spending, reduce bureaucracy and modernize government technology, with the ultimate goal of saving up to $2 trillion in taxpayer money.

In his first 100 days leading DOGE, Musk claimed the team saved $1.6 billion a day, ABC News reported. However, he admitted the results fall short of his trillion-dollar goal. He blamed entrenched interests and bureaucracy, calling the reform process “like turning a fleet of supertankers.”

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Specifically, Musk emphasized that achieving the revised goal of $1 trillion in federal spending cuts would depend on “how much pain is the cabinet and Congress willing to take.”

“It can be done,” Musk told reporters. “But it requires dealing with a lot of complaints.”

While Musk said DOGE saved $160 billion by cutting waste, an analysis cited by CBS News estimated the initiative could ultimately cost taxpayers $135 billion this fiscal year.

The report, attributed to the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, outlined expenses tied to mismanaged staff cuts, lost productivity and administrative disruptions.

In addition, some experts said the deeper issue was the assumption that government should operate like a business. They said that applying corporate strategies to public systems could create more disruption than efficiency.

“Running a government isn’t like running a business,” said George Carrillo, co-founder and CEO of the Hispanic Construction Council. Carrillo previously served as the Director of Social Determinants of Health for the state of Oregon.

“It’s not about moving fast to sell products or meet quarterly goals,” Carrillo said. “Instead, it’s a slower, more thoughtful process, where every decision impacts real people’s lives.”

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Despite mixed results, the Trump administration is doubling down on DOGE’s mission.

The White House has formally requested that Congress rescind $9.4 billion in previously approved spending, targeting programs flagged by DOGE. If approved, the move would cement many of DOGE’s proposed cuts and freezes, with Trump aides claiming the reductions focus on programs promoting liberal ideologies.

“This rescissions package reflects many of DOGE’s findings and is one of the many legislative tools Republicans are using to restore fiscal sanity,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters, as reported by AP News.

Johnson pledged the House would bring the package to the floor “as quickly as possible.”

Although Musk has formally stepped down from his leadership role at DOGE, he continues to advise the department behind the scenes.

His influence still looms large over the initiative’s direction, with Johnson citing his original vision when defending new rounds of cuts. Whether his continued involvement will help DOGE regain momentum or further politicize its mission remains to be seen.

Still, some policy experts said that Musk’s expectations may clash with the realities of public governance.

“From healthcare programs to safety nets, government work is layered with legal checks and balances designed to avoid harm, and Musk might be underestimating how much that complexity slows down big changes,” Carrillo said. “Without fully understanding the governance structure, he likely views DOGE’s progress as sluggish when, in reality, it reflects the careful deliberation necessary to ensure fairness and accuracy.”

As Congress weighs the $9.4 billion rescissions package and potential expansions to DOGE, the coming months will test whether the initiative can sustain momentum without Musk at the helm.

“There could be longer delays or disruptions in receiving services like unemployment benefits, tax refunds or healthcare support, all because restructuring slows processes down before any improvements can take hold,” Carrillo said. “Beyond that, large-scale changes also take a long time to bear fruit, so even with the best intentions, consumers and workers should expect a period where things might feel worse before they get better.”

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Musk Says DOGE Hasn’t Been as Effective as He Wanted — Are More Cuts Coming?

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