Elon Musk is publicly distancing himself from one of the most controversial projects of Donald Trump’s presidency — and he’s doing it with surprising bluntness.
During an appearance on the Katie Miller Podcast, the former head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, better known as D.O.G.E., admitted the sweeping effort to slash federal agencies was “somewhat successful” at best.
Asked whether he would take the job again, Musk didn’t hesitate: “I don’t think so.”
Instead, the billionaire said he should have focused on his companies rather than trying to reinvent the federal bureaucracy from the inside out.
The comments — highlighted by MSNBC/ MS NOW’s Stephanie Ruhle — mark one of Musk’s most direct critiques of a project he personally helped design, champion, and execute.
A Cost-Cutting Crusade That Cut Too Deep
Launched with the promise of shrinking “wasteful government,” D.O.G.E. quickly became synonymous with dramatic, chaotic downsizing. Entire agencies were eliminated in a matter of months, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which supports humanitarian and development work globally.
Ruhle put it bluntly: D.O.G.E. “took a sledgehammer — or a diamond-encrusted chainsaw — to our government agencies.”
The impact was immediate and severe:
- Thousands of federal workers were laid off.
- Agencies disappeared without transition plans.
- International aid groups lost longstanding support overnight.
- Partners around the world were left scrambling, many without alternatives.
Critics at the time warned that the cuts were reckless. Musk’s remarks now confirm something they suspected: the savings simply weren’t worth the damage.
“It Didn’t Put a Dent in Government Spending”
Despite the aggressive downsizing, Musk acknowledged the overall financial impact was minimal. Federal spending barely shifted — a stunning admission from the program’s architect.
“That’s the key point,” Ruhle said. “They didn’t actually save that much money.”
The combination of sweeping cuts and minimal savings leaves D.O.G.E. as a cautionary tale: efficiency cannot be manufactured by mass firings alone, and dismantling agencies without planning often creates bigger, costlier problems later.
Political Fallout — and a Quiet Reconciliation
Musk’s reflection comes months after a very public fallout with Trump. Though the two have reportedly patched things up, the candid criticism suggests lingering unease over how D.O.G.E. unfolded — and how Musk’s own businesses were affected.
During the turmoil, several Musk-owned companies faced operational and financial turbulence, in part due to sudden regulatory voids created by the government’s restructuring. Those companies have since recovered, but the scars remain visible.
A Moment of Honesty in a Crowded Election Season
At a time when complaints about “bloated government” remain politically potent, Musk’s admission cuts against the grain. The man who once tried to prove that Washington could be run like Silicon Valley is now saying the experiment wasn’t worth it — and that he wouldn’t repeat it.
For many Americans who lost jobs, services, or international support as a result of D.O.G.E., the statement may feel like too little, too late. But it also opens a conversation Washington has long avoided: efficiency is not the same as destruction, and fiscal responsibility requires more than slogans and staff cuts.
As Ruhle put it: “The guy who ran the effort to take a look ended the effort — and said they didn’t do that much to begin with.”
More revelations may follow, but this one is already extraordinary.
