New Delhi: In response to increasing criticism of his electric vehicle enterprise, Tesla, billionaire Elon Musk suggested he might resign from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by the end of May this year.
Musk, designated as a special government employee (SGE), holds a temporary position that is capped at 130 days within any given 365-day timeframe. The billionaire, who was appointed as a special advisor to President Donald Trump, led a vigorous initiative aimed at reducing government spending, which successfully lowered federal expenditures to around USD 6 trillion.
In defense of the budget cuts implemented by DOGE—actions that have incited protests and legal disputes nationwide—Musk rejected claims that the department was operating irresponsibly. “While some may describe it as acting impulsively, that is far from the truth,” he remarked. “However, this does not imply that we are free from errors.”
The DOGE team, which includes Musk and seven senior advisors—Aram Moghaddassi, Steve Davis, Brad Smith, Anthony Armstrong, Joe Gebbia, Tom Krause, and Tyler Hassen—has concentrated on identifying and eliminating inefficiencies within federal agencies. As per department estimates, their initiatives, which encompass workforce reductions, asset divestitures, and contract terminations, have resulted in savings of USD 115 billion for American taxpayers as of March 24.
“The government lacks efficiency, and there is significant waste and fraud,” Musk stated, emphasizing that a “15 percent reduction” in federal spending could be realized without compromising essential services.
He expressed optimism regarding the financial future of the United States, asserting, “America will maintain its solvency. The vital programs that citizens rely on will continue to function, leading to a promising future. Will we encounter numerous complaints along the way? Certainly.”
Musk’s announcement came during a challenging time for Tesla, which has been facing widespread protests, a decline in stock value, and incidents of vandalism at its facilities. Last Monday, the company’s shares fell by more than 5 percent, raising further concerns regarding its stability.
While addressing Tesla employees in Austin last Thursday, Musk acknowledged feeling overwhelmed. “I’m stretched pretty thin. I have like 17 jobs,” he remarked. He characterized the media portrayal of the attacks on Tesla as “feeling like Armageddon,” but aimed to reassure his team by stating, “The future is incredibly bright and exciting, and we’re going to accomplish things that no one, I think, has even dreamed of.”
In addition to Tesla’s challenges, Musk and DOGE are facing several lawsuits that claim the department operated without the necessary legal authority and breached privacy laws. Despite the increasing criticism, Musk has defended the work of his agency and countered allegations of causing excessive disruption to government operations.
