On May 29, 2025, Elon Musk announced through the X platform that his 130-day term as a "Special Government Employee" (SGE) under the Trump administration had ended, officially resigning from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to informed sources, Musk did not have formal discussions with President Donald Trump before his departure, and White House officials confirmed that his resignation process was initiated that evening. This reform experiment, dubbed the "efficiency revolution," cut hundreds of billions in federal spending through Musk's entrepreneurial thinking and technology-driven methods, reshaping the bureaucratic system, but it also left profound controversies due to legal disputes, conflicts of interest, and political rebounds.
On November 12, 2024, Trump announced the establishment of DOGE, appointing Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead, with the goal of "dismantling the bureaucracy, cutting wasteful spending, and restructuring federal agencies." The name DOGE is inspired by Musk's favorite "Dogecoin," reflecting both meme culture's satire and its disruptive intent. On January 20, 2025, Trump formally established DOGE through Executive Order 14158, with Musk taking office as a "special government employee," granted 130 days of government work authorization per year, and possessing broad powers for budget review, agency restructuring, and data access.
Musk's role is vague and controversial. The White House defines him as a "senior adviser to the president," emphasizing that he has no direct decision-making authority and only communicates presidential directives. However, Musk is actually deeply involved in budget cuts, personnel adjustments, and organizational layoffs, far beyond the scope of consultants. According to people familiar with the matter, he rarely holds formal talks with Trump, and more directly issues directives through platform X and internal memos, showing a highly autonomous style. This special status gives him flexibility, but it raises questions about conflicts of interest because of his companies SpaceX, which holds $22 billion in government contracts, and Tesla, which faces multiple federal regulatory investigations. Critics argue that Musk's business background may have biased his reforms toward the interests of private companies rather than the public good.
Second, the "three axes" of reform: the radical practice of enterprise thinking
Elon Musk introduced the lean management concepts of Tesla and SpaceX to the government, proposing three major strategies: downsizing agencies, discouraging civil servants, and digital transformation. These measures reshaped the federal government within 130 days, but also triggered intense social and political reactions.
First, Musk led the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the federal Department of Education, laying off about 13,900 employees and saving more than $30 billion in annual budgets. The closure of USAID has been particularly shocking. Musk called it an "inefficient criminal organization" on the X platform, accusing only 10% of foreign aid for reaching recipient countries. On January 24, 2025, Trump froze almost all foreign aid, the USAID website was shut down, and employees were barred from entering the headquarters building, which Musk called "sent to the meat grinder." The move sparked international criticism, with several NGOs warning that America's global soft power had been undermined.
Secondly, Musk launched the "Civil Servant Resignation Program," sending emails to 2 million federal employees, encouraging them to voluntarily resign with "8 months of severance pay," and requiring the submission of weekly work progress reports to "prove their value." Those who did not respond would be considered to have resigned automatically. This policy led to thousands of civil servants leaving, but also sparked discontent among grassroots voters, especially regarding the decline in the quality of veterans' benefits and social security services. Musk also publicly questioned the sources of wealth for congressional members, pointing out that lawmakers with a salary of $200,000 have assets worth millions, further promoting Trump's "anti-establishment" narrative and resonating with populist sentiments.
Finally, Musk brought in tech industry experience, emphasizing artificial intelligence and big data analytics. The DOGE team developed an AI-driven budget analysis system, identifying $365 billion in "suspicious" expenditures within the social security system, such as the number of registrants exceeding the U.S. population of 60 million, including 1.34 million "seniors" over the age of 150. Additionally, DOGE found that $4.7 trillion in Treasury payments lacked tracking codes, prompting the Treasury to require the filling out of access identifiers (TAS) starting from February 15, 2025. These technological means enhanced fund transparency, but raised privacy and security concerns due to the involvement of sensitive data.
Three, Achievements: k hundred billion reduction and political dividends
Musk's reforms have achieved remarkable results in the short term, bringing both financial and political dividends to the Trump administration. By April 2, 2025, DOGE cut $130 billion in federal spending, saving more than $4 billion per day, reducing the annual budget from $7.2 trillion to $6.1 trillion, and reducing the deficit ratio by 1.8 percentage points. Through the elimination of inefficient projects, the consolidation of office space, and the sale of unused assets such as the Alaska military base and Utah state-owned land, DOGE repatriated more than $72 billion, the highest since the Cold War. Trump's proposal to spend 20 percent of the savings on "DOGE dividends" and his plan to issue $5,000 tax refund checks to every taxpayer has sparked widespread discussion.
The reform also won political capital for Trump. Musk's actions have been portrayed by conservative media as a benchmark for "draining the Washington swamp," with Trump's approval rating in swing states rising by 3.5 percentage points. By publicly questioning government waste, Musk provided public opinion support for Trump's "strongman politics," accumulating political chips for the 2028 election. Additionally, relying on Supreme Court rulings (such as the 2022 West Virginia v. EPA case), DOGE has revoked multiple "overreach" regulations, simplifying administrative procedures, such as repealing certain carbon emission standards and cybersecurity requirements for electric vehicle infrastructure, creating a relaxed environment for companies like Tesla.
4. Right and Wrong: Legal Disputes and Social Rebound
Elon Musk's radical reforms have sparked multiple challenges, exposing the contradiction between efficiency and fairness. The operation of DOGE has been accused of violating the Privacy Act and the Sunshine Act, facing 19 federal lawsuits, including a class action lawsuit arising from the forced acquisition of public servant health data. On February 8, 2025, District Judge Paul Engelmaier prohibited DOGE from accessing the Treasury's payment system, citing the potential leak of sensitive information. Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Tribe believes that DOGE was established without congressional authorization, constituting an unconstitutional act, and its powers require Senate confirmation.
The reforms have also triggered a Rebound both inside and outside the government. The Pentagon, State Department, and other agencies refuse to implement the "mandatory weekly report" policy, and cabinet officials complain that Musk has overstepped his bounds. Republican Senator Marco Rubio criticizes USAID for closing, which harms U.S. diplomatic interests. Grassroots voters protest the impact of layoffs on public services, such as declines in Social Security and Medicaid services. Some Republican lawmakers are calling for cautious reforms due to pressure from their constituencies, to avoid impacting the midterm elections.
Elon Musk has not divested from SpaceX and Tesla, raising questions about conflicts of interest. The progressive think tank "Public Citizen" criticizes DOGE's deregulation policy as serving Musk's business empire. Musk's promised "maximum transparency" has not been fulfilled, with some actions not publicly recorded, and congressional oversight is limited, undermining the legitimacy of reforms.
Five, Inheritance and Reflection: The Future of the Efficiency Revolution
DOGE is scheduled to dissolve on July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and symbolizes "the gift of lean government." Whether its $1 trillion deficit reduction target can be met remains questionable. Reforms saved $130 billion and boosted political capital, but Social Security and Medicaid cuts led to a decline in services for the vulnerable, and the closure of USAID damaged America's international image. AI-driven budget analysis improves efficiency, but privacy concerns remain unresolved.
Elon Musk's "efficiency revolution" is a collision between corporate thinking and bureaucratic systems, achieving financial and political dividends in the short term, but with questionable long-term stability. His legacy raises a core question: Can government operate like a business? Musk's answer is affirmative, but he also acknowledges the "temporary difficulties" of reform. In the future, will DOGE's mission become a norm for the government, or will it merely be a flash in the pan? The answer will be revealed in 2026.
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After cutting hundreds of billions, why did Musk's government's "downsizing plan" falter halfway?
On May 29, 2025, Elon Musk announced through the X platform that his 130-day term as a "Special Government Employee" (SGE) under the Trump administration had ended, officially resigning from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to informed sources, Musk did not have formal discussions with President Donald Trump before his departure, and White House officials confirmed that his resignation process was initiated that evening. This reform experiment, dubbed the "efficiency revolution," cut hundreds of billions in federal spending through Musk's entrepreneurial thinking and technology-driven methods, reshaping the bureaucratic system, but it also left profound controversies due to legal disputes, conflicts of interest, and political rebounds.
! After cutting 100 billion, why did Musk's government's "slimming plan" give up halfway?
1. The Birth of DOGE: Elon Musk's Special Role
On November 12, 2024, Trump announced the establishment of DOGE, appointing Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead, with the goal of "dismantling the bureaucracy, cutting wasteful spending, and restructuring federal agencies." The name DOGE is inspired by Musk's favorite "Dogecoin," reflecting both meme culture's satire and its disruptive intent. On January 20, 2025, Trump formally established DOGE through Executive Order 14158, with Musk taking office as a "special government employee," granted 130 days of government work authorization per year, and possessing broad powers for budget review, agency restructuring, and data access.
Musk's role is vague and controversial. The White House defines him as a "senior adviser to the president," emphasizing that he has no direct decision-making authority and only communicates presidential directives. However, Musk is actually deeply involved in budget cuts, personnel adjustments, and organizational layoffs, far beyond the scope of consultants. According to people familiar with the matter, he rarely holds formal talks with Trump, and more directly issues directives through platform X and internal memos, showing a highly autonomous style. This special status gives him flexibility, but it raises questions about conflicts of interest because of his companies SpaceX, which holds $22 billion in government contracts, and Tesla, which faces multiple federal regulatory investigations. Critics argue that Musk's business background may have biased his reforms toward the interests of private companies rather than the public good.
Second, the "three axes" of reform: the radical practice of enterprise thinking
Elon Musk introduced the lean management concepts of Tesla and SpaceX to the government, proposing three major strategies: downsizing agencies, discouraging civil servants, and digital transformation. These measures reshaped the federal government within 130 days, but also triggered intense social and political reactions.
First, Musk led the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the federal Department of Education, laying off about 13,900 employees and saving more than $30 billion in annual budgets. The closure of USAID has been particularly shocking. Musk called it an "inefficient criminal organization" on the X platform, accusing only 10% of foreign aid for reaching recipient countries. On January 24, 2025, Trump froze almost all foreign aid, the USAID website was shut down, and employees were barred from entering the headquarters building, which Musk called "sent to the meat grinder." The move sparked international criticism, with several NGOs warning that America's global soft power had been undermined.
Secondly, Musk launched the "Civil Servant Resignation Program," sending emails to 2 million federal employees, encouraging them to voluntarily resign with "8 months of severance pay," and requiring the submission of weekly work progress reports to "prove their value." Those who did not respond would be considered to have resigned automatically. This policy led to thousands of civil servants leaving, but also sparked discontent among grassroots voters, especially regarding the decline in the quality of veterans' benefits and social security services. Musk also publicly questioned the sources of wealth for congressional members, pointing out that lawmakers with a salary of $200,000 have assets worth millions, further promoting Trump's "anti-establishment" narrative and resonating with populist sentiments.
Finally, Musk brought in tech industry experience, emphasizing artificial intelligence and big data analytics. The DOGE team developed an AI-driven budget analysis system, identifying $365 billion in "suspicious" expenditures within the social security system, such as the number of registrants exceeding the U.S. population of 60 million, including 1.34 million "seniors" over the age of 150. Additionally, DOGE found that $4.7 trillion in Treasury payments lacked tracking codes, prompting the Treasury to require the filling out of access identifiers (TAS) starting from February 15, 2025. These technological means enhanced fund transparency, but raised privacy and security concerns due to the involvement of sensitive data.
Three, Achievements: k hundred billion reduction and political dividends
Musk's reforms have achieved remarkable results in the short term, bringing both financial and political dividends to the Trump administration. By April 2, 2025, DOGE cut $130 billion in federal spending, saving more than $4 billion per day, reducing the annual budget from $7.2 trillion to $6.1 trillion, and reducing the deficit ratio by 1.8 percentage points. Through the elimination of inefficient projects, the consolidation of office space, and the sale of unused assets such as the Alaska military base and Utah state-owned land, DOGE repatriated more than $72 billion, the highest since the Cold War. Trump's proposal to spend 20 percent of the savings on "DOGE dividends" and his plan to issue $5,000 tax refund checks to every taxpayer has sparked widespread discussion.
The reform also won political capital for Trump. Musk's actions have been portrayed by conservative media as a benchmark for "draining the Washington swamp," with Trump's approval rating in swing states rising by 3.5 percentage points. By publicly questioning government waste, Musk provided public opinion support for Trump's "strongman politics," accumulating political chips for the 2028 election. Additionally, relying on Supreme Court rulings (such as the 2022 West Virginia v. EPA case), DOGE has revoked multiple "overreach" regulations, simplifying administrative procedures, such as repealing certain carbon emission standards and cybersecurity requirements for electric vehicle infrastructure, creating a relaxed environment for companies like Tesla.
4. Right and Wrong: Legal Disputes and Social Rebound
Elon Musk's radical reforms have sparked multiple challenges, exposing the contradiction between efficiency and fairness. The operation of DOGE has been accused of violating the Privacy Act and the Sunshine Act, facing 19 federal lawsuits, including a class action lawsuit arising from the forced acquisition of public servant health data. On February 8, 2025, District Judge Paul Engelmaier prohibited DOGE from accessing the Treasury's payment system, citing the potential leak of sensitive information. Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Tribe believes that DOGE was established without congressional authorization, constituting an unconstitutional act, and its powers require Senate confirmation.
The reforms have also triggered a Rebound both inside and outside the government. The Pentagon, State Department, and other agencies refuse to implement the "mandatory weekly report" policy, and cabinet officials complain that Musk has overstepped his bounds. Republican Senator Marco Rubio criticizes USAID for closing, which harms U.S. diplomatic interests. Grassroots voters protest the impact of layoffs on public services, such as declines in Social Security and Medicaid services. Some Republican lawmakers are calling for cautious reforms due to pressure from their constituencies, to avoid impacting the midterm elections.
Elon Musk has not divested from SpaceX and Tesla, raising questions about conflicts of interest. The progressive think tank "Public Citizen" criticizes DOGE's deregulation policy as serving Musk's business empire. Musk's promised "maximum transparency" has not been fulfilled, with some actions not publicly recorded, and congressional oversight is limited, undermining the legitimacy of reforms.
Five, Inheritance and Reflection: The Future of the Efficiency Revolution
! After cutting 100 billion, why did Musk's government's "slimming plan" give up halfway?
DOGE is scheduled to dissolve on July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and symbolizes "the gift of lean government." Whether its $1 trillion deficit reduction target can be met remains questionable. Reforms saved $130 billion and boosted political capital, but Social Security and Medicaid cuts led to a decline in services for the vulnerable, and the closure of USAID damaged America's international image. AI-driven budget analysis improves efficiency, but privacy concerns remain unresolved.
Elon Musk's "efficiency revolution" is a collision between corporate thinking and bureaucratic systems, achieving financial and political dividends in the short term, but with questionable long-term stability. His legacy raises a core question: Can government operate like a business? Musk's answer is affirmative, but he also acknowledges the "temporary difficulties" of reform. In the future, will DOGE's mission become a norm for the government, or will it merely be a flash in the pan? The answer will be revealed in 2026.