Musk’s DOGE Mission Slashes $150B, Falls Short of $2 Trillion Goal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Elon Musk’s high-profile attempt to slash federal spending through the Department of Government Efficiency has yielded just $150 billion in cuts, far below his initial $2 trillion goal. Experts blame the effort’s shortfall on a lack of government-savvy staff and unforced errors. Critics warn Musk’s chaotic approach could have long-term consequences for key federal services.
Musk’s Spending Cuts: Quick Looks
- Initial Goal: $2 Trillion: Musk aimed to wipe out the federal deficit but later reduced that target multiple times.
- Final Result: $150 Billion: The initiative closed with far less than promised—short of even Clinton-era savings.
- Workforce Cuts: Roughly 400,000 federal civilian jobs eliminated, some later rehired due to oversight.
- Experts Point to Missteps: Lack of experienced civil servants led to unforced errors across key departments.
- Trump Administration Support: Musk received continued backing from President Trump despite underperformance.
- Critics Warn of Crises: Public policy veterans caution that chaotic cuts may lead to failures in disaster response or entitlement delivery.
- Praise from Conservatives: Some GOP leaders hail Musk’s spotlight on inefficiency, regardless of fiscal results.
- Comparison to Clinton’s Effort: Clinton’s efficiency plan saved the equivalent of $240B with more modest and structured goals.
- DOGE to Continue: Musk steps down, but the Department of Government Efficiency will remain in operation.
Deep Look: Musk’s Government Efficiency Push Misses the Mark
By Thomas Beaumont | AP – May 31, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — When Elon Musk took charge of the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he promised to slash $2 trillion from federal spending — a bold initiative to cut the size and cost of U.S. government. But as he steps away from the role this week, Musk leaves behind a record far short of those lofty ambitions.
DOGE’s final tally stands at $150 billion in cuts — a figure dwarfed by past efforts like President Bill Clinton’s efficiency program, which trimmed the equivalent of $240 billion and eliminated more than 400,000 federal jobs.
Musk’s goal was repeatedly revised downward, first to $1 trillion, then $500 billion, before ultimately settling on the current figure. Analysts from across the political spectrum cite poor staffing, lack of bureaucratic understanding, and tactical blunders as major reasons for the underperformance.
“They set themselves up for failure with unrealistic goals and no grasp of how government works,” said Alex Nowrasteh, an economist at the libertarian Cato Institute.
Tech vs. Bureaucracy: An Unbalanced Team
The DOGE team, handpicked by Musk, leaned heavily on software engineers and tech innovators, but lacked veteran civil servants or public administration experts. The absence of institutional knowledge led to missteps that cost the initiative time, credibility, and effectiveness.
One major blunder: layoffs of immigration judges, even as the Trump administration pursued aggressive deportation policies. Elsewhere, energy technologists essential to oil exploration were cut from the Department of the Interior. Many of these employees had to be rehired, adding administrative overhead to a cost-saving mission.
“They were firing people before knowing what jobs were legally required,” Nowrasteh added.
Trump, Norquist, and DOGE’s Political Backing
Despite the stumbles, President Donald Trump has stood by Musk, appearing with him at a White House event on Friday.
“This is not the end of DOGE, but really the beginning,” Musk said, promising to continue working toward the $1 trillion target. Wearing a T-shirt reading “The Dogefather”, Musk added, “The DOGE team will only grow stronger over time.”
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, echoed that sentiment, praising Musk for raising awareness about bloated government.
“You don’t know how far the cancer has spread until you find it,” said Norquist. “Musk found it. Now Congress has to treat it.”
Norquist argued that even with limited savings, the long-term cultural shift toward greater efficiency is invaluable — and credited Musk’s outsider status for forcing the conversation.
Historical Comparison: Clinton’s Measured Success
Elaine Kamarck, who helped run Clinton’s National Partnership for Reinventing Government, said her team took a vastly different approach. Led by Vice President Al Gore, the initiative worked methodically through each federal department, focusing on user experience and procedural updates, rather than sweeping layoffs.
“We used people who understood government, who knew the difference between what could and couldn’t be cut,” Kamarck said.
Clinton’s plan took years and yielded sustained budget surpluses — something Musk’s DOGE has yet to achieve or influence. Kamarck warned that Musk’s chaotic model may result in dangerous gaps, particularly in areas like natural disaster response, transportation safety, and entitlement program delivery.
“These are the things that can ruin presidencies,” she said.
Is the Damage Done? Or Just the Beginning?
Critics and supporters alike agree that DOGE — for all its limitations — changed the conversation about how Washington spends taxpayer dollars.
Yet, federal spending continues to rise, according to the Yale Budget Lab, which found that outflows from the Treasury have accelerated over the past two years despite the DOGE initiative.
With Musk stepping down, the question remains: Will DOGE fade into history, or will it evolve into a lasting federal watchdog?
“There’s still potential,” said Norquist. “But it’s going to take more than Musk to finish what he started.”
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