Big promises, small cuts: The rise and stall of Elon Musk’s DOGE
Elon Musk aimed to slash $2 trillion in government spending as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Though he saved $175 billion—around $1,087 per taxpayer—his bold goals fell short. Legal issues and political opposition, especially from Democrats, blocked deeper cuts. Many major changes needed Congress’s approval, which didn’t come. Lawsuits and court rulings, like one stopping the closure of the U.S. Institute of Peace, further stalled his plans. Musk’s frustration grew as “Washington interests” fought back. Experts like Richard Stern say DOGE misjudged how much power it had to act alone. Still, Stern believes DOGE’s real strength lies in uncovering waste and exposing it to the public and Congress. While Musk couldn’t finish the job, DOGE’s work in gathering data and spotlighting potential cuts could fuel future reforms. A $9.4 billion cuts package heads to Congress next week—proof that the mission isn’t over yet.
#ElonMusk #GovernmentSpending #DOGEReform #BudgetCuts #WashingtonPolitics