WASHINGTON (TNND) — Months after departing from the Trump administration, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is admitting that he would not take part in leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) again.
He stated during an interview with former employee Katie Miller on her podcast that DOGE was only “somewhat successful,” and also discussed how difficult it was to remake the federal government while running his businesses.
“Instead of doing DOGE, I would have, basically, built.. worked on my companies,” he told Miller while adding, “they wouldn’t have been burning the cars,” referencing protests against Tesla.
On a positive note, Musk credited the agency with saving as much as $200 billion annually in what he called “zombie payments” – spending money that is wasteful, inefficient, or redundant within the federal government.
Musk stepped away from his role as a “special government employee” in May to refocus on his business ventures but said he would continue to remain friends and advise the president.
The agency shuttered in November, but the White House told the National News Desk that Trump continues to deliver on his commitment to reduce waste and fraud in the government.
“President Trump was given a clear mandate to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government, and he continues to actively deliver on that commitment,” White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston said.
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Miller, who is married to top Trump adviser Stephen Miller, launched her conservative podcast after leaving the government to work for Musk in the private sector.
