Elon Musk Reflects on Government Efficiency Initiative and Business Impact

Wed Dec 10 2025 21:03:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a recent interview, Elon Musk shared insights on his leadership role in the Department of Government Efficiency, admitting its limited success while emphasizing the significant distractions it posed for his business ventures.

During a candid conversation with conservative influencer Katie Miller, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk reflected on his time leading the Department of Government Efficiency. He characterized his efforts as 'somewhat successful' but indicated he would not do it again, expressing regret that he could have focused more on his companies instead. Musk acknowledged the challenges of implementing rapid changes in federal processes and noted the financial impact on Tesla due to his involvement in DOGE, while emphasizing the agency's potential to save billions. As he navigates these complexities, Musk continues to push forward with ambitious goals across his business ventures.

Mega billionaire Elon Musk, in a friendly interview with his aide and conservative influencer Katie Miller, stated that his efforts leading the Department of Government Efficiency were only “somewhat successful” and he would not do it over again.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who also owns the social media platform X, defended President Donald Trump’s controversial agency, which Musk left earlier this year before it was officially shut down last month. He lamented the challenges of enacting swift changes within the federal government, acknowledging how his businesses lagged due to the time consumed by his DOGE-related activities.

“We were a little bit successful. We were somewhat successful,” he remarked to Miller, who had previously been a spokesperson for DOGE and was tasked with public relations for the agency.

When pressed by Miller about whether he would undertake the initiative again, Musk candidly replied, “I don’t think so... I would have worked on my companies instead.”

Reflecting on the impact of his DOGE work, Musk added, “They wouldn’t have been burning the cars,” alluding to the protests against Tesla.

While discussing the agency's potential, Musk claimed it could save taxpayers as much as $200 billion annually by cutting out wasteful spending—though he previously hinted that savings could balloon into trillions with more effective automated systems.

Nevertheless, since his departure from the agency, Musk remains optimistic. Recently, Tesla shareholders approved a pay package that could position him as the world’s first trillionaire.

Musk's conversation on the “Katie Miller Podcast” spanned over numerous topics, including not only DOGE but also discussions on AI, social media, conspiracy theories, and even fashion. Yet, Miller did not delve into the intricate workings of the agency or its controversial methods of data management.