Elon Musk had grand ambitions — to launch a revolutionary plan to slash U.S. government spending under the name DOGE. The project, inspired by the popular meme coin, aimed to cut excessive bureaucracy, lay off hundreds of thousands of government workers, and save the U.S. up to $2 trillion. But reality proved far more complicated — and the budget? It kept growing.
🔹 Trump Ignored Musk's Pleas... Until August 2024
During the campaign season on X Spaces, Elon Musk publicly urged Donald Trump three times to form a "Commission for Government Efficiency." Trump, however, kept talking about the military instead. Musk had already invested hundreds of millions into Trump’s campaign — and only eight months later did Trump finally give in.
That’s when DOGE was born — a radical austerity program run not by politicians, but by young engineers and tech enthusiasts. With Elon Musk still heading Tesla, SpaceX, and X, DOGE began cutting what it saw as government excess.
Layoffs, Shutdowns, and Cuts to Foreign Aid
DOGE wasted no time:
🔹 Shut down 11 federal agencies,
🔹 Fired or forced the resignation of nearly 250,000 federal employees,
🔹 Eliminated USAID, America’s primary humanitarian aid agency,
🔹 Slashed the Department of Education’s budget by $10 billion,
🔹 Cut funding to foreign aid programs and agencies like the Peace Institute and Millennium Challenge Corp.
At first glance, it looked like a radical success. Elon enforced a simple rule: “Cut 20% more than needed. If something breaks, rehire people.” The result? Massive layoffs — from nuclear safety experts to avian flu scientists.
And Yet... Spending Keeps Rising
Despite DOGE’s deep cuts, government spending rose 6.3% during the first four months of Trump’s new term, an increase of $156 billion compared to the same period the previous year. Even adjusted for inflation, expenses were still over $81 billion higher than in 2024.
DOGE delivered real cuts, but rapid growth in other areas — especially military — ballooned the budget again.
Under Fire: Lawsuits, Voter Rage, and Falling Support
DOGE quickly came under fire. By March 2025, over 60 lawsuits had been filed against its actions. Republicans were bombarded by angry voters — veterans, rural patients, and parents. Polls showed most Americans disapproved of DOGE, and Elon’s popularity fell below Trump’s.
Democrats seized the moment, branding Musk as an "unelected billionaire with dangerously too much power." In a symbolic blow, DOGE suffered a major loss in the Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, widely seen as a public referendum on the project.
Even within the government, things were falling apart. Elon clashed with key cabinet members — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Even Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tried to quietly block the deepest cuts.
Personal Cost: Elon Musk Under Pressure
The consequences hit Elon Musk personally.
🔹 His net worth dropped by more than $100 billion since December,
🔹 Tesla reported a 71% decline in profit,
🔹 Stock prices plunged, followed by boycotts and attacks on vehicles,
🔹 Some of these incidents were classified as domestic terrorism by the Department of Justice.
Musk admitted he feared for his safety. And during Tesla’s most recent earnings call, he informed shareholders that he would cut back his government involvement to “one or two days a week.”
DOGE: Cost-Cutting Isn’t Enough When Other Spending Explodes
Elon Musk stormed into Washington with a vision of lean, efficient governance. And while he succeeded in shutting down agencies, laying off thousands, and reshaping public administration, government spending continues to grow. The reality of the American budget isn’t just about cutting — it’s also about unchecked spending elsewhere.
In the end, DOGE stands as a symbol of radical reform… colliding head-on with the harsh truths of politics, public sentiment, and an ever-rising expense column.
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