When President Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he allowed Senior Advisor Elon Musk to become its face immediately. DOGE will allegedly terminate on July 4, 2026. Musk’s “special government employee” status should legally expire…right about now. But will it? And what has DOGE accomplished?
Initially, Musk claimed to “easily find” $2 trillion in savings. Now, he’s claiming $160 billion, setting $1 trillion as a goal for “one day.” But DOGE’s website only confirms $58 billion-just 3% of $2 trillion and 36% of his new claim. Meanwhile, DOGE cuts have cost the government $135 billion, between lawsuits and mass firings. In May, DOGE announced that it deactivated over 500,000 government credit cards.
Multiple financial and public policy experts agree that Musk’s “slash and burn” approach has “degenerated” government services, from long waits at veterans’ hospitals and social security offices to reduced numbers of food inspectors, suggesting years of impact. Court cases also allege that DOGE illegally accessed sensitive personal and financial data on U.S. residents, in violation of privacy laws.
In a May Q&A session, Musk revealed that DOGE could continue through 2028. “DOGE is a way of life, like Buddhism,” he added.
DOGE creates “efficiency and usefulness” the same way the criminal legal system creates “justice and safety.” Treating essential services and workers as disposable items on a spreadsheet isn’t a solution. It’s a dangerous joke.