Overview

• Elon Musk has stepped back from daily leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to focus on addressing Tesla's steep profit decline.
• DOGE has reported $150–160 billion in savings but faces criticism for widespread layoffs, with over 260,000 federal workers fired or forced out.
• The agency has eliminated humanitarian aid for millions overseas and cut $2 billion in biomedical research funding, sparking concerns over long-term impacts.
• Independent research suggests that the costs of firings, rehiring, legal battles, and reduced tax revenue may outweigh DOGE’s claimed savings.
• Musk’s initial $2 trillion savings promise has been revised down significantly, fueling debates over the effectiveness and consequences of his cost-cutting measures.