Overview

• Elon Musk is reportedly preparing to step down from his role at the Department of Government Efficiency, citing frustration with criticism and his special government employee status set to expire next month.
• DOGE’s projected federal savings for fiscal year 2026 have been revised down to $150 billion from initial $2 trillion and $1 trillion targets, with reported errors undermining credibility.
• Musk’s influence within the administration appears to have diminished, highlighted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s successful push to replace an IRS acting commissioner Musk had backed.
• Signature initiatives like Musk’s weekly email mandate for federal employees have largely been abandoned or ignored, with no consequences for noncompliance.
• Concerns over DOGE’s broad access to sensitive federal IT systems persist, including whistleblower claims of attempted unauthorized access from a Russian IP address.