Musk’s DOGE Slashes $175B in Government Waste, Aims for $1T in Savings

Elon Musk, the tech titan behind Tesla and SpaceX, has concluded his high-profile stint leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), leaving a trail of $175 billion in government savings. Announced alongside President Donald Trump at a recent press conference, these cuts—spanning slashed contracts, sold assets, and curbed improper payments—translate to roughly $1,086.96 per taxpayer, according to DOGE’s figures. The most dramatic move? A near-total dismantling of USAID, with 83% of its programs and 5,200 contracts axed after a swift six-week review.

Trump, never one to shy from the spotlight, highlighted some eyebrow-raising examples of waste. “$20 million for Arab Sesame Street in the Middle East? Nobody’s even seen it,” he quipped, before pointing to “$8 million for making mice transgender.” These, he suggested, are just the tip of the iceberg in a system bloated with questionable spending.

Despite skepticism from some corners—outlets like The New York Times and BBC have questioned the $175 billion figure—Musk remains bullish. Speaking from the Oval Office, he predicted the savings could snowball to $1 trillion in the coming years, with DOGE’s influence becoming a “way of life” across government operations. He projects the cuts will hit $200 billion by the 2025-26 fiscal year.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. DOGE faced a barrage of lawsuits and pushback from Democratic lawmakers, with many major cuts requiring congressional approval that never materialized. Musk described the process as grueling, combing through “millions of line items” to separate sense from nonsense. “Those getting the money always claim it’s justified,” he noted wryly, acknowledging the inevitable complaints from those affected.

As Musk steps away, the question looms: what’s next for DOGE? Its mission to trim government fat is far from over, and its impact may yet reshape how Washington spends—or doesn’t.