Elon Musk Steps Back from Washington, Government Efficiency Project Pushes On

Few close to him were surprised when Elon Musk announced he would scale back, in a big way, his direct involvement with the federal government. This was not so much a parting from Washington as a parting of ways in business. During an earnings call, Musk said he would restrict his visits to federal agencies and similar meetings to "a couple of days a week, maximum." This was described as a shift of sorts for Musk, who has waded deeply into federal issues.

Even with this withdrawal, Musk is still an influence in international trade, urging President Trump to think again about those heavy tariffs. That said, Trump at the moment, doesn't seem to be paying much heed to Musk's suggestions.

DOGE’s Lasting Influence and Controversial Methods

Even as Musk reduces his direct influence in Washington, D.C., his work is still felt through the Revenue Doge unit. This initiative, which aims to root out inefficiencies in federal agencies, has led to sharp staffing cuts, contract cancellations, and a major restructuring of several of those agencies. These measures, especially in offices like the Social Security Administration and the IRS, have caused big trouble inside those organizations. In one very disturbing episode, the DOGE staff used the Social Security databases to misclassify some immigrants so that we could deny them services. Critics say what we are doing here is blurring some ethical lines and calling into question some very important public programs.

Political Cost and Public Scrutiny

Musk's extreme cost-cutting has made waves in political circles, especially among lawmakers worried about the prospect of public backlash. The waste that Musk promised to find and publicize has not materialized. Public audits have put his inflated success claims, budget errors, and anachronistic credit-taking for changes made well before the DOGE era into a more realistic frame. Still, President Trump keeps lauding Musk in public and considers the billionaire a prized source of donations.

Under the leadership of Musk confidant Steve Davis, DOGE is seen by insiders as having the potential to sustain itself without daily direction from Musk. In the federal system, Musk has placed loyalists to ensure continuity of his vision. Advisors now liken the momentum of DOGE to that of a rocket: it was launched with powerful thrust but is now coasting on inertia.

Musk is now redirecting his energy towards Tesla, SpaceX, and the other companies he runs. Still, he has substantial momentum in the political world. It is unclear exactly how much influence DOGEcoin, the digital currency he champions, will have in the American system of government. But it could become a long-lasting presence, much like its creator.