Elon Musk admitted that the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), which he led during Trump's second term, achieved only "limited success." He stated that, given the negative impact on Tesla Motors' business, he would not take on the role again if given the choice, preferring instead to focus on his corporate responsibilities.

During a podcast interview on Tuesday, Musk acknowledged that his involvement in DOGE led to significant backlash against both him and Tesla Motors. He noted that his controversial political statements and aggressive government cost-cutting measures triggered public outrage, even resulting in vandalism of Tesla vehicles across the U.S. He believes that avoiding DOGE and concentrating solely on business could have prevented these attacks on his company.

This statement directly addresses long-standing concerns in the capital markets. Investors had questioned whether Musk’s DOGE responsibilities diverted too much attention from Tesla Motors, particularly as the electric vehicle giant faces slowing sales. His explicit refusal to return to the role is seen as a signal that he will refocus on core business operations.

Additionally, while Musk and Trump previously clashed publicly over fiscal policies, recent signs suggest their relationship has improved. DOGE has since been disbanded, though its claimed cost reductions remain unverified due to a lack of detailed public accounting records.

**Business Backlash & Investor Concerns** Musk made these remarks during an interview with former Trump administration official Katie Miller. When asked if he would lead DOGE again, he firmly replied:

"No, I don’t think I would."

Musk added:

"If I had just focused on my company instead of DOGE, they wouldn’t have burned those cars."

Earlier this year, protests erupted nationwide due to Musk’s political stance and aggressive cost-cutting policies, leading to vandalism at Tesla dealerships and owners’ vehicles. This turmoil intensified investor unease, with critics arguing that Musk neglected Tesla Motors’ core business at a time when sales growth was faltering.

**Limited "Success" & Scaled-Back Results** Musk described DOGE’s performance as "somewhat successful" or "barely successful." He revealed that its most significant achievement was blocking $100–200 billion in unnecessary "zombie payments" by enforcing stricter payment codes and documentation.

However, this outcome fell far short of Musk’s initial promises. During the election, he pledged to cut $2 trillion in government spending, later revising it to $1 trillion and then slashing it further to $150 billion in April. Despite theatrically wielding a chainsaw at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February—vowing to "cut bureaucracy"—the actual execution faced resistance, significantly diluting its impact.

The high-profile political experiment was short-lived. Musk led DOGE for the first five months of Trump’s second term, aiming to slash federal budgets and workforce. In its first 100 days, the department facilitated layoffs or buyouts for thousands of federal employees.

Yet, Musk’s relationship with his White House allies soured. A public feud erupted mid-year, leading to his departure in May. Scott Kupor, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, confirmed to Reuters this month that DOGE had been disbanded—eight months before its original mandate expired. While DOGE claimed to have saved tens of billions, external financial experts say the lack of detailed accounting makes verification impossible.