This Is What We Know About Elon Musk’s Cost-Cutting Mission So Far

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are spearheading a bold initiative to overhaul federal government spending, regulations, and operations, as they presented their vision on Capitol Hill. Their advisory team, dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) a playful nod to Musk’s affection for dogecoin aims to achieve sweeping reforms through unconventional strategies.

House Speaker Mike Johnson framed their mission as essential, stating, “The taxpayers deserve a more responsive and efficient government.” First introduced by President-elect Donald Trump, DOGE has been compared to a modern-day Manhattan Project for government reform, yet many details about its structure and impact remain unclear.

Unlike formal federal departments established by Congress, DOGE operates as an independent advisory body led by Musk and Ramaswamy. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, the pair committed to their roles as unpaid volunteers, focusing on identifying regulatory inefficiencies and recommending executive actions to cut costs and streamline operations.

Their ambitious goals include finding over $2 trillion in savings, slashing federal regulations, initiating mass layoffs, and potentially shuttering entire agencies. Ramaswamy, echoing campaign promises, vowed to target entities like the Education Department, IRS, and FBI. Meanwhile, Musk has openly recruited staff via X, formerly Twitter, emphasizing grueling work hours with no pay for the “top 1%” of applicants.

Supporters argue DOGE’s outsider perspective will enable faster reforms, with Republican Senator Kevin Cramer praising its lack of bureaucratic constraints. Skeptics, however, question its feasibility, with experts noting that much of federal spending is mandatory and untouchable without Congressional approval.

Despite criticism, DOGE has garnered bipartisan interest, with figures like Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna endorsing its focus on defense budget cuts. As DOGE targets July 4, 2026, as its deadline to deliver a leaner federal government, its success remains uncertain but undeniably ambitious.