WASHINGTON — Elon Musk said he would “likely not” return to lead a federal cost-cutting initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), if given the choice, six months after stepping down from the position under former President Donald Trump.
Musk described his tenure as a concentrated effort to reduce federal spending and improve efficiency across agencies, citing the complexity of the federal bureaucracy and the demands of navigating political and institutional challenges.
The DOGE initiative aimed to identify overlapping functions, streamline procurement, and introduce private-sector cost-control practices. Musk oversaw internal agency reviews and recommended measures to reduce redundancy, though some proposals faced resistance and constraints due to civil service rules and congressional processes.
Musk did not cite specific actions he would change but said the intensity of the work and political environment make a return to similar government roles unlikely. He continues to focus on his private-sector ventures.