Despite growing political pressure and recent mixed messages, Elon Musk says his ambitious goal for DOGE—cutting $1 trillion in federal spending—remains unchanged.
Steve Davis, a close Musk ally and key figure within DOGE, is reportedly stepping into a more prominent leadership role as Musk pulls back slightly from day-to-day operations. Though Musk cites his responsibilities at his companies as the reason, sources suggest his presence has become politically complicated for the Trump administration. Polls show Musk’s growing unpopularity with some voters, and he’s clashed with major administration figures, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and trade adviser Peter Navarro.
In a recent interview, Musk appeared to downplay the original $1 trillion target, mentioning a figure closer to $150 billion. But he later clarified: that number represents savings DOGE has already claimed—now up to $160 billion, he said—not a revised benchmark. Still, watchdogs and some in the media have questioned the accuracy of those savings, calling parts of the accounting inflated or misleading.
“I still believe we can get to $1 trillion,” Musk said. “But it’s a tough road. The question is really how much discomfort the Cabinet and Congress are willing to tolerate. Because you can do it—it just means dealing with a lot of angry people.”
A protestor holds a sign reading ‘Elon Go Back To Your Home Planet’ outside City Hall during a ‘Hands Off!’ protest against the Trump administration on April 5, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Protests against Trump administration policies and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are being held nationwide in what organizers are calling a National Day of Action. Mario Tama, Getty Images
At one point in the conversation, Musk admitted the odds might not be entirely in his favor. “I may not succeed,” he said. “There’s just so much inertia built into the system. It’s hard to get it to change, even when it’s obviously bloated.”
Still, Musk pointed to recent wins. He highlighted a fix to a government computer system that he says is now better at catching people fraudulently collecting Social Security benefits. DOGE officials also claim to have identified 57 potential cases of voter fraud, which they’ve handed over to the Department of Justice.
As Musk put it, “There’s real work being done here. We’re trying to make government leaner and smarter—even if we take some hits along the way.”
