# Elon Musk Regrets DOGE Leadership

> Elon Musk admits he 'got carried away' leading DOGE, regretting his role in government efficiency reforms.
- Title: Elon Musk Regrets DOGE Leadership · Mashable | Shortify
- Summary: Elon Musk admits he 'got carried away' leading DOGE, regretting his role in government efficiency reforms. Elon Musk regrets leading the Department of…
- Keywords: elon musk, do ge, white house, department of government efficiency, elon musk podcast, president trump, government spending, federal workers, international aid agency, technology, culture, Elon
- Source: Mashable — https://mashable.com/tech/elon-musk-doge-regret-builders-podcast
- Author: Amanda Yeo
- Published: 2026-10-21T07:22:42+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: elon musk, do ge, white house, department of government efficiency, elon musk podcast, president trump, government spending, federal workers, international aid agency, technology, culture
## Elon Musk Regrets DOGE Role
Elon Musk says he 'got carried away' leading the Department of Government Efficiency for too long.

> I got carried away basically.
## DOGE Created Under Trump
President Donald Trump established DOGE within days of his inauguration last January.
## DOGE's Impact on Government
DOGE laid off over 280,000 federal workers and shut down the U.S. international aid agency.
## Musk's White House Experience
Musk described working with Trump on Marine One and Air Force One as 'seductive' but should have left after a month or two.
## DOGE Savings Goals
Musk initially claimed DOGE would save $2 trillion but revised it down to $150 billion.
## Musk Leaves DOGE
Musk left DOGE last May after criticizing Trump's tax bill, saying it increased the budget deficit.
## Key takeaway

Elon Musk regrets leading the Department of Government Efficiency for too long, saying he should have left after a month or two.