DOGE is now officially over. Did it work?

Recently Elon Musk, the father and former leader of the controversial D.O.G.E. (Department of Government Efficiency), stated that he would not realize and head the project again if given the chance to go back. Musk, the longest serving special employee of the US government to date, claimed that the results of the department have not been significant enough to justify the the economic turmoil his companies have faced amidst boycotts and European hostility for his former direct involvement in the Trump admin.

The entrepreneur's relationship with politics and Trump's faction in particular has been a series of highs and lows that have left the American Right fractured and in some sort of civil war. The economic positions supported by Musk aren't particularly different from traditional US fiscal conservatism, but they definitely clash with Trump's economic pragmatism. Foreign policy is another point of contention, as the Trump admin gradually abandons isolationism in favor of direct foreign intervention in countries like Venezuela. Musk's position of focusing on fiscal health and internal cultural issues seems to be at odds with the government's current plans, even if the personal relationship between the businessman and the President seems to be mended.

Furthermore, the concrete results of DOGE are difficult to assess, as objective data on how much money the program has saved is not completely available and recounts from the government clash with other analyses. The clearly assessable result of DOGE is the impact it has had on the cultural conversation, shifting the policy discussion on economics and budget.

Is Musk done with politics or is he going to be back? Only time will tell.

Klevis Gjoka