Elon Musk says DOGE will ‘try’ to hit its goal of $2T in cuts though he concedes the committee may not meet its entire objective.
Key Facts:
– Elon Musk spoke with Stagwell Inc. CEO Mark Penn for over 30 minutes on a livestream.
– The newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) hopes to cut $2 trillion in federal spending.
– Musk predicts that even if they aim for $2 trillion, achieving $1 trillion in cuts would be good progress.
– DOGE is led by Musk and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and is expected to operate for two years.
– Musk says finding areas to cut will be easy but convincing government officials to care about spending remains a challenge.
The Rest of The Story:
Musk offered an ambitious vision while admitting there is a real chance they will fall short of the $2 trillion target.
During his conversation with Mark Penn, he emphasized that DOGE’s best-case outcome is hitting $2 trillion in reduced federal spending, but a more realistic outcome might be half that amount.
In his words, “I think if you aim for two trillion, you’ve got a good shot at getting one.”
The billionaire expressed optimism about discovering areas of waste, referring to it as a “target-rich environment.”
He believes that uncovering ways to slash government spending is not difficult, as every corner of the budget might have opportunities to rein in costs.
Despite the confidence in finding places to trim, Musk voiced frustration with government attitudes toward cutting costs.
He mentioned that even those who want to handle taxpayer dollars responsibly face systemic obstacles.
According to Musk, the committee will not function like a typical government office; it will operate more like an independent group that studies federal spending over the next two years.
By establishing DOGE outside traditional government structures, Musk and Ramaswamy hope to streamline their review of policies, programs, and expenses.
The goal is to propose more efficient ways to handle government money and highlight potential overexpenditures that might not receive enough scrutiny.
Recruiting for a very small number of full-time salaried Software Engineers and InfoSec Engineers. If interested, please DM us a few bullet points demonstrating exceptional ability, and your cell phone number.
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) January 7, 2025
The Bottom Line:
Musk’s new committee has a lofty objective in mind, though he admits they may not reach every milestone.
Still, aiming for $2 trillion could lead to significant reforms that leave a lasting mark on federal budgets.
If DOGE manages even half its goal, the result would be a substantial shift in how the government uses taxpayer money.
READ NEXT: Famous Actor SLAMS Newsom, Bass, Other Dems For Devastating California Wildfires
For those concerned about government waste, any savings could be meaningful.