On Saturday, President Donald Trump expressed his approval of Elon Musk's efforts with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, he indicated that he would like to see Musk adopt a more aggressive approach to further enhance the agency's impact. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Musk's work but emphasized the need for increased assertiveness, urging, "We have a country to save, but ultimately, to make greater than ever before."
Musk responded positively on X, acknowledging Trump's comments with an enthusiastic promise to be more aggressive. As of February 17, 2025, DOGE claims to have generated savings of approximately $55 billion through various measures, including fraud detection, contract renegotiations, and workforce reductions.
Despite this, DOGE has faced criticism, particularly from some Democratic lawmakers who have raised concerns about Musk's involvement and the agency's access to federal systems. Representative Val Hoyle from Oregon described the situation as detrimental to government operations, accusing Musk of pursuing self-interest at the expense of the public.
Much of DOGE’s focus has been on reducing spending related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, leading to the cancellation of several government contracts. Notably, the agency has scrutinized funding allocated by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for DEI projects abroad.
Additionally, there is a proposal from James Fishback, CEO of Azoria, suggesting that DOGE could issue tax refund checks to Americans, funded by the savings it has achieved. Musk has indicated that Trump supports this dividend idea, although no formal steps have been taken toward its implementation as of now.