Late last year, Elon Musk vowed to cut $2 trillion from the government’s budget with the help of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
It didn’t take long for that number to drop to $1 trillion, indicating little thought had gone into the original calculation.
And judging by the latest news, DOGE is woefully behind even that target. As the New York Times reports, Musk told Donald Trump this week that DOGE anticipated “savings in '26 from reduction of waste and fraud by $150 billion,” referring to the fiscal year that runs from October 2025 to the end of September 2026. (It’s even unclear if Musk meant that the so-called department had saved $150 billion so far, or if that was how much he’s now predicting it would save in total.)
Another bullshit headline. He didn’t admit anything of the sort. He did overpromise and underdeliver, as he always does. This can be construed as a failure. He did not, however, “admit” failure.
Yep. “Musk admits he’s wrong” is as likely to be true as “Real life herd of unicorns discovered in Texas”
As everyone knows, unicorns refuse to set foot in Texas.
Aside from there actually being any lack of admission on Elon Musk’s part for DOGE’s phenomenal failures - or for his other innumerable failures, it should be stated:
Elon Musk has been thoroughly successful - and is in fact world-renown - for delivering a perfect Sieg Heil.
Let’s not forget that, good people.
His efforts were only a dismal failure if the original intention was to improve government functioning whilst lowering costs.
On the other hand, if it was to gut the government and funnel money to Musk and co, then it’s been a roaring success.
Muskrat isn’t mentally capable of admitting failure.
If he wasn’t born rich and an excellent grifter, we would have never known about him at all.
News outlets keep framing this stuff like a big gotcha every time and I’m frankly getting tired of it. DOGE was never meant to save money. Nothing they’ve said or done will benefit the public in any way. Not a single executive order has been in the people’s interest. Not a one. They’re too busy dismantling the state and DOGE is a tool they need for that and nothing else. Exposing their lies is important but this low key reinforces them by insinuating the goals they’re talking about are taken seriously.
I’m tired of everyone breathlessly reporting their talking points without challenge.
Cutting government services is not the same as saving money.
Besides which, it’s tough to nail down exactly what is meant by “saving money” in the case of a federal budget.
Finally, “saving money” is not the only consideration. I could “save” some money by deciding not to feed my kids lunch.
