The tech billionaire wasted no time jumping into the political fray upon President Trump’s return to the White House, moving at breakneck speed to carry out the president’s government cost-cutting initiative, dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
As DOGE’s work dominated the news and Musk appeared alongside the president nearly every day, he faced mounting scrutiny from the public and even some within Trump’s circle over his increasing influence as a nongovernment employee.
After nearly three months of repeated backlash against Musk and his companies, political strategists say his omnipresence is fading as the dust settles.
“That influence has been reined in a little bit, whether that is his choice or the White House’s choice, I don’t know, but I would guess the White House has put their thumb on the scale a little bit when it comes to Elon,” GOP strategist Brittany Martinez told The Hill.
The first few weeks of DOGE were marked by chaos and confusion as Musk and his low-profile team imposed mass layoffs and spending cuts across federal agencies to reduce the federal workforce.
“Musk hit the ground running with a vengeance and just went after everything,” said Paul Levinson, a professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University.
Musk admitted Wednesday the first few weeks of DOGE were “intense,” adding he spent almost seven days a week at the White House.
The “move fast and break things” approach mirrored Musk’s leadership in Silicon Valley and his technology companies, where the billionaire and a group of loyal deputies slashed employees and programs he deemed unnecessary.
At its inception, DOGE was largely supported by Republican lawmakers, who remain thankful Musk brought a spotlight on government reduction, even as some have frustrations over his approach.
“He has brought incredible energy and creativity to ferreting out waste, fraud and abuse, and I’m very grateful that he’s spent the time and energy to do so,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told The Hill.
GOP strategists acknowledged the effort is nothing new to the party and will likely last past Musk’s time in the White House.
Read more in a full report at TheHill.com.
