Trump Questions DOGE Performance | OGM News — President Trump has reportedly voiced deep frustration over the performance of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial agency that he and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk once heralded as a revolutionary cost-cutting engine for the U.S. government. According to aides, Trump bluntly asked during a recent closed-door session, “Was it all bullshit?”—a sign of growing disillusionment with the program’s outcomes.
The rhetorical question comes on the heels of a damning internal analysis that found DOGE may have cost taxpayers more than it saved. While the agency achieved $175 billion in spending reductions, new findings indicate that the ripple effects of its policies have imposed a $135 billion burden, drastically undermining its claimed fiscal benefits.
Musk’s $2 Trillion Dream Falls Short
Trump Questions DOGE Performance | OGM News — Elon Musk, who was appointed by Trump to spearhead DOGE, initially promised to trim $2 trillion from government expenditures through a ruthless campaign of agency reform and technological automation. However, those ambitions were soon tempered—first to $1 trillion, and then to far more modest outcomes.
By the time Musk stepped down, the agency had only achieved a fraction of its targets. Analysts say the discrepancy between Musk’s promises and the results reflects both the scale of bureaucratic inertia and the unintended economic side-effects of sweeping austerity.
A Legacy of Discontent as Trump Questions DOGE Performance
Trump Questions DOGE Performance | OGM News — Musk’s tenure at DOGE was anything but quiet. The agency became synonymous with rapid and sweeping changes, from abrupt mass layoffs to the dismantling of entire departments. Critics inside and outside the administration argued that the chaos generated by these measures disrupted vital public services and alienated key stakeholders.
Several cabinet secretaries reportedly clashed with Musk over the speed and scope of his reforms. Leaked memos show a growing chorus of complaints about the “unilateral” nature of DOGE’s actions and their impact on inter-agency coordination. One official described DOGE’s reforms as “a demolition derby masquerading as modernization.”
Ideological Clashes and Political Fallout
Trump Questions DOGE Performance | OGM News — Musk’s departure from DOGE did little to quell the tension. In a recent interview, the tech magnate openly criticized the Trump administration’s protectionist trade policies and expressed concern over the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, calling it “a ticking debt bomb.”
Though Musk maintained a public tone of support for Trump’s broader vision, insiders say his increasingly vocal policy disagreements contributed to a cooling of relations. Still, Trump has continued to publicly praise Musk’s “visionary” approach—despite their private rifts.
Follow the Money: Who Really Pays?
Trump Questions DOGE Performance | OGM News — The most damning revelation, however, lies in the financial ledger. Analysts now argue that the total economic cost of DOGE’s measures may outweigh the benefits. From severance packages and contractor rehiring to legal settlements and inefficiencies introduced by restructuring, taxpayers could end up footing a higher bill than before.
Former Government Accountability Office (GAO) officials have raised red flags about how savings were calculated and reported. “There’s a real danger in measuring cuts without accounting for fallout,” one report cautioned. “The math doesn’t lie, but it can be misleading.”
Trump Questions DOGE Performance as Musk’s Shadow Still Looms
Trump Questions DOGE Performance | OGM News — Despite the controversy, Musk remains an influential figure within Trump’s political and financial ecosystem. He continues to provide informal advice to the White House and has contributed heavily to Trump-aligned Super PACs heading into the next election cycle.
Insiders suggest that although Musk is unlikely to assume an official government position again, his impact will continue to shape Trump’s vision for a technology-focused administration. However, as investigations into DOGE gain momentum, demands for accountability are growing—not just for Musk, but also for early advocates of the project.
Lessons in Reform: A Cautionary Tale
Trump Questions DOGE Performance | OGM News — The unraveling narrative of DOGE underscores the inherent risks in large-scale bureaucratic reform driven by private-sector ideology. What was billed as a bold leap into the future of governance now serves as a cautionary tale about the limits of disruption without due diligence.
As Trump weighs the political cost of DOGE’s perceived failures, observers say the ordeal could reshape his second-term agenda. “Efficiency is good,” one aide noted, “but not if it ends up costing you more—and certainly not if the president is left asking if it was all just bullshit.”
