Musk–Trump Feud Explodes as White House Quietly Kills DOGE Project

• DOGE has been dissolved eight months early, with staff reassigned to other agencies.
• DOGE was launched with promises to cut federal waste but never released transparent financial results.
• The shutdown follows increasing public tension between Trump and Musk over government spending.

The Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE, has been formally dissolved, ending one of the Trump administration’s most publicised attempts to cut federal spending and streamline government operations. The decision came unexpectedly, with eight months still left on its original mandate, prompting fresh questions about what the initiative actually achieved.

The confirmation of DOGE’s shutdown came from Scott Cooper, Director of the Office of Personnel Management. When asked about the department’s status, he responded: “That doesn’t exist,” marking the first official acknowledgment that the project had been wound down.

A Big Start, Big Promises and Early Attention

DOGE was created in January with the goal of trimming federal agencies, redirecting budgets and reducing what the administration described as bureaucracy and waste. It received intense attention in its early days, especially with Elon Musk initially leading the effort as a special adviser. Musk even appeared at a conservative conference holding a chainsaw, calling it “the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” a theatrical moment meant to symbolize DOGE’s aggressive approach.

But as months passed, the initiative struggled to show clear financial results. Despite claims of saving tens of billions of dollars, DOGE did not publish verifiable public accounts, leaving analysts unable to confirm whether any meaningful savings were achieved. Critics said the lack of transparency made it impossible to judge the department’s effectiveness.

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Employees Reassigned as Focus Shifts

With the department now shut down, most of DOGE’s remaining staff have already been reassigned to other agencies. Two senior members transitioned to the National Design Studio, a new unit created to improve government websites, led by Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia. Meanwhile, acting DOGE administrator Amy Gleason moved to an advisory position within the Department of Health and Human Services.

Even though an executive order had extended DOGE’s operations through mid-2026, Trump’s recent public comments began referring to the initiative in the past tense, signalling a shift away from it.

Previously, Trump and Musk clashed, and the latter criticized Trump’s big tax and spending bill, saying he would support challengers to any lawmaker who backed it. Musk even hinted he might start a new political party if the bill passes. Trump hit back by suggesting DOGE should investigate how much federal money Musk’s companies have received.

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