Inside Elon Musk's DOGE Layoffs: The Human Cost of Government 'Efficiency

In 2025, Elon Musk spearheaded the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Trump's administration, aiming to overhaul federal operations. This initiative led to the termination of over 260,000 federal employees, the dismantling of 11 agencies, and the cancellation of thousands of contracts and grants . While Musk claimed savings of $160 billion, these figures remain unverified, and government spending paradoxically increased by over 6% .​

Critics have highlighted the chaotic implementation of DOGE's policies, citing a lack of clear strategy, legal compliance, and compassion for employees . Notably, the Social Security Administration suffered significant disruptions, with errors leading to over four million beneficiaries being wrongly listed as deceased .​

As public backlash intensified, Musk reduced his involvement with DOGE to focus on Tesla, leaving the future of the initiative uncertain . The legacy of DOGE serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of applying Silicon Valley strategies to federal governance.​

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Daniel Chyi 戚钊

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