Department of Government Efficiency

DOGE and Musk faced declining popularity with the public. While many supported the elimination of wasteful government spending, the majority of Americans opposed how DOGE was operating. One notable complaint was that the department moved too quickly. It often made cuts that, after closer examination, were rescinded. For example, DOGE fired hundreds of nuclear weapons workers, who they later hired back. As the face of the department, Musk drew particular ire. Across the country, protests were held at Tesla dealerships (Musk is CEO of the car company), and the value of Tesla stock dropped by more than 40 percent. In addition, the company’s net income in the first quarter of 2025 was down by 71 percent. While there were various reasons behind the decline, the opposition to Musk was considered a key factor. In late April, Musk announced that he would be spending less time at DOGE, and the following month he left the Trump administration.