Elon Musk’s tenure in Washington, D.C., was marked by significant controversy. Known for his assertive leadership style, Musk implemented budget cuts, led staff dismissals, and made substantial administrative changes. His approach reportedly alienated various government officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, ultimately resulting in strained relationships within the administration. Tensions escalated to the point where Musk was involved in a minor physical altercation with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
By late May, reports indicated that Musk and his initiatives, particularly with DOGE, had lost favor with President Trump. White House aides began increasing their objections to Musk’s agency, culminating in Musk’s official departure from the administration on May 30, a move that also saw the exit of his close associate, Steve Davis.
Davis, an engineer who had collaborated with Musk for over two decades, resisted leaving the agency after Musk’s departure. His attempts to lead were met with division among DOGE staff, with some expressing loyalty to him while others sought to plan the agency’s future without his input. This internal conflict led to accusations of a coup against those who opposed Davis’s leadership.
The situation prompted the White House to intervene, quickly dispersing Davis’s supporters and leading to a series of reorganizations within DOGE. Ultimately, this chain of events resulted in DOGE losing its structured governance, and inquiries to the White House later revealed that the organization was no longer recognized.
Musk entered Washington with the ambition of drastically cutting government spending, but contrary to his goals, reports suggested that spending increased during his time there, leaving behind numerous unresolved conflicts and a fragmented agency.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/827390/doge-is-no-more-and-in-its-wake-only-chaos