Tech billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk announced plans to double the size of his staff at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), despite mounting legal challenges and political pushback from both Democrats and members of Trump’s Cabinet.
Speaking on Fox Business, Musk revealed that DOGE currently has about 100 staff members working across nearly every federal agency and that he intends to expand the department to 200 employees.
“We’re trying to act broadly across all departments, so it’s not just one at a time,” Musk told host Larry Kudlow.
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When asked whether DOGE was embedded in all federal agencies, Musk responded, “Pretty much, yeah.”
DOGE’s Budget Cuts Face Lawsuits and Cabinet Resistance
DOGE was initially focused on cutting costs in targeted agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) but has since expanded across the federal government. The rapid expansion has triggered multiple lawsuits from state attorneys general and other groups, who argue that Musk and DOGE have overstepped their legal authority.
Despite his central role in shaping government spending, Musk does not officially hold the title of DOGE administrator. The White House has stated that another official, Amy Gleason, serves as the acting administrator, though Trump has publicly insisted that Musk is in charge.
Musk Doubles Down on Social Security Fraud Claims
Musk also took aim at Social Security spending, repeating a debunked claim that 10% of Social Security expenditures are fraudulent. A 2023 report from the Social Security inspector general, however, estimated that improper payments account for less than 1% of expenditures.
Musk’s anti-entitlement stance has added to tensions within the administration, with some Trump officials reportedly concerned about the political fallout of aggressive Social Security cuts.
Musk’s Future in Government and Struggles at Tesla
Although Musk’s role as a special government employee is technically limited to 130 days per year, he indicated that he has no plans to step down.
“You gonna go another year?” Kudlow asked.
“Yeah, I think so,” Musk responded.
Meanwhile, Musk acknowledged that his involvement in government is straining his business empire. Tesla stock has fallen for six consecutive weeks, including a 15% drop on Monday. Protests against Musk have also erupted at Tesla locations, with recent fires damaging Tesla Cybertrucks and charging stations in cities like Seattle and Boston.
When asked how he was managing his companies while working in government, Musk admitted, “With great difficulty.” He paused, sighed, and added, “I’m just here trying to make government more efficient.”
Musk Blames X Disruptions on Cyberattack
During the interview, Musk also claimed—without evidence—that a cyberattack linked to Ukraine-based IP addresses was responsible for disruptions on his social media platform, X, earlier in the day.
As Musk deepens his role in reshaping government operations, his expanding influence continues to draw both fierce support and mounting opposition. With lawsuits, stock drops, and political friction escalating, Musk’s next moves in Washington will be closely watched.
