End of the Musk-Trump era: From Silicon Valley disruptor to DOGE head, how Musk's legacy shaped Trump 2.0

Time of India

a day ago

When
Elon Musk
arrived in Washington to join the Trump administration, he brought the energy of a Silicon Valley disruptor armed with a chain saw and the confidence of someone who had never failed to shake up an industry.
From Cabinet meetings in a 'tech support' shirt and MAGA hat to lounging in the Lincoln Bedroom after a tub of caramel ice cream, Musk stormed into the federal government with bold ideas, sweeping power, and a $250 million campaign donation.
Now, just months later, Musk is out — leaving behind what the Associated Press calls 'upheaval and unmet expectations,' as the self-styled savior of government efficiency exits with little to show and much damage left behind.
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Musk's departure as a senior adviser, announced earlier this week, comes amid his decision to halt political donations and criticize the cornerstone of Trump's legislative agenda. His exit caps a whirlwind tenure marked by controversial firings, hollow cost-cutting claims, and a series of legal and bureaucratic setbacks. As Trump said Thursday on Truth Social, Musk's 'last day' is here, but he 'will, always, be with us, helping all the way.'
A powerful entry, an underwhelming legacy
Musk's tenure began with extraordinary access and influence. President Trump called him 'a smart guy' who 'really cares for our country.' Democrats, meanwhile, derisively dubbed him the 'co-president.' Musk's campaign-era promise of a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) became reality, backed by his enormous financial support and proximity to the Oval Office.
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He populated DOGE with software engineers and data experts who were embedded inside sensitive federal systems, alarming career civil servants. Some resigned rather than comply with Musk's directives. A plan requiring every federal worker to email five accomplishments each week under threat of dismissal was one of many initiatives that ultimately fizzled out.
Despite Musk's assertions that 'if we don't do this, America will go bankrupt,' his sweeping language yielded limited tangible results. His initial goal of slashing $2 trillion from the federal budget steadily shrank — from $1 trillion, to $150 billion. Whether even that final figure will materialize remains unclear, as AP notes that Musk's team routinely exaggerated its impact.
A culture of contempt and chaos
Musk brought a confrontational attitude to Washington. From day one, federal employees were treated with suspicion or hostility. Musk believed many were either inefficient or fraudulent. His restructuring efforts led to thousands of layoffs, hundreds of which were later reversed amid lawsuits or operational crises. The Food and Drug Administration, for example, laid off 1,900 workers — but rehired scores of critical employees like scientists and support staff under legal and operational pressure.
Even the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was unceremoniously shut down one day in February. Musk declared 'CFPB RIP' with a tombstone emoji. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was gutted, its global humanitarian efforts eviscerated, and Musk's dismissive retort — 'no one has died' — was proven false. Malnutrition-related deaths in vulnerable populations have already been recorded, with experts fearing worse to come.
Musk also took a swipe at lesser-known institutions like the U.S. Institute of Peace, attempting to dismantle the Congressionally created think tank before a court intervened to reinstate its leadership.
Despite Musk's pledge to cut 'vaporware'-level waste from the federal budget, the biggest sources of spending — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Pentagon — proved politically and logistically resistant to his interventions.
Mass layoffs, 'existential threats'
Musk described Social Security as 'a Ponzi scheme,' proposing massive savings by eliminating fraud. But his $500–700 billion savings estimate was quickly discredited. The program's inspector general confirmed only $71.8 billion in improper payments across eight years, and no credible evidence emerged to support Musk's claim that millions of deceased people were still receiving benefits.
His push to restructure Social Security services — including the closure of call centers and offices — sparked political backlash and was largely walked back. Yet the agency may still lose up to 7,000 staffers.
At the Pentagon, layoffs of civilian staff and consolidation plans were implemented, but Musk's broader ambitions collided with a growing defense budget. As AP reports, the 2025 Trump proposal includes $150 billion in additional military spending, with significant investments in missile defense and shipbuilding — the opposite of what Musk promised.
Even as Musk talked of existential threats and government waste, his behavior in the White House often veered toward spectacle. He turned the driveway into a Tesla showroom, brought children to diplomatic meetings, and installed a giant screen in his office for video games. His comments about the experience — like joking about DOGE as an internet meme — underscored what many saw as a cavalier attitude toward public service.
Trump, unbothered by concerns over Musk's inexperience or conflicts of interest related to government contracts, reportedly welcomed the chaos, even inviting Musk to sleep over at the White House. Musk's anecdotes of late-night treats and spontaneous decisions painted a portrait of an administration governed as much by whimsy as policy.
An unpopular visionary
Musk's popularity suffered as his promises failed to materialize. According to an Associated Press-NORC poll, just 33% of U.S. adults viewed him favorably in April, down from 41% in December. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said Musk had too much influence over the federal government.
While Americans often agree that the federal bureaucracy is bloated, the reality of Musk's slash-and-burn approach left many disillusioned — especially as the true savings fell far short of historical benchmarks. For comparison, the Clinton administration's 'reinventing government' program yielded $136 billion in savings (over $240 billion today) after years of methodical, expert-led reforms.
Elaine Kamarck, a key architect of Clinton's initiative, told AP that Musk's approach lacked such careful planning. 'We went about it methodically, department by department,' she said, noting the stark contrast.
As Musk walks away from his advisory role, his legacy is marked more by damage than by efficiency. Federal agencies are bruised, their workforces diminished, and trust eroded. Institutional knowledge in key areas — like food safety, public health, and environmental protection — has been depleted.
Even once-obscure corners of government felt the tremors of Musk's brief reign. But while the dust settles on his turbulent tenure, the broader consequences of his actions — from humanitarian setbacks abroad to regulatory breakdowns at home — may linger long after his final day.
And though Trump insists that Musk 'will, always, be with us,' the reality, as AP reports, is that the tech billionaire leaves behind a government still reeling from his disruption, and far from the efficient machine he promised to deliver.