Musk Admits DOGE Experiment Failed, Pins Deficit Hopes on AI

Elon Musk has acknowledged that his government efficiency initiative, DOGE, ended in failure, saying the U.S. deficit cannot be resolved from within the government.

In a podcast interview with biographer Walter Isaacson, Musk said there was little political will to cut spending across the executive, legislative and judicial branches. He noted that almost no one in power — the president, the House or the Senate — truly wants to reduce expenditure, and named Senator Rand Paul as a rare exception. He added that trying to tackle the deficit and stop wasteful spending would create many enemies.

Reflecting on his time in the White House, Musk said he was drawn to the experience but admitted he had been “somewhat carried away” and away from his companies for too long. He said he should have returned sooner and focused on artificial intelligence.

Despite his criticism of DOGE, Musk suggested that a future administration could use more powerful AI tools to try again to cut the deficit, arguing that AI and robotics are the technologies that can truly address America’s fiscal challenges. In mid-October 2026, Isaacson also warned that autonomous AI agents without close human oversight carry potential risks.