Doge: Elon Musk's Efficiency Authority "Worsens Deficits," According to a Tax Expert

Doge: Elon Musk's Efficiency Authority "Worsens Deficits," According to a Tax Expert Business Insider • 13 hours • 1 minute read Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been an advisor to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is responsible for austerity measures, since the beginning of US President Donald Trump's second term. Tax expert Jessica Riedl, who has worked for the presidential campaigns of Republicans Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney, among others, told Der Spiegel that at this point, it looks "as if Doge will actually worsen the deficits, not reduce them." The Republicans would increase spending, cut taxes, and further increase the budget deficit. According to Doge, the measures so far have achieved savings of $150 billion (€132 billion), but the website only shows $20 billion (€17.5 billion), according to the US expert. A large portion of this is based on accounting inaccuracies or typos. Musk's "hands are tied" because funding for Social Security, Medicare, and defense cannot be cut. Instead of addressing major items, the agency is focusing on small and symbolic expenses such as magazine subscriptions, civil servants, or foreign aid – things that, while emotionally moving to Trump supporters, have little financial impact.