Elon Musk unveiled a shift in strategy yesterday, reducing his involvement within the Bureau of Public Efficiency in order to prioritize his business enterprises, most notably Tesla. Musk’s diminished influence in the national capital suggests a crucial moment for a retrospective look at his contributions. How much has Musk accomplished in his public role? Using the same approach applied at the Bureau, involving weekly accomplishment bulletins from bureau civil servants, Musk’s record can also be encapsulated in five key points.
Firstly, Musk’s tenure has reportedly had a negative impact on his principal company. Tesla disclosed on Tuesday that its earnings had nosedived by a staggering 71 percent compared to the previous year. Despite an overall uptick in global electric vehicle sales, Tesla’s performance has faltered, impacted by burgeoning competition from Chinese automotive manufacturers, combined with Musk’s known support for conservative causes. Musk attributed this drop during an investor call to external influences, hinting at deceptive practices without presenting any supporting evidence.
Secondly, Musk’s personal popularity has taken a hit since his arrival in Washington. Survey data demonstrate a significant dip in approval ratings, attributed mainly to the ambivalence of Democratic and independent voters. Data from a recent poll by Marquette University revealed that only 38 percent of respondents had a positive view of Musk, a stark contrast with the 60 percent who expressed negative sentiments.
Musk’s third achievement pertains to budget reductions in federal spending, however, the true extent of these cuts remains disputed. Musk landed in the capital promising to shear $1 trillion from the coming fiscal year’s federal budget. The Bureau’s public performance tracker states savings to be around $160 billion. However, reports have surfaced suggesting these numbers might be exaggerated due to billion-dollar accounting mistakes and declarations of savings on expenditure not previously allocated.
Fourth, Musk has secured a position as the country’s top political benefactor. Findings from a study released last month indicate that Musk contributed over $291 million to Republican nominees, political action committees, and other conservative entities during the 2024 election cycle. Astonishingly, this amount surpasses the next largest Republican benefactor by almost $95 million, and quadruples the donations made to Democratic contenders.
Lastly, post-election, Musk has not indicated a retreat from political involvement. Musk and his allied organizations injected over $20 million into a Supreme Court election in Wisconsin, effectively recasting the contest as a verdict on Musk himself, a gamble that did not pay off. Further, Musk has warned Republicans in the House of Representatives of potential primaries if they decline support for President Trump’s agenda.
Furthermore, Musk has amassed significant personal data. President Trump’s executive order establishing the Bureau allowed Musk’s team access to ‘all unclassified agency records’, a broad classification that may encompass sensitive data pertaining to the majority of the American populace. Recent investigations disclose attempts made by Musk’s team to gain access to databases recording over 300 different data points, inclusive of social security numbers, immigration status, gambling income, and student loan balances amongst others. The specifics of the data owned by the Bureau remains unknown, but it is plausible that it covers a wide expanse.
Lastly, the foundational concept of the Bureau of Public Efficiency is reflective of the populist sentiment that perceives government not just as wasteful but also inefficient. This idea, though prevalent amongst Americans for years, finds increased support when individuals are asked about the Bureau directly.