Washington, D.C. — Elon Musk acknowledged that his sweeping cost-cutting initiative in U.S. government spending, under the banner of the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), has fallen short of its ambitious targets due to significant resistance — including from within the Trump administration itself.

“It’s really about how much discomfort the cabinet and Congress are willing to endure,” Musk told a group of U.S. media representatives on Wednesday. “It’s possible, but it requires confronting a lot of complaints.”

The remarks came during what may be Musk’s final appearance at a cabinet meeting, with excerpts from the interview published across major media outlets on Thursday.

Musk, who has informally led the DOGE initiative since President Donald Trump’s return to office, is expected to scale back his involvement to refocus on Tesla, his struggling electric vehicle company.

Launched on day one of Trump’s second term, the DOGE campaign made headlines for its aggressive and often chaotic efforts to slash federal spending. Musk-led teams stormed various government agencies, initiated mass layoffs, and pursued structural reforms aimed at eliminating waste. But the initiative has also taken a toll on Musk’s public image, with Tesla dealerships facing protests and vandalism both in the U.S. and abroad.

“It hasn’t been super fun,” Musk admitted. Thus far, the DOGE effort has reportedly cut $160 billion from federal expenditures — significantly less than its original goal of $2 trillion. Musk noted that deeper cuts would require tackling politically sensitive areas such as pensions, retiree healthcare, and the defense budget.

Originally intended to run through July 4, 2026, Musk now says the initiative could continue throughout Trump's full four-year term. “It’s up to the president,” he added.

While hinting at a reduced role, Musk confirmed that he will maintain a small White House office and plans to spend one to two days a week in Washington. “DOGE is a way of life, like Buddhism,” he said. “Buddha isn’t alive anymore. You wouldn’t ask, ‘Who leads Buddhism?’”

President Trump, during Wednesday’s meeting, reportedly told Musk, “Stay as long as you want,” but acknowledged he may be eager “to get back home to his cars.”

Musk also revealed that he has slept in the White House’s Lincoln Bedroom on several occasions, at the president’s invitation.