Musk’s unusual stay at DOGE headquarters
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and X, has reportedly been living at the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) headquarters in Washington, D.C., according to WIRED. The office, located in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, has become Musk’s temporary residence as he works to expand his influence within the federal government.
At a recent Alfalfa Club black-tie dinner, Musk revealed that he had been invited to stay overnight at the White House in the historic Lincoln Bedroom. However, he declined the offer, reportedly to avoid a more formal relationship with President Donald Trump’s team after Chief of Staff Susie Wiles denied him office space in the West Wing, Daily Mail reported.
Musk’s history of extreme work habits
This isn’t the first time Musk has made headlines for his intense commitment to work. During Tesla’s early days, he famously slept on the factory floor, believing that his presence motivated employees.
“If the team thinks their leader is off somewhere having a good time, drinking Mai Tais on a tropical island… they knew I was there, and that made a huge difference,” Musk said in a 2022 interview with Ron Baron.
His “hardcore” work ethic was also evident when he took over Twitter (now X) in 2022. Musk warned employees that only those willing to work long, grueling hours would remain. In a memo titled “A Fork in the Road,” he outlined his expectations for Twitter 2.0, emphasizing that only “exceptional performance” would be tolerated. As a result, 80% of Twitter’s workforce eventually left the company.
DOGE: Cutting costs and streamlining government operations
Musk now brings this same work culture to DOGE, a government initiative he leads to reduce federal spending and improve efficiency. His efforts align with Trump’s broader agenda to shrink government operations and eliminate wasteful programs.
Since its launch, DOGE has reportedly saved taxpayers around $1 billion per day by reducing hiring and cutting spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives—something Musk has publicly criticized.
In a statement, DOGE announced that its ultimate goal is to save more than $3 billion per day. Among its first cost-cutting measures, the department has begun eliminating DEI-related programs and websites, including the US Office of Personnel Management’s Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council website. This move aligns with President Trump’s broader push to roll back what he describes as “Marxist” diversity policies.
Eliminating the penny to reduce government waste
Musk’s influence on government spending is also evident in DOGE’s initiative to address the rising cost of coin production. One of its first targets is the penny, which now costs more to produce than its actual value. In 2023, the cost of penny production resulted in an estimated $179 million in taxpayer losses. DOGE is reportedly exploring ways to eliminate or scale back penny production to further reduce costs.
As Musk continues to shape government efficiency efforts, his unconventional decision to live at DOGE headquarters underscores his relentless approach to work and his growing political influence in Washington.
