“DOGE’s over-promising and underperforming results damaged not only Musk’s reputation but also the standing of the Trump administration as a whole, and beyond that, probably the reputations and chances for success of future governmental reform cost-cutting measures,” presidential historian David Pietrusza told the Washington Examiner.

Elon Musk came to Washington with a chainsaw in hand, promising to slash trillions in government waste as a member of the Trump Administration. Three months later, he’s leaving behind a complicated legacy that includes unmet expectations and uneasy questions about his leadership.