Elon Musk to 'gameify' DOGE, create leaderboard for ‘insanely dumb’ spending of US tax dollars

Elon Musk is adding a unique twist to government efficiency, partnering with former President Donald Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Despite the playful acronym and meme-ready name, the mission is ambitious: combat government waste, fraud, and abuse, and make it an engaging public spectacle. Musk seems determined to ensure that this effort isn’t just impactful but also entertaining.

Musk announced on X (formerly Twitter) that all actions of DOGE would be fully transparent, with every move posted online.

He’s even promised a public leaderboard, tracking the most absurd examples of government spending, blending tragedy and comedy in classic Musk style. “It will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining,” Musk said, adding a string of laughing emojis. He wants the public to weigh in, flagging cuts they disagree with or wasteful spending that needs attention.

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All actions of the Department of Government Efficiency will be posted online for maximum transparency.

Anytime the public thinks we are cutting something important or not cutting something wasteful, just let us know!

We will also have a leaderboard for most insanely dumb… https://t.co/1c0bAlxmY0

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 13, 2024

While DOGE sounds like a new department, it technically won’t be an official federal agency, as only Congress can establish those. Instead, Trump explained that DOGE will operate as an extra-government body, providing advice and partnering with the White House and Office of Management and Budget.

The goal is to bring an “entrepreneurial approach” to government, according to Trump, aiming for large-scale structural reform.

However, making meaningful cuts to government spending is notoriously complicated. With a US budget approaching $7 trillion, most of the expenditures go toward essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, and the Pentagon.

Efforts to cut costs have long been a conservative talking point, and the battle has played out publicly for years. Figures like Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have been railing against wasteful spending for decades, and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) releases his annual “Festivus” report, which recently highlighted $900 billion in perceived waste.

Paul’s report mixes humorous examples, like South Carolina’s infamous Monkey Island escapades ($33.2 million) and $6 million to promote tourism in Egypt, with more serious ones, such as Pentagon cost overruns. But it’s not all show: watchdogs like the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Pentagon Inspector General have been exposing waste for years. The GAO, for example, claims to have saved the US $667.5 billion in financial benefits through its recommendations.

So, what will DOGE really bring to the table? So far, the main difference seems to be Musk’s tech-savvy, gamified approach. While ideas like interactive leaderboards are novel, they essentially repurpose what government watchdogs like the GAO and Pentagon IG have done for years — just with more internet flair.

Meanwhile, Musk’s influence in the Trump administration appears significant. He has been spotted alongside Trump at key events, participating in high-level discussions and being credited with aiding Trump’s recent electoral success.

Musk’s behaviour, as one report described, is almost “co-presidential,” as he continues to assert his presence and influence in the political sphere. During a closed meeting with House Republicans, Trump even joked about how he can’t get rid of Musk, who seems determined to leave his mark on US governance, one meme at a time.

Whether DOGE will lead to real savings or just more viral moments remains to be seen. For now, Musk’s approach to fighting waste is sure to get people talking—and maybe even laughing — while the serious business of reforming government spending unfolds in an unprecedented, and very public, manner.