'Scalpel' Over 'Chainsaw': What’s Next For Trump’s DOGE After Elon Musk’s Exit
In Musk’s place, Russell Vought — a seasoned policy figure and former director of the Office of Management and Budget — is reportedly set to take the reins.
The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Trump administration’s headline-grabbing cost-cutting initiative, is entering a transitional phase after Elon Musk stepped down as its head in May 2025. In Musk’s place, Russell Vought — a seasoned policy figure and former director of the Office of Management and Budget — is reportedly set to take the reins. Known for his bureaucratic know-how and alignment with Trump’s political priorities, Vought is expected to bring a more disciplined, strategic tone to DOGE’s operations.
President Donald Trump has signalled a shift in philosophy, replacing Musk’s headline-making “chainsaw” approach with what he calls a more refined “scalpel” strategy. This means fewer sweeping job cuts and more targeted refinements to existing programs. Vought’s tenure is likely to focus on embedding DOGE’s principles deeper into federal agency workflows while dialling down the chaos associated with Musk’s tenure.
Musk’s Imprint Remains, But So Do the Controversies
Although Musk is no longer directly involved, his legacy within DOGE is firmly planted. Before exiting, Musk installed loyal personnel in key agency positions to keep the initiative’s goals alive, particularly in areas like IT modernisation and reducing waste. Notably, plans to overhaul the Office of Personnel Management’s outdated retirement systems are expected to continue, as are controversial layoffs. The Department of Veterans Affairs still faces potential job cuts affecting up to 80,000 employees, though the pace might now slow to temper public and political backlash.
Despite Musk’s departure, DOGE remains under intense scrutiny. Critics argue that its aggressive cost-cutting has already degraded critical services across agencies such as USAID, the Department of Education, and the IRS. “The damage is already done,” said public administration expert Donald Moynihan, while economist Martha Gimbel added, “There’s no efficiency in gutting a program if you’re not replacing it with something better.”
Legal Fights and Public Backlash Cast Shadows
The initiative is also entangled in legal challenges. Fourteen states have sued the federal government, citing Musk’s lack of Senate confirmation and unauthorised access to sensitive data. Though Musk’s exit could defuse some of the political tension, Vought will still have to navigate these lawsuits, which could hinder DOGE’s ability to implement further reforms.
Public sentiment is hardly in DOGE’s favour. Polls show that 58 per cent of Americans disapprove of Musk’s role, underscoring widespread unease with the initiative’s methods and outcomes.
Even with Vought at the helm, regaining public trust may prove difficult, especially as DOGE’s budget savings — trumpeted as $160 billion — face heavy scepticism. Analysts have accused the program of double-counting and exaggerating its impact, noting that reinstated contracts and long-term costs, like an estimated $135 billion in lost productivity, significantly dilute any claimed benefits.
The Road to 2026 — and Beyond?
Officially, DOGE is scheduled to sunset on July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence. However, posts on Musk’s platform X have suggested ambitions to make the initiative permanent, a notion not reflected in Trump’s executive orders.
Whether DOGE leaves a lasting legacy or fades as a short-lived experiment hinges on multiple factors, chief among them, congressional approval. Many of its proposals still need legislative backing, and bipartisan resistance, particularly around cuts to Medicare and Social Security, may stall its ambitions. Even with Vought’s budget expertise, navigating that political terrain won’t be easy.
In the end, DOGE's future may depend less on cutting dollars and more on proving it can deliver meaningful, lasting reform without undermining public services. For now, the program continues — quieter, perhaps, but still controversial.
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