His leadership style brought the same blend of entrepreneurial audacity and operational chaos familiar to followers of his corporate ventures. Mass layoffs, deep deregulation, and sweeping asset sales became DOGE’s modus operandi. At one point, a proposed cut of 250,000 federal jobs triggered panic across the civil service, though courts later reversed many of those firings. Even national security wasn’t spared until a proposed cut to the National Nuclear Security Administration prompted a very rare retreat.True to form, Musk was unapologetically unorthodox. He admitted missteps, sometimes flippantly. He dismissed his errors with characteristic nonchalance. To some, his candour felt refreshingly honest. To others, it bordered on contempt for the consequences.His ethos — move fast, break things, apologise later, if at all — was fundamentally at odds with the consensus-driven machinery of government. But under Trump, that was often a cherished feature, not a fatal flaw.Ethical questions loomed throughout his tenure. As head of DOGE, Musk remained deeply entangled with his private companies. SpaceX continued winning lucrative federal contracts. Tesla, meanwhile, enjoyed enhanced visibility through federal initiatives. Starlink, his satellite internet firm, expanded aggressively into international markets, including India, prompting accusations of using public office for private gain. Musk denied wrongdoing. Trump dismissed ethical concerns. But the perception of impropriety persisted.
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