In a recent discussion, Elon Musk acknowledged that cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget, as initially promised, might be unrealistic, suggesting $1 trillion as a likely result. He emphasized the abundance of government waste and the challenges of gaining buy-in from officials concerned about spending. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he leads, aims to identify and address spending efficiency measures but will operate as a committee outside the government framework, tackling budget issues over a two-year period.