Maybe: I don't think he often makes such woeful mistakes. In the face of the kind of numbers our deficits put up, and where those numbers come from (social security, defense, federal workforce) it seems a little much to believe he actually thought he could meaningfully move the needle. 

I think it was well intentioned but Elon overestimated his own abilities and political influence 

SimpleStacker

charts_and_numbers

The growth of western bureaucracy

Scoresby

i fear that DOGE was a sideshow meant to entertain, not change policy or structure.