Elon Musk Reportedly Living At DOGE Headquarters, Just Few Steps Away From White House

Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and X, has reportedly been staying at the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) headquarters in Washington, D.C., according to a report by WIRED.

Musk is said to be residing in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, just steps away from the White House, as he works to exert greater influence over federal government operations.

At a recent black-tie dinner hosted by the Alfalfa Club, Musk revealed to attendees that he had been invited to stay overnight at the White House in the famed Lincoln Bedroom, highlighting his growing clout within President Donald Trump's administration. However, Musk reportedly declined the offer, opting instead to stay at the DOGE headquarters.

This decision came after Chief of Staff Susie Wiles denied him office space in the West Wing, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Musk's Unconventional Work Ethic

Musk's extreme dedication to his work is well-documented. During Tesla's early days, he famously slept on the factory floor to demonstrate his commitment to employees.

"This is important because if the team thinks their leader is off somewhere having a good time, drinking Mai Tais on a tropical island... they knew I was there, and that made a huge difference," Musk explained in a 2022 interview with Ron Baron.

This "hardcore" work culture continued when Musk acquired Twitter (now X) in 2022. Shortly after taking over, he sent a memo titled "A Fork in the Road" to employees, warning that only those willing to work long, intense hours would thrive under his leadership.

The note emphasised that "exceptional performance" was the new standard, and those unwilling to comply were offered severance packages.

As a result, approximately 80% of the staff left the company.

What is DOGE?

Now, Musk is applying his relentless work ethic to DOGE, a new initiative aimed at reducing government spending and increasing efficiency. The department aligns with President Trump's broader goal of shrinking the federal government and eliminating unnecessary programs.

Under Musk's leadership, DOGE has already made significant strides, reportedly saving taxpayers around $1 billion per day by halting unnecessary hiring and cutting spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives-a move consistent with Musk's long-standing criticism of such programs.

In a statement, DOGE announced its ambitious target to save more than $3 billion per day by further reducing federal spending.

Among its actions, the department has begun dismantling websites and programs related to DEI, including the US Office of Personnel Management's Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council website.

This mirrors President Trump's broader efforts to eliminate what he describes as "Marxist" diversity policies within the federal government.

Targeting Inefficiencies: The Penny Problem

Musk's influence is also evident in DOGE's focus on cutting production costs. One of the first targets is the penny, which now costs more to produce than its actual value. In 2023 alone, penny production resulted in an estimated $179 million loss for taxpayers.

DOGE is reportedly exploring ways to either halt or significantly reduce penny production, a move that could save even more taxpayer money.