Musk clarifies no Dogecoin role in $1T government efficiency plan

Elon Musk addressed speculation about Dogecoin’s (CRYPTO:DOGE) potential integration into the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during a March 30 town hall in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The initiative, established via executive order by President Donald Trump, aims to streamline federal operations and reduce spending by $1 trillion within 130 days.

Musk, appointed as a senior advisor, emphasised that DOGE’s focus is on bureaucratic efficiency, not cryptocurrency adoption.

“The names are similar but they’re doing two very different things,” Musk stated, distancing the department from the meme cryptocurrency.

While he personally supports Dogecoin—calling it “the people’s crypto” and accepting it for Tesla merchandise—DOGE’s mission centers on cost-cutting measures like layoffs and program eliminations.

The department claims to have saved over $100 billion by targeting climate change and diversity initiatives, though critics argue these cuts risk weakening essential services.

Musk defended the reforms as necessary to improve efficiency without compromising core government functions.

“We’re just literally trying to make the government 15% more efficient,” he explained.

However, Democratic lawmakers and consumer advocates have raised concerns about DOGE’s transparency and access to sensitive data systems.

Despite Musk’s personal advocacy for Dogecoin, he reiterated that the department has “no plans for the government to use Dogecoin or anything as far as I know.”

The clarification comes amid ongoing debates about cryptocurrency’s role in public policy.

Musk plans to step down from his advisory role in May after achieving projected deficit reductions.

The DOGE initiative reflects broader efforts to modernise federal operations, though its approach has drawn scrutiny.

While Musk’s influence on Dogecoin remains significant, his separation of the cryptocurrency from government work underscores a pragmatic focus on fiscal reform.

“There are no plans for the government to use Dogecoin,” he stressed, aligning DOGE’s goals with traditional cost-saving strategies rather than blockchain innovation.

At the time of reporting, the Dogecoin (DOGE) price was $0.1688.