Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk fired back at critics of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last week by sharing a resurfaced clip of former President Barack Obama announcing a nearly identical cost-cutting initiative over a decade ago.
Taking to his X platform (formerly Twitter), Musk reposted a 2011 video of Obama launching the “Campaign to Cut Waste,” an effort aimed at eliminating unnecessary government spending. Musk captioned it with a pointed observation: “Sounds exactly like DOGE.” In the clip, Obama even joked about putting then–Vice President Joe Biden in charge of the effort, saying, “Nobody messes with Joe.”
Obama’s 2011 Campaign to Cut Government Waste
During his speech, Obama outlined various examples of government waste, calling out what he described as “pointless spending that doesn’t benefit anybody.” He specifically mentioned instances like continued funding for a government website dedicated to a folk music group called the ‘Fiddlin’ Foresters.’
“No amount of waste is acceptable, especially when it’s your money,” Obama stated at the time. “Just as families are living within their means, government should too.”
Musk’s decision to resurface the clip was seen as a strategic move to counter criticism that his DOGE initiative was too extreme. Opponents have accused Musk of taking a chainsaw approach by eliminating entire agencies and laying off thousands of federal employees. By posting the Obama clip, Musk framed DOGE as a continuation of bipartisan efforts to rein in government waste, suggesting that even Democrats once praised “tough decisions” on spending cuts.
“Everyone knows that getting rid of the deficit will require some tough decisions, and that includes cutting back on billions of dollars in programs that a lot of people care about,” Obama stated in the resurfaced video.
Musk Faces Pushback Over Comparisons to Obama
While many on X applauded the comparison, others pushed back, arguing that Obama’s budget-cutting efforts—such as reducing spending on unused federal buildings—were far less drastic than Musk’s sweeping, structural reductions.
Critics argued that while Obama’s campaign focused on eliminating inefficiencies, Musk’s DOGE initiative has aggressively dismantled entire federal departments, leading to mass layoffs and significant shifts in government operations.
The 2011 Obama clip originally aired as the former president was preparing for his 2012 re-election campaign. Some commenters noted that despite Obama’s pledges to reduce waste, the initiative ultimately had little impact on curbing overall federal spending.
Joe Rogan and Others Weigh In
Podcaster Joe Rogan joined the conversation, reacting to Musk’s post with his own take. “It took 14 years and Elon Musk and Donald Trump for the talk to become action,” Rogan remarked, suggesting that prior administrations had failed to follow through on their cost-cutting promises.
Despite Obama’s pledge to “get rid of the deficit”, the federal budget deficit increased by 58% during his presidency, adding over $6.7 trillion to the national debt. In the resurfaced clip, Obama acknowledged that some spending should be eliminated “even if we didn’t have a deficit”, while also calling for a reduction in unused government properties.
At one point in the original video, Biden appeared alongside Obama, pledging to tackle wasteful spending with what he called a “relentless focus.”
“We’re holding ourselves accountable, and we’re deeply committed and focused on making government function better,” Biden claimed.
DOGE Sparks Political and Legal Battles
The resurfacing of Obama’s remarks comes as Musk’s DOGE initiative continues to spark sharp debate in Washington and across the country.
Supporters of Musk and former President Donald Trump have celebrated DOGE as a long-overdue effort to eliminate wasteful government spending. They argue that Musk is simply doing what politicians have promised for decades but never had the will to execute.
On the other hand, critics claim that the cuts have gone too far, eliminating not just inefficiencies, but also essential government programs that serve millions of Americans.
Legal Challenges Mount Against DOGE
Unsurprisingly, Musk’s government restructuring has faced multiple legal challenges. Several lawsuits have been filed by government unions and left-wing organizations in an effort to block Trump and Musk from slashing agencies and personnel.
While many of these lawsuits have seen early success, the Trump administration is actively appealing several rulings, with some cases expected to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Despite the legal battles, Musk and Trump remain unfazed, arguing that cutting government waste is essential for long-term economic stability.
Public Opinion on Government Spending Cuts
While the political establishment remains divided on DOGE, public opinion appears to lean in favor of the initiative. Recent polls show that a majority of Americans support cutting wasteful government programs, even if it means downsizing federal agencies.
This suggests that despite legal challenges and political controversy, Musk’s cost-cutting campaign may have broad public appeal—especially as the U.S. national debt continues to skyrocket.
With the legal battles ongoing and the 2026 elections looming, DOGE will remain a hot-button issue in American politics for the foreseeable future.