Kathmandu: Tech billionaire Elon Musk has acknowledged that his ambitious effort to drastically reduce U.S. federal government spending has fallen short of expectations, citing internal resistance within the Trump administration and Congress.

Speaking to a group of U.S. media outlets following a recent cabinet meeting, Musk expressed frustration over the lack of progress. “How much trouble can the cabinet and Congress handle? It requires a lot of complaints,” he said. The interview, published Thursday, sheds light on the challenges faced by Musk’s informal role as head of the “Department of Government Efficiency”, an initiative launched after Donald Trump’s return to the White House to cut administrative costs and streamline operations.

Despite being at the center of a high-profile campaign to implement budget cuts across government agencies, Musk admitted that the initiative has so far achieved only $160 billion in savings—far below the department’s $2 trillion target. Proposed cuts targeted major cost areas such as pensions, healthcare for retirees, and even defense spending.

Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, hinted that he will scale back his role in the initiative to refocus on his struggling car company, which has recently come under fire. Tesla dealerships in the U.S. and internationally have been targets of protests and vandalism, with Musk noting that the experience has been “not very fun.”

He also revealed plans to reduce his time at the White House, opting to work from his small office one to two days a week. However, he maintained his commitment to the broader mission, comparing the department to a philosophical movement. “The department is a way of life, like Buddhism. Buddha is no longer alive, but you don’t ask, ‘Who will lead Buddhism?’” he said.

President Trump has reportedly offered Musk the freedom to remain in the administration as long as he wishes. Musk shared that he has even slept in the Lincoln Bedroom at the president’s invitation on several occasions, underlining his close personal ties to the current administration.

Looking ahead, Musk said the team will aim to show measurable improvements by July 4, 2026, though he acknowledged that whether the project continues through the full term will be “up to the president.”