Elon Musk has long captured headlines for his visionary ventures in electric vehicles and space travel. Yet his recent entrance into American governance, combined with allegations of drug use and impulsive leadership, is raising fresh questions about whether the world’s richest man is heading into troubling territory.
At the centre of this storm is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a White House initiative helmed by Musk himself.
The billionaire’s growing power in Washington began in early 2025 with Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office for a second term.
While DOGE is not an official department, its influence is undeniable.
The mission is to slash government waste, fraud, and abuse, but critics say that mission is colliding with democratic norms.
Musk’s bold actions shuttering agencies without congressional approval and placing thousands of federal employees on administrative leave have unleashed an avalanche of lawsuits, protests, and heated debates.
Supporters hail him as a hero who is finally “draining the swamp,” while opponents warn that his unpredictable behaviour has no place in the highest levels of the U.S. government.
Musk’s relationship with Washington is complicated.
A self-described libertarian who once backed universal basic income, Musk now appears to embrace a more hardline ideology, one that echoes his grandfather’s Technocracy Incorporated roots.
A 1930s Canadian movement that wanted to replace democracy with rule by technical elites and was banned for its fascist leanings.
The RCMP arrested Musk’s grandfather in 1940.
Musk himself has praised “direct democracy,” yet he also flirts with ideas like the Republican Party’s “unitary executive theory,” which hands near-unchecked power to the president.
Leaving many political observers guessing what comes next.
Adding to concerns are recent allegations about Musk’s personal conduct.
Since 2018, rumours have swirled about drug use that goes beyond his publicized marijuana smoke session on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Sources close to Musk claim he has used LSD, cocaine, and ketamine, sometimes to cope with depression.
He insists his ketamine use is medically prescribed and helps him stay focused, but experts fear such substances, if abused, could blur his judgment, especially when he holds sway over billions of dollars in government contracts.
Musk’s behaviour at his own companies has done little to stop the concerns.
Tesla board members and SpaceX executives describe Musk as “mercurial.”
In 2017, he allegedly arrived late to a SpaceX meeting, slurring his words, leaving some to suspect he was under the influence of an illegal drug.
A year later, he tweeted about taking Tesla private at $420 USD per share, a move that cost him a $40 million USD fine from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Some employees privately say they feared Musk’s substance use may have fuelled that impulsive post.
Musk has publicly denied any correlation, arguing that “genius often comes with chaos.”
His erratic style has now spilled into the halls of federal agencies.
As a “special government employee” for DOGE, Musk works up to 130 days a year without the disclosure obligations of a permanent federal worker.
This status grants him extraordinary leeway.
He has gained access to the Treasury Department’s payment system, which processes trillions of dollars annually, and to top-secret files at agencies that find themselves in his crosshairs.
Critics say DOGE is running roughshod over the principle of checks and balances, with Musk using his White House connections to dismantle agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), all while bypassing normal congressional oversight.
The lawsuits began piling up soon after DOGE started issuing sweeping directives.
Labour unions accused the initiative of breaking collective bargaining agreements by moving to lay off or furlough large groups of federal workers.
Attorney generals in several states filed suits challenging DOGE’s constitutionality, calling Musk’s interventions “an unprecedented power grab by an unelected billionaire.”
Congressional Democrats have demanded full disclosure of DOGE’s funding and decision-making processes, but Musk responds with insults and deflections on Twitter/X, the social media platform he owns.
Musk’s takeover of X (formerly Twitter) has itself become part of the power puzzle.
He uses the platform to promote DOGE’s cuts and belittle critics, amplifying Trump’s narratives in a relentless stream of posts.
Many watchdog groups say this merging of government authority and social media prowess threatens transparency.
When Musk labels agencies like USAID “criminal organizations” or floats the idea of shutting down the Education Department, millions see it instantly, often with no official explanation or warning.
It’s a move that intensifies political polarization and leaves citizens uncertain about their own government’s future.
Meanwhile, back at Tesla and SpaceX, tension is running high.
Board members are concerned that Musk’s association with far-right ideologues and erratic policy stances could alienate customers.
Tesla’s European sales dropped sharply in January, a decline some tie to Musk’s controversial political rhetoric.
Furthermore, SpaceX relies on massive contracts from NASA, worth $2.9 USD billion, and from the U.S. military.
If Musk’s alleged drug use jeopardizes security clearances, those deals could be at risk.
Some board members have discreetly reached out to Musk’s brother, Kimbal, to intervene.
So far, Musk appears undeterred.
His supporters counter that Musk’s unpredictable demeanour is a by-product of genius.
They point to Tesla’s electric car revolution and SpaceX’s role in making space travel cheaper.
They praise him for sleeping on the factory floor and embracing extreme work hours to achieve goals.
Yet psychologists caution that chronic sleep deprivation, combined with stimulants or other drugs, can trigger paranoia, impulsive decisions, and even psychosis.
Musk has publicly admitted to struggling with depression and has wondered if he might have undiagnosed bipolar disorder.
The stakes grow exponentially when the person in question holds tremendous power over both corporate empires and the U.S. government.
In Washington, the tension is palpable.
Federal employees describe a workplace in limbo, uncertain if DOGE will target their jobs or entire departments next.
Many of these workers joined the public service out of a commitment to broader social goals, not because they expected to face sudden layoffs announced through social media.
Morale in certain agencies is said to be at an all-time low, with talk of “deferred resignations,” where staff leave quietly to avoid public scrutiny.
Musk, for his part, dismisses the uproar.
He calls the accusations baseless, mocks mainstream news outlets, and claims that his focus on efficiency will save taxpayers billions.
“Look at the results,” he often declares, pointing to Tesla’s stock value and SpaceX’s achievements.
He shows no sign of backing down from his pro-natalist push for humanity’s expansion to Mars, even as his Earth-bound controversies continue to multiply.
For now, the immediate focus is on how Musk balances DOGE’s agenda with mounting political, legal, and ethical challenges.
In a short span, he has reshaped public discourse on what it means for a billionaire entrepreneur to play a direct role in government.
He has also forced Americans and observers around the world to grapple with the idea that democracy can be disrupted not just by elected leaders but by influential figures operating outside traditional checks and balances.
Musk’s future in Washington, and indeed in global affairs, remains uncertain.
Lawsuits will grind through the courts.
Congressional hearings may intensify.
Employees at Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter/X, and the White House will continue watching closely for Musk’s next move.
Whether he manages to steer his sprawling business empire and government role without crashing is an unresolved question for politicians, investors, and ordinary citizens alike.
In the end, Musk’s story may hinge on whether the brilliance that changed electric cars and space exploration can be separated from the turbulence surrounding it.
If he can tame his own demons; the drug allegations, extreme work habits, sudden policy swings.
Musk might cement his place as a historic innovator.
But if the chaos proves too great, it could threaten not only his lofty goals on Earth and Mars, but also the stability of the American government itself.
Coming soon, Christopher Oldcorn takes a look at Elon Musk’s foray into European politics.