Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, has claimed that the Department of Government Efficiency works only 40 hours a week. He made this statement on social media, saying it’s why their “bureaucratic opponents” are losing. However, experts disagree with his claim.
Musk is known for his demanding work ethic and has previously expected his employees to work 80-hour weeks when he took over Twitter in 2022. Now, as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, he aims to cut billions from the federal budget. His posts suggest that he wants his team to adopt a similar work culture.
An operational efficiency expert, Shannon Copeland, believes Musk’s approach could be effective in boosting productivity. “Musk’s tweet underscores his philosophy on work ethic and the inefficiencies of bureaucracy,” she said. However, Roi Ginat, CEO of Endless AI, disagrees, stating that pushing employees too hard can lead to burnout.
Despite the differences in opinion, both experts agree that Musk is trying to drive innovation and efficiency at the Department of Government Efficiency. His post also sparked debate about work-life balance and the impact of long working hours on employee productivity.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-doge-work-silicon-vallery-grind-culture-2025-2