Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, fondly known as DOGE, have been busy making waves in the federal swamp during the first 100 days of President Trump’s return to the White House. Now, before you roll your eyes, let’s admit: there’s a certain satisfaction that comes with shaking things up, especially when it involves trimming down bloated government spending. Musk, notorious for his high-flying ventures, is steering something refreshingly grounded – showing taxpayers exactly where their hard-earned money is going.

Though Musk has announced a slight scaling back of his presence at DOGE, citing a return to focus more on Tesla (apparently, electric cars don’t just sell themselves), the spirit of DOGE endures. The team’s mission is straightforward yet monumental: curb government waste and prevent the oncoming return of what can best be described as bureaucratic decadence. To say DOGE has been uncovering some shocking cases is an understatement. From renting swanky venues like Caesar’s Palace for parties to exorbitant funding for shadowy contracts, the list of misused taxpayer money reads like a billionaire’s careless spending spree.

The results are nothing short of impressive, if not hilarious, from a taxpayer perspective. Thanks to DOGE’s diligence, an estimated $160 billion has been saved, which hilariously might just be enough to pay off the fictional loans to centenarians receiving small business funds. While Democrats are already sharpening their knives, hoping for a reversal once they regain power, one can’t help but chuckle at their predictable resistance. After all, who wouldn’t want to ensure that every American taxpayer effectively gets a thousand-dollar refund?

However, the road is far from bump-free. Critics notably point out the notable increase in defense spending despite promises to rein it in. One might say there’s some truth to bureaucrats’ penchant for “cost-plus” contracting, a phrase which, in DC, is akin to printing money. Yet, with prolific savings already achieved in other areas, it’s a little premature to start launching the fleet of flying pigs over Washington, D.C., isn’t it?

While the domestic circus continues, one might muse on what values the Democrats are actually clinging to, especially when so eager to criticize efforts to weed out financial lunacy. There seems to be a bit of a spectacle over past deportations, particularly of an individual whose rap sheet reads like a script from a gritty crime drama. Oddly enough, though, they’re quick to rally for the plight of certain ‘poster children’ over something so trivial as not violating federal immigration laws. It’s all quite amusing, really, that the same folks who helped create the inefficiencies now furrow their brows at DOGE’s methods.

So in this saga of governmental reform, whether under the glitzy lights of Vegas or the solemn decor of congressional chambers, the taxpayer’s interests seem to be finally taking center stage. One can’t help but sit back, grab a bag of popcorn, and enjoy the show. It’s about time someone attempted to treat taxpayers like shareholders, holding the government accountable for every dollar. Who knows, maybe Musk will succeed not just in reshaping cars and space travel but the government itself – with little rockets of efficiency aimed straight at Washington’s heart.