Elon Musk brings Silicon Valley grind culture to U.S government, says DOGE works 120 hours a week

Elon Musk claims that DOGE puts in 120 hours a week while introducing the grind culture of Silicon Valley to the government. Elon Musk took over his position at the Department of Government Efficiency less than two weeks ago, and he's already bringing his Silicon Valley passion to Washington.

"DOGE is working 120 hours a week," Musk stated on X on Sunday. Their bureaucratic rivals fervently put in forty hours every week. That explains why they are losing so quickly. Less than a day before, he had praised working on the weekends, as quoted in a report by Business Insider.

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"Very few in the bureaucracy actually work the weekend, so it's like the opposing team just leaves the field for 2 days," he posted to X.

As one X user pointed out in the comments, that's 17 hours and eight minutes of work per day, including Saturday and Sunday.

Musk has a reputation for working tirelessly. He has stated that he puts in 120-hour work weeks and that he expects his staff to put in long hours as well.

He imposed 80-hour workweeks as soon as he formally took over Twitter in October 2022. It's unclear, though, if his aggressive tech executive style will translate to the more formal world of government.

What do experts say about Musk’s approach?

According to a Business Insider expert on operational efficiency, Musk's strategy could be the most effective means of swiftly bringing DOGE up to speed.

Shannon Copeland, CEO of SIB, a cost-cutting company, says, "Musk's tweet underscores his well-known philosophy on work ethic and the inefficiencies of bureaucracy." The idea behind a 120-hour workweek is appealing, even though it's not a viable or sustainable solution for most people, as quoted in a report by Business Insider.

Businesses that put efficiency, automation, and proactive cost control first will always perform better than those that are bogged down by red tape.

Musk's posts shouldn't be taken literally, according to Roi Ginat, CEO of Endless AI, a company that has raised $100 million and created a video AI assistant. Weakness and burnout result from leading a team too hard for too long.

Without adequate sleep, many people just cannot function properly, and mistakes become more frequent as exhaustion sets in, he texted BI. He believes that Elon's tweet is about an effort, not a new standard at DOGE.

FAQs

Why did Elon Musk claim DOGE works 120 hours per week?
Musk emphasized his belief that government bureaucracy is inefficient and that hard work leads to success.

Is a 120-hour workweek a realistic expectation?
Experts say it's more about emphasizing effort and efficiency than establishing a strict standard.