Elon Musk claims US government staff to work 120-hour weeks

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has sparked controversy by claiming that employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) work 120 hours a week, inviting criticism and mixed reactions on social media.

Musk, who was appointed to lead DOGE by US President Donald Trump, described working weekends as a “superpower” and criticised bureaucratic inefficiency.

Photo: @elonmusk on X

The comments led to a flood of reactions online, with some users criticizing Musk’s work culture and others defending it.

One user called him a “terrible boss”, while another mocked DOGE, pointing out that despite employees allegedly working 120 hours a week, its official website remains empty. Another user questioned the feasibility of such long hours, writing, "So... DOGE is made up of aliens and robots and Elon! Or, Elon says anything to make himself look better."

Others, however, praised DOGE’s work culture, calling it a “heroic effort against government inefficiency.” A supporter compared Musk to Napoleon, saying he possesses a “genius intellect, dragon energy, and prodigious work ethic.”

Musk has stated that DOGE’s mission is to eliminate inefficiency and corruption in the US government, aligning with Trump's vision of a smaller, more efficient administration. The department is set to implement major reforms by July 4 next year, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.

Shortly after the US election results became clearer, Musk had invited applications for DOGE, seeking “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries” willing to work over 80 hours a week on cost-cutting tasks.

Musk’s remarks on extreme work hours come amid a wider global debate on labor expectations. His statement follows similar controversial comments by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy. Subrahmanyan recently faced backlash for suggesting a 90-hour workweek, while Murthy's call for a 70-hour workweek also sparked criticism and debate about work-life balance and productivity.