Billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has sparked amusement and speculation after describing his unusual preparation to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“I looked again Office space tonight for the fifth time to prepare for @DOGE!” Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Nov. 24. The post left many wondering if Musk was joking or signaling serious intentions regarding his role at DOGE.

Office space is a 1999 satirical comedy film directed by Mike Judge of Beavis and Butt-Head fame that criticizes corporate culture and the drudgery of office life. The film has become a cult classic, known for its humorous take on bureaucratic inefficiency, including the iconic scene where frustrated employees destroy a malfunctioning printer.

Musk’s reference to the film suggests a parallel between corporate and government bureaucracy and hints at his intention to address what he sees as inefficiencies in federal operations.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a proposed US presidential advisory commission announced by President-elect Donald Trump earlier this month.

Despite its ministerial title, the DOGE is not intended to function as a federal executive department. Instead, it will serve as an advisory body aimed at making the federal government more efficient and reducing inefficiencies. The idea arose from discussions between Trump and Musk, which led to Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy being named co-leaders.

DOGE’s main goals include eliminating bureaucratic red tape, reducing unnecessary regulations, and proposing significant cuts in federal spending. The commission says its goal is to identify and eliminate waste, with Musk suggesting DOGE could help cut the federal budget by as much as $2 trillion.

According to a The Wall Street Journal According to Musk and Ramaswamy, they plan to target $500 billion in annual federal spending that they believe is unauthorized or misused. They also plan to launch a new podcast called DOGEcast document their progress.

The duo’s strategies include potentially drastic measures such as recommending the closure of entire federal agencies and significant cuts to the federal workforce.

They also intend to push for a return-to-office mandate for federal employees, which they anticipate would lead to voluntary resignations. Their approach raises questions about the feasibility and legality of such actions, especially without congressional approval.

The establishment of DOGE received mixed reactions. Supporters like Texas Rep. Chip Roy applaud the initiative for challenging the status quo. “President Trump, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are at the forefront of changing the spending paradigm … and empowering the average American,” Roy said in an interview with The Washington Post.

However, critics expressed skepticism about the commission’s understanding of federal law and the practicality of their proposals. Richard J. Pierce, a professor specializing in administrative law at George Washington University, said Musk and Ramaswamy are “absolutely ignorant” of federal regulations. “There’s nothing in the statute that comes close to authorizing what they want to do,” Pierce said.

Budget experts point out that previous efforts to streamline government spending have often failed.

Bobby Kogan, senior director of federal budget policy at the Center for American Progress, criticized their approach as a “meme-level understanding” of federal spending. “They have a fundamentally shallow understanding of what they’re doing,” Kogan told The Salon.

David Reich, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, pointed out the inaccuracies in their claims about unauthorized spending. “Anything the federal government spends, there’s going to be an appropriation,” Reich explained to The Salon, noting that all spending is approved by Congress.

Ethics experts worry about potential conflicts of interest given Musk’s extensive business activities, which could benefit from deregulation. Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, warned that if Musk and Ramaswamy influence government decisions affecting their businesses, it could lead to “illegal conflicts of interest,” according to ABC News.

Additionally, concerns have been raised about DOGE’s recruitment practices. According to Fortune, applicants are required to submit their resumes through X’s direct messaging system, which requires a premium subscription — effectively funneling funds to Musk’s own platform.