Elon Musk’s DOGE Team: Overworked, Underrested, and Burning Out
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is making headlines again—this time, for grueling 120-hour workweeks that push employees to the brink of exhaustion. With only 168 hours in a week, that leaves DOGE staff with 48 hours for everything else—including sleep, eating, commuting, and basic self-care.
Breaking Down the Numbers: No Time for Rest
If DOGE employees use all 48 remaining hours just for sleep, they’d get only 6.8 hours per night—far less than the recommended 7-9 hours for adults. But that’s assuming they don’t have commutes, meals, or any downtime. In reality, their sleep is likely closer to 5-6 hours per night, putting them at risk for serious health issues.
Musk’s Workaholic Mentality: Leading by (Extreme) Example
Musk has never been shy about his relentless work ethic. He previously admitted to sleeping on factory floors at Tesla’s Fremont plant and living in the Nevada Gigafactory for three years to meet production deadlines. “I was sleeping under my desk,” Musk recalled, “and always waking up smelling like metal dust.”
But while Musk thrives on little sleep and high-intensity work, research shows that working more than 55 hours per week has diminishing returns. A Stanford University study found that productivity drops sharply after 50 hours, and output at 70 hours is almost identical to 56 hours—suggesting that working longer doesn’t necessarily mean achieving more.
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The Health Risks of Extreme Work Schedules
Health experts warn that working 55 hours or more each week increases the risk of serious health conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) found that working long hours contributes to a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% increased risk of heart disease. Sleep deprivation also leads to cognitive decline, poor decision-making, and increased anxiety and depression.
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Is DOGE Headed for Burnout?
Musk’s push for extreme hours may actually hurt DOGE’s effectiveness in the long run. While he claims that “bureaucratic opponents” working 40 hours a week can’t keep up, research suggests that overworked employees burn out faster, become less creative, and make more mistakes—leading to declining overall performance.
As DOGE pushes ahead with its ambitious goals, the question remains: How long can Musk’s team keep running on fumes before the wheels come off?
