Elon Musk got DOGE wrong by focusing on firing people instead of on slashing government waste, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick tells Mike Allen in the premiere episode of "The Axios Show." • To the extent DOGE keeps functioning, Lutnick said, its cuts will be aimed at costs, not headcount.

Why it matters: With Musk no longer in the White House, and his relationship with President Trump in tatters, officials are more willing to criticize the slash-and-burn approach to government that reduced headcount but didn't save much money.

"The Axios Show" is our new series featuring our top reporters and experts interviewing newsmakers shaping politics, media, business, tech and culture.

What they're saying: "I thought Elon got caught up in other people's objectives," Lutnick says, prioritizin

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