**Elon Musk Discusses Challenges with Federal Bureaucracy Amid SpaceX Setbacks**

Elon Musk returned to SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas on Tuesday to oversee the latest test flight of the Starship spacecraft. In a candid interview, Musk reflected on the difficulties he has faced in attempting to streamline the federal government, an endeavor he found far more challenging than anticipated.

"The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized," Musk commented. "I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least."

Musk's remarks come at a pivotal moment for SpaceX, as the company has experienced a series of unsuccessful test flights with its Starship spacecraft. The scrutiny has been intense, both within the space exploration community and from the general public.

Despite the setbacks, Musk remains committed to SpaceX's mission to revolutionize space travel. However, his experience dealing with federal bureaucracy while leading the U.S. DOGE Service has tempered his optimism about implementing swift governmental reforms.

The frank admission about the complexities of federal government stands in contrast to Musk's usual optimistic tone. Yet, even as he wrestles with these challenges, his focus continues to be on pushing the boundaries of technology and space exploration.