Elon Musk has announced he is leaving his temporary role in the Trump administration after helping to lead a campaign to shrink the size of the US federal government. His departure was expected, as Musk’s special government employee status allowed him to work only 130 days a year.
Musk posted on his social media platform X, thanking President Trump for the chance to help run the Department of Government Efficiency, known as Doge. He assured followers that the mission to cut wasteful government spending will continue and grow stronger over time.
Since Trump’s inauguration, Doge has overseen cuts affecting an estimated 260,000 federal civilian jobs. However, Musk’s efforts drew criticism, and some mass firings were legally challenged, with some workers reinstated by federal judges.
Musk’s exit comes just a day after he expressed disappointment with Trump’s recent budget bill, which includes large tax breaks and increased defense spending. Musk said the bill would raise the federal deficit and “undermine the work” of Doge.
He also shared that the Doge program had become a scapegoat for problems beyond its control, contributing to his decision to step back and focus more on his companies.
Musk’s time in government coincided with a tough period for Tesla, including a significant drop in vehicle sales and protests against the company. Despite this, he pledged to remain Tesla’s leader for the next five years and plans to reduce his political donations after spending nearly $300 million supporting Trump and other Republicans last year.
The White House has begun offboarding Musk as his official time in government ends. While he leaves his official role, Musk’s Doge initiative is expected to continue its efforts to reduce government waste.
