Elon Musk steps down from US government role

Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has officially concluded his role in the Trump administration, announcing Wednesday evening that his tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has ended.

Musk, who was brought on as a special government employee, played a central role in advancing the administration’s sweeping cost-cutting agenda.

In a post on X, the social media platform he owns, Musk said, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”

As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.

The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 29, 2025

DOGE was a hallmark of Trump’s push to downsize federal operations. Under Musk’s leadership, the department orchestrated one of the most aggressive reductions in the federal workforce in modern history. More than 120,000 government employees were either laid off or marked for termination within the administration’s first 100 days, with thousands more opting into early retirement or buyouts. Numerous federal grants and programs were also scaled back or eliminated—though some were later reinstated after facing legal challenges.

Musk’s exit comes just as DOGE is expected to continue its work without him. Staff members embedded across federal agencies are reportedly set to remain in place for an extended period, possibly for years, according to sources familiar with the plan.

A White House official confirmed that Musk had reached the 130-day limit for special government employees and would begin his formal offboarding process on Wednesday night, which primarily involves administrative paperwork.

In the weeks leading up to his departure, Musk had gradually reduced his involvement in day-to-day government affairs, turning his attention back to his private ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX. Both companies have faced market pressures, partly attributed to Musk’s close alignment with Trump, which has generated public and investor backlash.

Tensions between Musk and the administration have also surfaced. In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Musk criticized Trump’s expansive spending plan, expressing concerns about its potential to undermine the goals of DOGE.

“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” he said. “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both.”

The legislation in question, which Trump has referred to as his “big, beautiful bill,” includes sweeping tax reductions and significant increases in defense and national security funding. To offset these measures, the bill proposes cuts to energy programs and overhauls of federal health and nutrition assistance. The Congressional Budget Office has warned that it could add approximately USD 3.8 trillion to the national deficit.

President Trump responded to Musk’s remarks with characteristic dismissal, telling reporters that the legislation is still evolving and likely to undergo changes in the Senate. “I’m not happy with every part of the bill either,” Trump added.

House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed the administration’s continued support for DOGE, signaling that House Republicans are “eager and ready” to enact spending cuts recommended by the department once a formal request is sent to Congress.

Meanwhile, internal changes are also underway within DOGE. CNN reported Wednesday that Katie Miller, a senior adviser and spokesperson for the department, has stepped down and is now collaborating directly with Musk. While Miller did not respond to a request for comment, her White House email remains active, suggesting her exit may not yet be formally processed.

Musk’s departure has also raised questions about his future political involvement. Though he recently declared he intends to spend “a lot less” on political campaigns moving forward, it remains unclear whether that signals a shift in his earlier pledge to invest USD 100 million in political groups aligned with President Trump. Musk previously poured over USD 290 million into supporting Trump’s re-election efforts and GOP congressional campaigns in the 2024 cycle. His affiliated groups also spent more than USD 20 million on a Wisconsin Supreme Court race earlier this year—an election that ultimately did not go in his favor.