Elon Musk exits Trump’s government after leading major federal workforce cuts and criticizing the president’s flagship spending bill.
Billionaire’s White House Tenure Ends Amid Budget Row
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has announced his departure from the Trump administration after serving as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk’s exit, confirmed by the White House on Wednesday, closes a turbulent chapter marked by sweeping efforts to reduce the size and cost of the U.S. federal government.
Mandate to Shrink Government
Appointed as a special government employee at the start of Trump’s second term in January, Musk was tasked with leading DOGE, a new agency created to cut government spending and bureaucracy. His role allowed him to work up to 130 days per year, a term that concluded at the end of May.
Controversy Over Spending Bill
Musk’s departure comes just one day after he publicly criticized President Trump’s legislative centerpiece, the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which includes multi-trillion dollar tax breaks and increased defense spending. Musk argued that the bill would raise the federal deficit and undermine DOGE’s cost-cutting mission, stating, “It undermines the work we’ve done at DOGE to reduce the size of government and control unnecessary costs”.
Impact of DOGE’s Reforms
During Musk’s tenure, DOGE oversaw the elimination of nearly 12% of the federal civilian workforce—about 260,000 jobs out of 2.3 million—through a combination of layoffs, buyouts, and early retirements. While Musk initially pledged to cut at least $2 trillion from the federal budget, the actual savings were reduced to $150 billion after facing significant resistance from within the federal bureaucracy and legal challenges to mass firings.
Fallout and Future Focus
Musk’s high-profile government role sparked protests and criticism, particularly as Tesla’s business faced declining sales and activist backlash. Investors and some political observers urged Musk to step back from politics and refocus on his companies. In his farewell post on X, Musk thanked Trump for the opportunity and said, “The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government”.
What’s Next for DOGE and Musk
The White House has indicated that DOGE’s work to streamline government operations will continue under new leadership. Musk, meanwhile, has signaled he will reduce his political involvement and concentrate on Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures, telling investors and the public.
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