Elon Musk has officially ended his brief and controversial stint in Washington, stepping down from his temporary role at the Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE), the current US administration’s flagship initiative to cut federal spending.
Appointed by president Donald Trump in January 2025, Musk was brought in as a special government employee (SGE) to advise on streamlining federal operations. DOGE was launched on Trump’s first day back in office via executive order, with the goal of eliminating “waste, fraud and abuse” in government.
Though his departure had long been expected, it came shortly after he publicly criticised parts of Trump’s legislative agenda, intensifying scrutiny of his role.
The Tesla and SpaceX chief’s time in government was marked by sweeping budget cut proposals, significant layoffs, and sharp political reactions. His presence in Washington drew intense media attention and raised ethical questions, particularly as DOGE gained access to sensitive government systems.
What did Elon Musk say?
“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,” Musk wrote on social media platform X.
In a May 27 interview with the Washington Post, Musk voiced frustration that DOGE had turned into a scapegoat for broader criticism. “DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything. Whenever something goes wrong anywhere, we get blamed even if we have nothing to do with it,” he said.
Appointment details
Musk’s appointment generated a mix of intrigue and scepticism. While president Trump initially claimed he had signed an executive order establishing DOGE and placing Musk in charge, the White House later clarified that Musk was not the official administrator. Instead, he was described as a “senior adviser to the president” with “no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself.”
This lack of clarity triggered legal and political scrutiny, particularly as DOGE began accessing government data systems and recommending sweeping measures, including a proposed shutdown of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
What has DOGE done?
During Musk’s tenure, DOGE launched a wide range of initiatives aimed at cutting costs and overhauling federal operations.
Credit card audit: DOGE introduced a pilot programme across 14 civilian agencies to audit and deactivate inactive or unnecessary government credit cards.
Lease cancellations: The department sought to reduce real estate expenses by cancelling leases on underused or vacant federal buildings. According to its website, annual rent savings from this initiative range between $100 million and $171 million.
Agency restructuring: DOGE pushed for sweeping changes across multiple federal bodies. As per Politico it has hollowed out or shut down 11 agencies, and attempted to dismantle the US Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The department also says it has terminated over 8,500 contracts and cancelled more than 10,000 federal grants.
Policy overhauls: In addition to staffing and budget cuts, DOGE implemented major shifts in how the government manages procurement, contracts and data sharing. The department introduced new cost-focused hiring practices for contractors and changed long-standing rules on how agencies collaborate and operate.
DOGE has also overseen sharp cuts to foreign aid and domestic volunteerism programmes, slashed spending on education initiatives, and sought to centralise oversight of government expenditure across departments.
Impact on Musk’s business empire
While Musk led DOGE, his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX and Neuralink, continued to operate, Tesla shares fell sharply, and protests erupted following DOGE’s sweeping budget cuts and the closure of several federal agencies.
At the same time, DOGE’s access to sensitive government data, including Treasury payment systems and contingency plans involving China, raised concerns about whether Musk could use that information to benefit his businesses. A New York Times report said Musk received a classified briefing on US strategy related to China, a key market for Tesla, intensifying fears of a potential conflict of interest.
On April 10, 77 Democratic lawmakers led by Greg Casar called for Musk’s resignation by May 30. They cited DOGE’s cuts to Social Security and veterans’ healthcare, and demanded that Musk divest from his companies if he wished to continue in government.
The White House dismissed the calls, and Musk labelled the reports “fake news”. Trump, meanwhile, said, “I’d keep him as long as I could keep him,” although he acknowledged Musk needed to focus on his “big company”.
What’s next for DOGE?
When asked in April about Elon Musk stepping back from DOGE to refocus on Tesla and SpaceX, President Trump offered no clear plan for the department’s future without him.
“I can't tell you that. I will say this — a lot of the people working with DOGE are the secretaries, the heads of the various agencies, and they've learned a lot. And they're dealing with the DOGE people. I think some of them may try to keep the DOGE people… At a certain point, I think it will end,” Trump said.
Appointed by president Donald Trump in January 2025, Musk was brought in as a special government employee (SGE) to advise on streamlining federal operations. DOGE was launched on Trump’s first day back in office via executive order, with the goal of eliminating “waste, fraud and abuse” in government.
Though his departure had long been expected, it came shortly after he publicly criticised parts of Trump’s legislative agenda, intensifying scrutiny of his role.
The Tesla and SpaceX chief’s time in government was marked by sweeping budget cut proposals, significant layoffs, and sharp political reactions. His presence in Washington drew intense media attention and raised ethical questions, particularly as DOGE gained access to sensitive government systems.
What did Elon Musk say?
“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,” Musk wrote on social media platform X.
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.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 29, 2025
The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.
In a May 27 interview with the Washington Post, Musk voiced frustration that DOGE had turned into a scapegoat for broader criticism. “DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything. Whenever something goes wrong anywhere, we get blamed even if we have nothing to do with it,” he said.
Appointment details
Musk’s appointment generated a mix of intrigue and scepticism. While president Trump initially claimed he had signed an executive order establishing DOGE and placing Musk in charge, the White House later clarified that Musk was not the official administrator. Instead, he was described as a “senior adviser to the president” with “no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself.”
This lack of clarity triggered legal and political scrutiny, particularly as DOGE began accessing government data systems and recommending sweeping measures, including a proposed shutdown of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
What has DOGE done?
During Musk’s tenure, DOGE launched a wide range of initiatives aimed at cutting costs and overhauling federal operations.
Credit card audit: DOGE introduced a pilot programme across 14 civilian agencies to audit and deactivate inactive or unnecessary government credit cards.
Lease cancellations: The department sought to reduce real estate expenses by cancelling leases on underused or vacant federal buildings. According to its website, annual rent savings from this initiative range between $100 million and $171 million.
Agency restructuring: DOGE pushed for sweeping changes across multiple federal bodies. As per Politico it has hollowed out or shut down 11 agencies, and attempted to dismantle the US Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The department also says it has terminated over 8,500 contracts and cancelled more than 10,000 federal grants.
Policy overhauls: In addition to staffing and budget cuts, DOGE implemented major shifts in how the government manages procurement, contracts and data sharing. The department introduced new cost-focused hiring practices for contractors and changed long-standing rules on how agencies collaborate and operate.
DOGE has also overseen sharp cuts to foreign aid and domestic volunteerism programmes, slashed spending on education initiatives, and sought to centralise oversight of government expenditure across departments.
Impact on Musk’s business empire
While Musk led DOGE, his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX and Neuralink, continued to operate, Tesla shares fell sharply, and protests erupted following DOGE’s sweeping budget cuts and the closure of several federal agencies.
At the same time, DOGE’s access to sensitive government data, including Treasury payment systems and contingency plans involving China, raised concerns about whether Musk could use that information to benefit his businesses. A New York Times report said Musk received a classified briefing on US strategy related to China, a key market for Tesla, intensifying fears of a potential conflict of interest.
On April 10, 77 Democratic lawmakers led by Greg Casar called for Musk’s resignation by May 30. They cited DOGE’s cuts to Social Security and veterans’ healthcare, and demanded that Musk divest from his companies if he wished to continue in government.
The White House dismissed the calls, and Musk labelled the reports “fake news”. Trump, meanwhile, said, “I’d keep him as long as I could keep him,” although he acknowledged Musk needed to focus on his “big company”.
What’s next for DOGE?
When asked in April about Elon Musk stepping back from DOGE to refocus on Tesla and SpaceX, President Trump offered no clear plan for the department’s future without him.
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