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Elon Musk’s high-profile stint as a special government employee in President Donald Trump’s White House came to an end Wednesday, capping a turbulent tenure marked by flashy rhetoric, ambitious promises, and a rocky relationship with the administration he aimed to help.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who was tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a program aimed at slashing federal spending and bureaucracy, officially concluded his role after more than 114 days, a White House official confirmed to NBC News.
Musk acknowledged his departure on X, the social media platform he owns, thanking Trump and calling for the “DOGE mission” to live on 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,” Musk posted.
Mounting Tensions and a Missed Target
While Musk was frequently seen at the White House and embraced by Trump as a key ally, his departure comes after he publicly criticized a Republican-backed spending bill that undermines many of DOGE’s stated goals.
“I’m disappointed in the massive spending bill,” Musk said in a recent interview, claiming it “undermines” DOGE’s mission. The bill, according to the Congressional Budget Office, would add $2.3 trillion to the federal deficit over 10 years, primarily due to tax cut extensions and new spending.
Originally aiming to cut $2 trillion in federal spending, DOGE now claims $175 billion in savings — a figure economists and watchdogs have called inflated or unverifiable.
Behind the scenes, tensions reportedly escalated between Musk and key Trump officials, with reports of tense meetings and disagreements on trade and policy priorities.
Trump Responds
Trump pushed back against Musk’s criticism in a statement from the Oval Office, defending the spending package as a necessary political compromise.
“We had to get it through the House,” Trump said. “We can’t be cutting a — you know — we need to get a lot of support, and we have a lot of support.”
Despite Musk’s critiques, Trump praised Musk’s broader involvement in his administration and campaign. Musk had donated over $250 million to pro-Trump efforts and was often seen at major political events, including CPAC, where he dramatically brandished a chain saw to symbolize his cost-cutting vision.
Public Fallout and Tesla Backlash
Musk’s political entanglements appear to have hurt his brand. Tesla’s stock is down 11% this year amid consumer backlash, protests, and vandalism at dealerships. Polls show Musk and DOGE’s popularity waning, and critics argue his political ambitions have distracted from his business ventures.
He also suffered a major political blow in March, after Republicans lost a key judicial race in Wisconsin where Musk had invested heavily, drawing fire from Democrats and local groups.
Musk’s Next Move
Musk said he plans to step back from politics — at least for now. “Back to spending 24/7 at work and sleeping in conference/server/factory rooms,” he posted on X over the weekend. Last week, he announced plans to cut back on political donations, saying, “I don’t currently see a reason” to stay involved.
Though Musk is gone, DOGE may continue. The House is expected to soon consider a rescissions package that would codify some of the cuts proposed under his leadership.
“We want to make sure that Congress passes its first rescissions bill, including the DOGE [cuts], and we will send more if they pass it,” Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said Wednesday.
