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Elon Musk’s tenure in the Trump administration may be nearing its end, as both President Donald Trump and Musk himself have suggested that his time in government is limited. Trump recently told reporters that “at some point, he’s going to be going back” to running his companies, while also stating that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Musk, “will end.”
The shift comes as Musk faces political and business challenges. On Tuesday, voters in Wisconsin rejected his preferred candidate for the state Supreme Court, despite Musk personally donating over $21 million to the campaign. Meanwhile, Tesla reported a 13% drop in sales in the first quarter of 2025, adding to concerns about Musk’s ability to juggle his business empire with his government role.
DOGE Winding Down Ahead of Schedule
DOGE, originally set to operate until July 4, 2026, was never intended to be a permanent fixture in Washington. However, recent moves indicate it may be shutting down sooner than expected. DOGE employees have been reassigned to various federal agencies, and government-wide layoffs are underway as part of the administration’s broader cost-cutting efforts.
“We think probably over the next two or three months, we’ll be pretty much satisfied with the people that are working hard and want to be members of the administration,” Trump said last week, signaling a shift in focus away from Musk.
Musk was appointed as a special government employee, meaning he can only work 130 days within a 365-day period. May 30 marks 130 days since Trump’s inauguration, and while Musk has not committed to leaving by a specific date, his time in government may soon be up.
“I think we will have accomplished most of the work required to reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars within that time frame,” Musk told Fox News on March 27. However, DOGE’s own financial reports indicate the agency is far from meeting that goal, with critics calling its cost-cutting estimates inflated.
Trump and Musk’s Uncertain Future
Trump has had a history of dramatic breakups with top advisers, but his relationship with Musk appears to be ending on a more amicable note.
“I’d keep him as long as I could keep him,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Monday. “He’s a very talented guy.”
Still, the president acknowledged that Musk would eventually need to return to his companies. “I think he’s amazing, but I also think he’s got a big company to run,” Trump said. “And so, at some point, he’s going to be going back.”
Asked if DOGE would continue without Musk, Trump avoided a direct answer, stating that Cabinet officials had worked closely with Musk and may retain some of his team at their agencies. However, he ultimately conceded, “At a certain point, I think it will end.”
Political and Business Setbacks for Musk
Musk’s influence in politics has faced setbacks, most recently in Wisconsin, where his favored candidate, Brad Schimel, lost to liberal justice Susan Crawford. Despite his active involvement, including a late-stage campaign push and significant financial backing, Musk’s endorsement failed to sway voters.
Following the defeat, Musk offered a philosophical take on X, writing at 3:13 a.m., “I expected to lose, but there is value to losing a piece for a positional gain.”
With Musk’s political fortunes wavering and his companies facing challenges, his role in Washington appears to be winding down. Whether he departs immediately or lingers a little longer, his once-outsized influence on the administration may soon fade.
