WASHINGTON, May 28 – Billionaire Tesla (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk is officially parting ways with the Trump administration after a high-profile, controversial, and often combative tenure as a special government employee. Musk’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) marks the end of a turbulent chapter that saw him shake up the federal bureaucracy in an effort to slash government spending — a mission that proved far more challenging than anticipated.
A White House official confirmed Musk’s exit late Wednesday, stating that his “off-boarding will begin tonight.” Musk also acknowledged his departure in a post on his social media platform X, expressing gratitude to President Donald Trump and noting that his time in government had reached its conclusion.
Efficiency Crusade Meets Resistance
Elon Musk’s entrance into public service started with bold actions and intense attention. From the outset, he took an aggressive stance toward the federal workforce, vowing to dismantle layers of what he described as “bloated and inefficient bureaucracy.” Musk had promised that DOGE would achieve at least $2 trillion in savings, a figure that, while ambitious, quickly became a cornerstone of his public campaign.
He was highly visible, often making fiery public appearances, including one at the Conservative Political Action Conference where he wielded a red chainsaw and declared war on inefficiency. His unfiltered rhetoric and radical proposals earned him both loyal supporters and fierce critics.
Despite his determination, Musk ran into institutional resistance. Cabinet secretaries who had initially supported his vision began pushing back. They found themselves caught between Musk’s directives and their departmental responsibilities. Trump himself eventually clarified that final decisions on staffing rested with department heads, not Musk — a move that limited Musk’s authority significantly.
Clashes, Criticism, and Departure
Musk’s time in government was marked by escalating conflicts with top cabinet officials. He often clashed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He even went so far as to insult Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, calling him a “moron.” While Navarro brushed off the comments, the tension within the administration grew.
In the weeks leading up to his resignation, Musk signaled dissatisfaction with the limitations of his role. During an April earnings call for Tesla, he noted that he would be stepping back from his government responsibilities to refocus on his businesses. During an interview, he acknowledged that fixing issues in Washington was harder than he had anticipated, describing it as “an uphill battle to make real improvements in D.C.”
The final straw may have come when Musk publicly criticized a major tax and budget bill backed by Trump and the Republican leadership. Musk argued that the bill would only worsen the deficit and counteract the cost-cutting efforts of DOGE. His comments, made on national television, reportedly caused a stir inside the White House. Some officials felt blindsided and saw his remarks as a direct challenge to the president’s legislative agenda.
Sources close to the situation indicated that Musk did not speak with Trump before announcing his decision to step down. The departure, they said, was handled quietly and at a senior staff level, reflecting the strained relationship that had developed behind closed doors.
DOGE’s Future Without Musk
Now that Musk has exited, questions loom over how DOGE will move forward without his leadership. While the administration insists the agency’s mission will continue, it’s clear that Musk’s departure will shift the direction of the initiative. DOGE claims to have trimmed the federal workforce by nearly 260,000 jobs through early retirements, buyouts, and attrition. However, the program has also faced legal setbacks and operational issues, including procurement delays and talent shortages in key technical fields.
Federal courts have at times reversed or blocked some of DOGE’s more aggressive agency restructuring efforts, and criticism has mounted from within the ranks of government. Staff reductions have led to lapses in service and slower project execution in various departments, exposing the challenges of radical downsizing.
Musk, for his part, remains confident in the long-term vision of DOGE. “The mission will only grow stronger as a culture of efficiency takes root across the federal government,” he said in one of his final public comments as a government official.
Focus Shifts Back to Private Sector
Musk now turns his attention back to his sprawling portfolio of companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X. Shareholders and board members had voiced growing concerns over his divided focus, particularly as Tesla faced declining sales and volatility in its stock value.
After contributing close to $300 million to Trump’s campaign and other Republican causes last year, Musk has signaled that he intends to reduce his political donations moving forward. “I think I’ve done enough,” he said during a recent appearance at an economic forum in Qatar, signaling a desire to step away from the political spotlight.