Elon Musk has officially concluded his temporary tenure with the Trump administration, where he led a government spending reduction initiative that resulted in significant federal workforce cuts.
It is a great honor to be named head of the Department of Government Efficiency by President Donald Trump, Musk said. A key goal of Musk’s is reducing excessive government expenditures.
“As my designated period as a Special Government Employee ends, I want to thank President @realDonaldTrump for entrusting me with the task of curbing wasteful government spending,” Musk shared. “The @DOGE mission will continue gaining momentum as efficiency becomes embedded in the government’s culture.”
Though Musk’s departure was anticipated, it follows his criticism of Trump’s latest budget proposal, which includes broad tax reductions and a notable increase in defense funding. In an interview with CBS, Musk described the bill as “disappointing” and argued it counteracted the DOGE initiative by potentially raising the national deficit.
“A bill can be grand or it can be effective,” he said. “But having both might not be possible.”
Sweeping Cuts and Their Impact
Serving under the title of “special government employee,” Musk was limited to 130 workdays annually. He began his role shortly after Trump began his second term and reached the maximum allowable time this month.
Originally aiming to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion, Musk later scaled that number down to $150 billion. Under his guidance, DOGE oversaw job reductions impacting approximately 260,000 federal employees, either through layoffs or early retirement programs, according to internal estimates.
The job cuts drew criticism from various agencies. In some instances, courts stepped in to halt large-scale dismissals, and one notable error involved the accidental termination of staff from the U.S. nuclear program, who were later reinstated.
Acknowledging the backlash, Musk said DOGE often faced blame for unrelated issues, telling The Washington Post that the office became a scapegoat for broader government shortcomings.
“Every time something went wrong anywhere, DOGE was targeted—even if we weren’t involved,” he said.
Tesla’s Downturn Adds Pressure
Musk’s government role came during a turbulent period for Tesla, which reported its lowest quarterly deliveries ever with a 13% decline in the first quarter of 2025. The company’s stock value dropped as much as 45% before seeing some recovery.
With mounting protests, vandalism at Tesla locations, and political controversy surrounding his Washington position, Musk announced in April that his attention would shift back to Tesla operations.
“My time dedicated to DOGE will be significantly reduced,” he stated in an earnings call. “Tesla will become my primary focus once again.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi later labeled the vandalism at Tesla dealerships as “domestic terrorism” following a rise in such incidents across various states.
Political Contributions and Future Plans
Musk also declared that he would cut back on political donations after contributing close to $300 million in support of Trump’s 2024 campaign and related Republican efforts. At a recent speaking event in Doha, Qatar, he confirmed his intention to continue leading Tesla for at least the next five years.
The principles behind DOGE will remain influential even after Musk’s formal duties in Washington end.
“Government efficiency isn’t a trend,” he wrote. “It’s a way of thinking.”
According to the White House, Musk’s position was always intended to be a limited one, so the offboarding process began on Wednesday evening.
