Elon Musk listens to U.S. President Donald Trump speak in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 11, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo/File Photo
Elon Musk Exits Trump Administration After Controversial Federal Efficiency Campaign
WASHINGTON, May 29, 2025 — Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is departing the Trump administration, concluding a tumultuous 130-day tenure as a special government employee with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His exit marks the end of a high-profile and controversial experiment in federal reform, during which Musk aggressively pushed for sweeping cuts across government agencies, but fell short of delivering the massive fiscal savings he had promised.
A White House official confirmed Musk’s off-boarding would begin Wednesday night, shortly after Musk posted a thank-you message to President Donald Trump on his social media platform X, signaling the end of his government role. Sources indicated that Musk did not consult directly with Trump prior to the announcement, and that his departure was managed at the senior staff level.
Clashes with White House and Cabinet
Musk’s resignation followed growing friction within the administration, particularly after he publicly criticized Trump’s flagship tax and budget package, calling it “too expensive” and damaging to DOGE’s fiscal mission. The criticism reportedly infuriated senior White House aides, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and prompted urgent calls to Republican senators to affirm the president’s support for the legislation.
Despite once enjoying unparalleled influence in the administration, Musk’s standing had steadily declined in recent weeks amid internal opposition to his combative style and sweeping personnel cuts. He clashed with top cabinet members—including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy—and insulted trade adviser Peter Navarro, calling him “dumber than a sack of bricks.” Navarro dismissed the remarks, saying, “I’ve been called worse.”
A Disruptive Tenure
Upon joining the administration following Trump’s inauguration, Musk pledged to slash $2 trillion in federal spending, wielding his political outsider status and brash public persona to attack the federal bureaucracy. At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, he famously brandished a red metallic chainsaw, declaring it a tool to “cut through bureaucracy.”
Musk’s DOGE program has reportedly achieved $175 billion in savings, though that figure has not been independently verified. While some agency heads initially supported his efficiency drive, many later resisted his attempts to unilaterally cut staff, bolstered by Trump’s March reminder that hiring and firing decisions rested with cabinet secretaries—not Musk.
Musk’s hostility toward federal workers was evident in his calls to end remote work, which he claimed would lead to a “wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome.” Though DOGE succeeded in eliminating around 260,000 federal civilian jobs—about 12% of the workforce—a Reuters review found that some agency cuts resulted in increased costs, operational bottlenecks, and a significant loss of scientific and technical talent.
Unfulfilled Promises and Political Fallout
Musk had long signaled that he was likely to step away from government, particularly after running into resistance that prevented more aggressive spending reductions. In an April earnings call, he said he would focus more on Tesla, which has faced declining sales and a falling stock price.
“The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,” Musk told The Washington Post. “It’s an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.”
His exit came just days before his government contract was set to expire. Despite his departure, the White House stated that DOGE’s mission would continue, with cabinet officials now working to integrate elements of Musk’s efficiency agenda without further alienating Congressional Republicans.
“The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” Musk said in a statement.
Political Repercussions and Future Plans
Musk’s criticism of Republican fiscal policy may have undercut his position as a Trump ally. One White House source said his televised remarks criticizing the GOP spending bill were a breaking point.
Meanwhile, political activists and some Tesla investors have urged Musk to refocus on his companies and reduce his involvement in government. Musk, who spent nearly $300 million supporting Trump’s re-election and Republican causes in 2024, announced this month that he would cut back his political contributions.
“I think I’ve done enough,” Musk said during a recent economic forum in Qatar.
As the federal government recalibrates DOGE’s role without its most visible architect, Musk’s departure marks the end of an unprecedented chapter in U.S. governance—one defined by dramatic disruption, ideological clashes, and a bold but incomplete vision for federal reform.
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