Elon Musk has announced that he is stepping down from his role in the Trump administration, ending his tenure as a Special Government Employee after roughly 130 days.
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 on X, the social media platform he owns.
Musk also reaffirmed his commitment to government reform, stating:
The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,
referring to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—an initiative he led aimed at shrinking federal bureaucracy.
A White House official confirmed to Reuters that Musk is leaving the administration, with off-boarding beginning immediately. His exit, sources say, was abrupt and done without a formal conversation with Trump. The decision was reportedly made at a senior staff level.
Musk, the world’s richest person, was granted extraordinary authority by Trump to lead efforts in downsizing and restructuring the U.S. government. While controversial, DOGE claims to have cut nearly 12% of the federal civilian workforce—about 260,000 jobs—through a mix of buyouts, early retirements, and threats of termination, according to a Reuters review.
In recent weeks, Musk grew increasingly critical of Trump’s policies. He notably opposed the administration’s flagship tax bill, calling it too expensive and counterproductive to his mission of improving efficiency in Washington.
The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realised, Musk told The Washington Post earlier this week. It’s an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.
Musk’s brief but high-profile political involvement has been polarising. While supporters praised his cost-cutting reforms, critics—including some Tesla investors—urged him to step away from politics and focus on his business ventures. His time in Washington also sparked public protests and widespread debate about the influence of unelected billionaires in government.
Having spent nearly $300 million to support Trump’s presidential campaign and other Republican candidates last year, Musk recently signaled a retreat from the political spotlight.
I think I’ve done enough, he said earlier this month at an economic forum in Qatar, vowing to scale back political donations significantly.
Despite his departure, both Musk and the White House have indicated that DOGE’s government-efficiency efforts will continue under new leadership.
