The head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has completed his mission and will return to private activity
During an interview with Fox News in April, Musk stated that he believed his time as a special employee would be sufficient to achieve much of DOGE's objective.
In a Tesla earnings call in April, he also indicated that starting in May he would significantly reduce the time dedicated to this role, although he would continue collaborating with the government one or two days per week as needed.
President Trump has repeatedly praised Musk for his performance in DOGE. In statements to the press and during his address to Congress, he highlighted the intelligence and talent of the entrepreneur, assuring that his work has revealed levels of waste "that nobody could believe."
Despite his prominence, court documents reveal that Musk did not have formal authority to make government decisions. Amy Gleason, interim administrator of DOGE, clarified that Musk was not part of the DOGE Service, did not report to her, and acted solely as a presidential advisor.
This situation dates back to the transformation of the United States Digital Service, created by Obama in 2014, which was renamed DOGE by Trump in January 2025.
During his time at DOGE, Musk was the subject of criticism from Democrats and activists, who also attempted to negatively affect the value of Tesla's shares. Nevertheless, his collaboration with Trump has been close, especially since his public support following the assassination attempt against the president in July 2024, an event that solidified his political backing.
Elon Musk is beginning the process of stepping down from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to a post he confirmed on social network X.
In his message, he thanked President Donald Trump for the opportunity to lead this initiative aimed at eliminating unnecessary spending, corruption, and fraud within the federal government. The White House confirmed the accuracy of the announcement, noting that the exit process began on Wednesday night.
DOGE was created by executive order from Trump on January 20, 2025, with the goal of simplifying and making the federal government more efficient. Since then, it has worked through various agencies to reduce public spending.
Musk has been the public face of the program, although legally he was hired as a "special government employee," a position created by Congress in 1962 to allow temporary hires for a maximum of 130 days in a 365-day period. His contract, which began on Inauguration Day, was scheduled to end on May 30.
The DOGE office, also known as the United States DOGE Service (USDS), is a temporary organization that will be officially dissolved on July 4, 2026.
During his tenure, Musk emphasized that the goal was to reduce the deficit by one billion dollars, and on several occasions he stated that much of the work would be completed within his 130-day window.
