Elon Musk seems to be done with the federal government. The embattled X CEO announced on March 27 that he plans to step down from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the end of May, 2025.
The timing of his announcement seems to coincide with the “special government employee” status he had been given by the Trump administration for 130 days, which saw Musk deputize his personal bodyguards.
Musk will “stay for a certain period of time” at the White House but is “going to want to get back to his business” after directing DOGE, President Trump told reporters Thursday. Vice President J.D. Vance added that Musk will remain a “friend and an adviser” to the White House.
Musk is “going to want to get back to his business,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One. “Then the secretaries will take totally over.” According to Axios, Trump was not specific but said Musk would move on “in a few months.” The president added, “We’re in no rush.”
However, his sudden departure could also be due to the fact that his companies Tesla and SpaceX are seeing a concerning downward spiral in the stock market, and investors have made clear their displeasure of Musk’s absence from his fiduciary responsibilities to his shareholders.
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Speaking to Fox News, Musk said, “This is a revolution. And I think it might be the biggest revolution in government since the original revolution.”
When he was asked if he was interested in staying beyond his 130-day term, Musk said that he believes his work will be largely complete by then.
“I think we will have accomplished most of the work required to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion within that time frame,” he said.
Under President Donald Trump, Musk started his DOGE campaign to restructure the federal government by rooting out misuse of federal funds and taxpayer dollars and laying off redundant government workers.
What is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)?
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a recent U.S. initiative launched to improve government operations, reduce waste, and optimize technology and infrastructure.
Established in early 2025 as President Donald Trump took office, DOGE focuses on modernizing federal systems and streamlining processes across government agencies.
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Musk is a key figure in the initiative, advising on its strategies to speed up reforms, drawing from his “move fast, break things” philosophy. The department has implemented cost-cutting measures, such as eliminating unused purchasing cards within agencies, contributing to significant savings. However, DOGE’s approach has sparked public debate, with some questioning whether the rapid changes could lead to instability.
Despite these challenges, the department is gaining attention for its bold plans to reshape federal efficiency. Musk’s role with DOGE might conclude by mid-2025, but the initiative is expected to continue its efforts to improve government operations and technological integration.