Elon Musk, the technology billionaire and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has officially announced the conclusion of his role as Special Government Employee in the Trump administration. The announcement was made on platform X, marking the end of his tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative aimed at reducing federal spending and optimizing government operations.
In his post on X, Musk expressed, “As my journey as a Special Government Employee comes to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to President @realDonaldTrump for giving me the opportunity to minimize waste in spending. The mission of @DOGE will continue to grow stronger, becoming an integral part of government operations.”
Controversial Tenure at DOGE
Appointed by President Trump to lead DOGE in early 2025, Musk had ambitious goals: to cut $2 trillion in federal spending, a figure far exceeding the discretionary budget for 2023. However, according to a Wikipedia update on May 28, 2025, this target was later adjusted to $1 trillion, equivalent to 15% of the federal budget. During his 130 days in office, Musk implemented extensive changes but also faced significant controversy.
The DOGE initiative led to the elimination of thousands of federal positions, disrupting operations at many government agencies. Reports from officials at the Treasury Department and the IRS in April 2025 warned that staffing cuts could result in a tax revenue decline of up to $500 billion, threatening the stability of the national financial system.
One of Musk’s most controversial decisions was requiring federal employees to submit weekly performance reports on February 22, 2025. However, agencies such as the Defense Department and the FBI refused to comply, citing national security concerns over sensitive information potentially being exploited by foreign entities.
Related: How much Bitcoin does Elon Musk’s Tesla company own?
Conflicts of Interest and Wave of Criticism
Musk’s tenure at DOGE was also overshadowed by allegations of conflicts of interest. In April 2025, House Democrats launched an investigation into the relationship between Musk and NASA, where SpaceX – his company – had secured contracts worth over $15 billion. According to Axios (April 7, 2025), many lawmakers were concerned that Musk’s role at DOGE could unfairly benefit his businesses, especially as he simultaneously oversaw federal spending cuts.
Additionally, Musk had publicly criticized certain positions within the government, such as the role of a climate director at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. He called the position “fake,” leading the related employees to deactivate their social media accounts, according to CNN (November 27, 2024).
Rift with President Trump
Musk’s departure comes amid a backdrop of apparent strain in his relationship with President Trump. In an interview with CBS reported by AP on May 28, 2025, Musk expressed disappointment with a key piece of Trump’s legislation, calling it “disappointing.” This suggests an increasing disagreement between the two powerful figures, who were once seen as close allies.
