WASHINGTON, May 29 — Elon Musk has announced his departure from the Trump administration, ending his brief and turbulent tenure as a senior advisor charged with slashing government waste.
In a post shared late Wednesday on his social media platform X, Musk confirmed he would no longer serve as a Special Government Employee leading the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.
“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 wrote. “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”
A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed Musk’s departure.
The billionaire entrepreneur’s exit closes a chapter marked by sweeping but often controversial attempts to downsize federal operations. Musk oversaw thousands of layoffs and extensive restructuring across agencies, prompting waves of litigation and political backlash. His ambitious cost-cutting target shrank dramatically — from an initial goal of $2 trillion to $150 billion — as opposition mounted both inside and outside the administration.
Though Musk entered the role with his signature confidence, he struggled to navigate Washington’s political currents. His clashes with Cabinet members over departmental reforms strained internal relationships, and his reform agenda often ran into bureaucratic inertia and legislative roadblocks.
In a CBS interview aired Tuesday, just a day before his announcement, Musk expressed disappointment with what President Trump called his “big beautiful bill.” The legislation, a central piece of the administration’s agenda, combines tax cuts with increased immigration enforcement. Musk criticized it as a “massive spending bill” that, in his view, undercuts DOGE’s efforts.
“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”
Although Musk had previously indicated that his role in government was temporary, there had been little clarity from the administration about when he would step aside. His abrupt announcement on X provided a final, definitive answer.
With Musk now refocusing on his core ventures — electric vehicle giant Tesla and aerospace firm SpaceX — his departure leaves behind a mixed legacy: bold intentions, modest savings, and a federal apparatus still grappling with reform.
