Elon Musk has brought his brief but intense stint in the United States government to a close, marking the end of a phase characterized by bold promises, internal conflicts, and a growing frustration with federal bureaucracy.
The billionaire, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and the social network X, is stepping down from his role as "Special Government Employee" in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency created by Donald Trump to reduce the size of the State.
An abrupt and unceremonious farewell
Musk's departure was confirmed on the night of this Wednesday by a White House official in statements quoted by the agency Reuters.
Without prior notice and without a formal goodbye to Trump, the businessman announced his decision through a post on X.
“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 unnecessary spending”, the magnate wrote.
“@DUX The mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” he added.
Although the end of his term was scheduled for May 30, his departure may have been hastened following televised statements in which he harshly criticized the tax bill promoted by Trump himself, according to U.S. media reports.
"I was disappointed to see the enormous spending bill, frankly, that increases the budget deficit rather than reducing it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing," he expressed to CBS News.
However, in recent hours, Musk himself retweeted a post warning that he is not leaving upset with the president—regardless of what people say—but simply that his time has come to an end.
"In the coming days, traditional media will try to convince you that President Trump and Elon Musk are no longer friends, and that is why Musk left. What they won't tell you is that Elon was a Special Government Employee, with a limit of 130 days of service, and that period ends tomorrow," says the echoed text.
From unconditional ally to uncomfortable voice
During the early months of Trump's administration, Musk was a dominant figure in Washington: visible, combative, and disruptive.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, he appeared brandishing a red metal chainsaw. "This is the chainsaw of bureaucracy," he proclaimed, to cheers.
DOGE promised to drastically reduce public spending. Musk claimed he could cut at least 2 trillion dollars.
According to its own data—unverified by Reuters—DOGE had saved 175 billion to date.
A figure that pales in comparison to initial expectations. However, as the months went by, its prominence diminished.
"The state of the federal bureaucracy is much worse than I thought," he told The Washington Post.
“It is an uphill battle to try to improve the situation in Washington D.C., at the very least,” he added in statements reported by the aforementioned U.S. media outlet.
Internal conflicts and growing opposition
His management at DOGE was not without controversies. He clashed with several cabinet members, including Marco Rubio (Secretary of State), Sean Duffy (Transportation), and Scott Bessent (Treasury).
He also publicly insulted Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade advisor, calling him "an idiot" and "dumber than a sack of bricks."
Musk's disdain for the federal workforce was explicit: he predicted a "wave of voluntary resignations that we celebrate" by revoking the remote work policies established during the pandemic.
However, his methods encountered resistance. Trump himself recalled in March that decisions regarding personnel were the responsibility of the department secretaries, not Musk.
Their cost-cutting efforts faced legal obstacles. Several courts blocked DOGE's decisions, leading to administrative bottlenecks, increased costs, and talent drain.
Disillusioned with politics and focused on his businesses
Musk began to distance himself from Washington as he realized he needed to refocus on his companies.
This was compounded by some disagreements with the U.S. president on certain issues, such as tariffs.
"I think I probably spent too much time in politics," he said this week to Ars Technica.
"It was simply a matter of time distribution," he added.
In a recent post on X, he stated: "Back to working 24/7. I must focus completely on X/xAI and Tesla."
In parallel, SpaceX conducted a test flight of the Starship rocket, which, although it exploded due to a leak, Musk described as a "great improvement."
Wearing a shirt with the slogan "Occupy Mars," he reaffirmed his business priority.
Unfulfilled promises, geopolitical tensions, and ethical considerations
Musk promised to donate 100 million dollars to Trump's political operation, but the money hasn't arrived.
His criticism of a million-dollar contract awarded to a rival company for a data center in Abu Dhabi, in which his company xAI was not included, was also unpopular.
During a dinner with the Emir of Qatar at the Lusail Palace, Musk was relegated to a secondary role. This image contrasts with his former status as the "first friend" of the president.
Additionally, Trump was concerned about a confidential briefing on China that Musk would receive at the Pentagon, according to The New York Times.
Although Trump avoided directly referring to the businessman, the disappointment was palpable.
What’s next for DOGE?
The legacy of Musk in DOGE is ambivalent. Under his leadership, the federal government cut approximately 12% of its civilian workforce, according to Reuters.
Nevertheless, his aggressive and confrontational approach generated more friction than deep reforms. Although his departure is effective, several close collaborators, such as Steve Davis and Antonio Gracias, remain active in the administration.
“The DOGE mission will strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” Musk reiterated in his farewell.
But whether that mission will continue without his leadership remains to be seen. For now, the world's richest businessman returns to the private sector, convinced that his political influence has come at too high a cost for him and his companies.
Frequently asked questions about Elon Musk's departure from the Trump administration
Why did Elon Musk leave his position in the Trump administration?
Elon Musk left his position in the Trump administration because his term as Special Government Employee came to an end. Although there were speculations about disagreements with Trump, Musk clarified that his time in government was scheduled to conclude and that he will now focus on his companies like Tesla and SpaceX.
What did Elon Musk achieve in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)?
During his time at DOGE, Musk promised to cut public spending by 2 trillion dollars, although only savings of 175 billion were verified. His aggressive approach led to both progress in reducing bureaucracy and internal conflicts and legal resistance.
What criticisms did Elon Musk face during his time in the government?
Musk faced criticism for his aggressive and authoritarian approach to staff cuts, which led to tensions with cabinet members and legal actions against his decisions. Additionally, his attempt to eliminate remote work and his prediction of massive layoffs were not well received.
How did Elon Musk's relationship with Trump affect his departure from the government?
Despite the speculation, Musk and Trump maintain a cordial relationship. Both have publicly stated their mutual respect, and Musk retweeted messages clarifying that there are no personal conflicts with Trump, but rather that his departure was due to the end of his scheduled term.
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