In a ceremony held in the Oval Office, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, dismissed businessman Elon Musk from his position at the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), praising his tenure as “a colossal change” in the way politics is conducted in Washington.
"Elon has achieved a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington," Trump stated in front of cabinet members and the media.
"He is one of the greatest business leaders and innovators the world has ever seen. His service to this nation has been unparalleled in modern history," he noted.
Musk, who led the controversial DOGE for 130 days—a office created to cut public spending and modernize the federal administration—received a symbolic key from the president in recognition of his work.
According to Trump, under his leadership, the entity saved more than $160 billion and closed agencies that "were just wasting taxpayer money."
He exemplified with the discovery by DOGE of the "absurd and wasteful" spending of $101 million on contracts for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program in the Department of Education; $59 million for hotel rooms for illegal immigrants in New York City; $45 million for DEI scholarships in Burma; and $42 million for social and behavioral change in Uganda.
He also mentioned that 20 million dollars were allocated for Arab Sesame Street, and eight million dollars to create transgender mice.
"Elon is really not leaving. DOGE is his baby," Trump added.
"Under his guidance, frauds have been detected, inefficiencies eliminated, and obsolete systems modernized. He has put geniuses with an engineering mindset at the forefront of the Government," he expressed.
On his part, Musk announced that his departure is due to the expiration of his temporary contract, but he assured that he will continue to advise Trump informally.
"I will continue to be a friend and advisor to the president. This is not the end of DOGE; its influence will continue to grow. It's like a way of life," stated the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
He added that "this is not the end of DOGE, but the beginning... The DOGE team will strengthen over time... It is spreading throughout the government, and I trust that, in time, we will see a reduction of one trillion dollars in waste and fraud."
Regarding the analysis of "millions of budget lines" in an effort to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, he emphasized that "it is simply a lot of work to analyze the enormous expenses of the federal government... We encounter situations where there are millions of software licenses and no one is using them."
In the same conference, Trump also addressed other issues on the national and international agenda such as tariffs and economic defense, while celebrating a court decision that allows the temporary maintenance of the tariffs from his administration. He stated, “Without them, our nation would be in danger. These levies are vital to protecting our economy.”
Trump also defended his order to temporarily suspend the enrollment of foreign students at Harvard and to limit educational visas: “We want the best students, not troublemakers. Harvard has not been behaving well,” said the president.
Although brief, Musk's tenure in the Trump administration has had a significant impact. Under his leadership, DOGE implemented structural reforms, made massive budget cuts, and redesigned bureaucratic processes with a technological approach that was heavily criticized by various sectors of American society.
"Elon was a whirlwind in Washington," Trump concluded.
Recently, Musk criticized the president's budget proposal, claiming it undermined his work leading DOGE. He then announced that he was ending his role at the entity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Elon Musk's Exit from DOGE and Its Impact
Why did Elon Musk leave his position in the Department of Government Efficiency?
Elon Musk left his position due to the expiration of his temporary contract as a Special Government Employee. Although his departure was scheduled, it was accelerated after he publicly criticized a tax bill promoted by Donald Trump. However, Musk assured that he would continue to informally advise the president.
What changes did Elon Musk implement in DOGE?
Elon Musk implemented structural reforms aimed at modernizing federal administration and reducing public spending. Under his leadership, the DOGE saved over $160 billion, closed agencies deemed inefficient, and identified expenses considered absurd or unnecessary, such as scholarships and contracts for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.
What was Donald Trump's reaction to Musk's management of DOGE?
Donald Trump praised Elon Musk's management of DOGE, describing it as a "colossal change." Trump highlighted the savings achieved and the modernization of obsolete systems, although he also limited Musk's authority over layoffs after receiving criticism for the driven cuts.
What impact did the DOGE have on the budget of the Department of Education?
The DOGE, led by Musk, cut $900 million from the budget of the Department of Education. This reduction primarily affected the Institute of Educational Sciences, eliminating contracts deemed unnecessary, which sparked criticism over the potential weakening of the education system.
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