Elon Musk announced on Wednesday that he would be stepping down from his role as a special U.S. government employee, effectively ending his tenure as the influential head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a statement, Musk thanked President Donald Trump for giving him the opportunity to help cut government spending and declared his belief that DOGE’s mission would continue to gain momentum in Washington.
Since its establishment, DOGE earned a reputation for aggressive budget-cutting across multiple federal sectors, resulting in widespread job loss, departmental closures, and numerous lawsuits challenging its actions. Under Musk’s oversight, the organization notably targeted USAID spending, publicly funded broadcasters, the National Park Service, the Department of Education, and other government agencies.
Musk’s decision to step back comes amid growing scrutiny of his political ties to Trump and a notably strained relationship with the administration in recent months. Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company, experienced significant setbacks, recording poor sales amid consumer backlash related to Musk’s political activities and association with the administration.
Musk was unavailable for further comment following the announcement, and the White House did not respond immediately to inquiries.
