Elon Musk Quits Trump Administration As Special Govt Employee: 'DOGE Mission Will Only Strengthen...'

Elon Musk exits Trump adviser role, citing end of term, after criticizing spending bill that conflicts with DOGE efficiency goals.

Elon Musk Quits Trump Administration As Special Govt Employee: 'DOGE Mission Will Only Strengthen...'

Source : X

Elon Musk is stepping down from his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump, concluding a high-profile effort to slash federal spending and reform bureaucratic inefficiencies.

The billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX announced the move Wednesday in a post on X, his social media platform.

“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.”

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.

The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 29, 2025

Musk was appointed as a “special government employee,” a position that permits up to 130 days of government service per year. With the count beginning on President Trump’s inauguration day—January 20—Musk’s term was set to expire toward the end of May.

Since its creation earlier this year, Musk has led the Department of Government Efficiency—nicknamed DOGE—a Trump administration initiative aimed at curbing federal waste and streamlining operations. His leadership was central to shaping the department’s mission.

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Musk’s departure and said his “offboarding” began Wednesday night.

Musk’s exit follows closely on the heels of his public criticism of the administration’s key legislative proposal. In a CBS interview released Tuesday night, Musk expressed dissatisfaction with the president’s signature policy initiative, calling it a “massive spending bill” that adds to the national deficit and “undermines the work” of the DOGE department.

“Musk’s departure comes one day after he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda, saying he was ‘disappointed’ by what the president calls his ‘big beautiful bill.’”

The legislation includes a combination of tax cuts and enhanced immigration enforcement measures. While Musk acknowledged some merits, he questioned the bill’s overall coherence and fiscal discipline.

“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”

President Trump responded to the criticism from the Oval Office on Wednesday, defending his agenda while acknowledging the complexity of the legislative process.

“I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it,” he said, adding, “We’re going to see what happens. It’s got a way to go.”

Despite their policy divergence, Musk ended his tenure on a hopeful note.

“The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time,” he wrote. “As it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”