Elon Musk has officially stepped down as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role he held for four months within the Trump administration. The White House confirmed Musk's departure on May 28, 2025.
In a statement posted on X, Musk expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for the opportunity to streamline government operations, stating, "As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee concludes, I thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending." He further emphasized that the mission of DOGE will persist and strengthen beyond his tenure.
When questioned about his successor, Musk likened the continuation of DOGE's work to the persistence of Buddhism after Buddha's passing. "Is Buddha needed for Buddhism? It grew even stronger after he was gone," Musk remarked, underscoring his belief that DOGE would maintain momentum without his direct leadership.
Musk's resignation followed closely after his public critique of President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," which he argued opposed the goals of DOGE by increasing the national deficit. He commented, "A bill can be big, or it can be beautiful. But I don't know if it can be both. This is my personal opinion." His stance highlighted concerns about fiscal responsibility within government initiatives.
During his tenure, Musk focused on reducing government waste, streamlining operations, and downsizing inefficient departments. However, his dual commitments to his ventures and government role drew criticism from investors and stakeholders, particularly as Tesla shares fell by 15% and SpaceX experienced challenges. Additionally, public protests in the US and Europe criticized his involvement in the administration, urging him to prioritize his business interests.
Notably, Musk contributed nearly $300 million to support President Trump’s campaign and other Republican candidates during the previous election cycle. Earlier in May 2025, he announced plans to reduce his political donations moving forward.
