President Donald Trump is set to host a press event marking the conclusion of Elon Musk's tenure as the leading figure at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Following four turbulent months, Musk is stepping away from his official government role.
Despite Musk’s departure, Trump expressed confidence in his continued support, stating, "He will always be with us, helping all the way." Musk’s leadership came at a challenging time for DOGE, as several key personnel including Steve Davis, president of Musk's Boring Company, DOGE spokeswoman Katie Miller, and attorney James Burnham have recently left or are soon departing from their roles within the department.
Elon Musk served as a "special government employee" temporarily, after significantly contributing over $250 million to Trump's election efforts. Throughout Musk's involvement, Trump consistently praised his contributions, culminating in the announcement of the upcoming Oval Office press conference.
However, Musk’s relationship with the president was marked by notable disagreements. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO openly criticized members of Trump's cabinet and diverged from the administration's trade policies, including denouncing White House trade advisor Peter Navarro in blunt terms.
Recently, Musk also opposed the "one big, beautiful bill" promoted by Trump, cautioning that it would inflate the federal budget deficit and undermine DOGE's efforts to reduce government expenditure. Despite the department not having achieved the trillions in savings Musk initially anticipated, he affirmed that DOGE’s mission would persist and gradually integrate as a government-wide standard.
Musk’s political involvement also sparked controversies that negatively impacted public perception of Tesla, as the company’s assets experienced sabotage and vandalism during this period.
In his final weeks at government, Musk's visibility in the Trump orbit diminished as he signaled plans to refocus on his business ventures and reduce political engagement.
This event marks a significant transition for both DOGE and the intersection of business and government policy.
