Washington, D.C. – Elon Musk has officially stepped down from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) amid widespread protests, receiving commendation from former President Donald Trump.
On Friday, Trump described Musk as "terrific" and emphasized that although it was his last day in the position, he would remain a supportive presence. Trump announced a joint media briefing with Musk scheduled for 1:30 p.m. EST at the White House, stating, "This will be his last day, but not really, because he will always be with us, helping all the way."
Musk expressed gratitude for the opportunity to address governmental inefficiencies. "As my term as a Special Government Employee concludes, I want to thank President Donald Trump for the chance to reduce wasteful spending," Musk said. He highlighted that the mission of DOGE would continue to strengthen and embed itself within governmental operations.
This departure follows Musk’s recent return to intense corporate work, stating he is "spending 24/7 at work" and often sleeping in conference rooms as he transitions back to private sector commitments.
Notably, Musk previously criticized Trump’s signature tax legislation, describing it as overly expensive and potentially undermining the reforms he pursued at DOGE. "A bill can be big, or it can be beautiful. But I don't know if it can be both," he remarked.
Musk had been a major donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign and a prominent supporter during the presidential run, with Trump lauding him as a "star is born" in his victory speech. Upon taking office, Trump appointed Musk to lead the newly formed DOGE department, intended to streamline government operations and reduce bureaucracy—a nod to Musk’s advocacy of the Dogecoin cryptocurrency.
During his tenure, Musk worked on cutting government waste, streamlining processes, reducing department sizes, and shutting down inefficient entities. However, his engagement lessened in late April before his formal resignation.
The planned press conference later today is expected to shed further light on Musk’s achievements and future intentions.
