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Elon Musk Concludes Federal Role, Citing DOGE’s Lasting Impact and a Return to Business

Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, is stepping away from his formal government duties—at least for now. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk thanked President Donald Trump for what he called a “unique opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” as his official term leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) comes to a close.

This departure marks a shift in focus for Musk, who now plans to dedicate more time to his rapidly growing portfolio of private ventures.

A 130-Day Government Tenure Comes to a Close

Musk was appointed as a special government employee at the beginning of Trump’s second term in January 2025. As per federal regulations, special government employees are allowed to work up to 130 days per calendar year, and the end of May marks that limit for Musk.

A senior White House official confirmed Musk’s offboarding began Wednesday night and emphasized that his contributions to the newly formed DOGE department have been “foundational.”

The DOGE Mission: What Was Accomplished?

Created to streamline federal operations and reduce bureaucratic bloat, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) became Musk’s signature government initiative. According to internal government reports, DOGE helped identify over $38 billion in redundant federal spending during Musk's short but intensive tenure.

“The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” Musk wrote in his farewell post.

Musk noted he worked “seven days a week, or close to it” during his first 100 days in Washington, D.C., highlighting his personal commitment to the project. Yet, in recent public statements, he hinted at the need to rebalance priorities.

Disagreements on Fiscal Policy

Despite his alignment with Trump on cutting federal waste, Musk didn’t shy away from criticizing aspects of the administration’s latest spending strategy. In a CBS interview set to air June 1, he called the new spending bill “a step backward” that “undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”

His remarks come amid increasing scrutiny of the federal budget, which ballooned to $6.9 trillion for FY2025, raising concerns among fiscal conservatives and corporate leaders alike.

Legal Clouds and Corporate Pressures

As Musk transitions out of his formal government role, legal troubles are intensifying. Multiple lawsuits have been filed alleging that Musk may have overstepped federal boundaries while executing DOGE’s reforms, including claims of conflicts of interest and misuse of federal resources.

In a separate development on Wednesday, a coalition of public pension funds sent a formal letter to Tesla’s board, urging that Musk commit to a minimum of 40 hours per week at Tesla as a precondition for any future CEO compensation packages. The letter underscores mounting concerns that his multiple roles could dilute leadership effectiveness at the electric vehicle giant.

What’s Next for Musk?

Though his 130-day cap has been reached, Musk has suggested that he will continue to dedicate “a day or two per week” to government advisory roles through the rest of Trump’s term, albeit in an unofficial capacity. He also confirmed that he plans to maintain a small office at the White House, hinting at a continued if informal influence.

Meanwhile, Musk will reportedly turn his full focus toward Tesla’s next-gen AI systems, SpaceX’s Starship expansion plans, and xAI’s public rollout.

With the future of DOGE uncertain but its principles taking root in D.C., Musk’s brief foray into government appears to have left a lasting imprint—one he hopes others will continue to build on.