Elon Musk has officially stepped down from his role as a Special Government Employee and advisor to President Donald Trump, concluding his time with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force focused on streamlining federal operations and cutting wasteful spending.
Musk, who also serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, announced his departure Wednesday night via a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve in a public role.
&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Musk wrote. &ldquo;The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.&rdquo;
His exit follows closely on the heels of public criticism he levied against one of the Trump administration&rsquo;s flagship legislative efforts &mdash; a sweeping package that pairs tax cuts with heightened immigration enforcement.
In an interview with CBS earlier this week, Musk described the bill as a "massive spending bill" that contradicts the goals of DOGE. &ldquo;It increases the federal deficit and undermines the work of DOGE,&rdquo; he said.
Musk didn&rsquo;t shy away from sarcasm either, remarking: &ldquo;I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful. But I don&rsquo;t know if it could be both.&rdquo;
President Trump, when asked about Musk&rsquo;s comments during an Oval Office press interaction, defended the bill while acknowledging it&rsquo;s still a work in progress. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I&rsquo;m thrilled by other aspects of it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to see what happens. It&rsquo;s got a way to go.&rdquo;
Musk&rsquo;s departure marks the end of an unusual partnership between one of the world&rsquo;s most prominent entrepreneurs and a federal task force aimed at overhauling government operations.

Musk ends tenure with federal efficiency team, criticizes major Trump spending legislation

Elon Musk Steps Down as Trump Administration Advisor

Musk ends tenure with federal efficiency team, criticizes major Trump spending legislation

May 29, 2025 | 09:35 IST