Elon Musk has formally stepped down from his role as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, concluding a tempestuous tenure marked by aggressive cost-cutting efforts and clashes within the federal bureaucracy.
The billionaire entrepreneur’s departure was announced on Wednesday evening in a message on X, his social media platform, and later confirmed by a White House official on condition of anonymity.
“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,” Musk wrote. “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”
Musk’s exit brings to a close his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a temporary agency established to slash government expenditure and eliminate perceived inefficiencies. The project resulted in thousands of layoffs, major restructuring of departments, and multiple legal battles.
Although Musk began his tenure with ambitions to trim $2 trillion from federal spending, that target was steadily reduced to $1 trillion and finally to $150 billion. His efforts met with resistance from entrenched officials and lawmakers, frustrating his broader aims.
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Despite securing support from President Trump, Musk often clashed with Cabinet members and senior aides over his attempts to reshape departmental operations. The resulting political backlash, combined with legislative roadblocks, limited the scope of DOGE’s success.
Musk had long signalled that his role within the administration would be temporary. His decision to leave comes as he prepares to redirect his energies towards Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, and SpaceX, his private space exploration firm.
His departure follows an interview with CBS in which Musk voiced disappointment with Trump’s flagship legislative proposal.
“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful. But I don't know if it could be both,” Musk said, referring to the measure known colloquially as the “big beautiful bill,” which includes substantial tax cuts and increased immigration enforcement.
Describing the legislation as a “massive spending bill”, Musk argued that it “undermines the work” of DOGE and contributes to the national deficit.
In response, President Trump acknowledged mixed feelings about the bill, telling reporters in the Oval Office: “I'm not happy about certain aspects of it, but I'm thrilled by other aspects of it… We're going to see what happens. It's got a way to go.”
The bill, recently approved by the Republican-led House, is now under Senate review. Its passage remains uncertain amid growing fiscal concerns.
“I sympathise with Elon being discouraged,” said Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin at a Milwaukee Press Club event. “I’m pretty confident there’s enough opposition to slow this process down until the president, our leadership, gets serious” about expenditure control.
House Speaker Mike Johnson urged senators not to alter the bill significantly, warning that the delicate consensus achieved in the lower chamber could be jeopardised. “The House is eager and ready to act on DOGE’s findings,” Johnson added in a statement, thanking Musk for his contributions.
Meanwhile, the White House has initiated a rescission package to Congress, aiming to cancel previously authorised spending. The proposal includes the removal of $1.1 billion allocated to the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, and $8.3 billion earmarked for foreign aid.
Though Musk at times appeared disillusioned by his stint in Washington, he remained vocal about his mission to curtail waste.
“The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realised,” he told The Washington Post. “I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.”
In recent weeks, Musk also stated that he would reduce his political donations. “I think I’ve done enough,” he said.
Earlier, Musk had emerged as a staunch Trump ally, reportedly investing at least $250 million in his campaign. He frequently sported campaign merchandise in the White House, organised pro-administration rallies, and described excessive public spending as an existential threat to the United States.
“The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like the guy,” Musk said in February. “Frankly, I love him.”
Trump reciprocated the sentiment, calling Musk “a truly great American.”
During a slump in Tesla sales, Musk even transformed the White House driveway into a makeshift Tesla showroom, illustrating his close rapport with the president.
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