Elon Musk steps down from DOGE role after falling short of trillion-dollar cuts

Elon Musk has officially ended his tenure as a top adviser to President Donald Trump, bringing to a close his controversial stint leading the administration’s push to slash federal bureaucracy.

Musk’s departure, announced on the evening of May 28 via a post on his social media platform X, comes after months of tension, scaled-back ambitions, and limited success in achieving his original goals, Caliber.Az reports, citing US media.

His efforts, carried out under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led to thousands of government job cuts and the dismantling of several agencies, but his initial ambition to cut $2 trillion in spending was eventually reduced to $150 billion.

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.

The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 29, 2025

Musk had previously signalled that his role in government was temporary and that he would soon refocus on his businesses, including Tesla and SpaceX. However, the timing of his departure was unclear until his sudden announcement. A White House official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the move.

Musk’s exit followed the release of an interview in which he expressed disappointment with Trump’s signature legislative package, calling it a “massive spending bill” that undermined DOGE’s mission. He criticised the measure, comprising tax cuts and immigration enforcement, as contradictory to the goal of reducing the federal deficit.

“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”

President Trump responded to the criticism in the Oval Office, acknowledging that while he wasn’t satisfied with every aspect of the bill, he remained pleased with its overall direction. He indicated that further changes could be made: “We’re going to see what happens. It’s got a way to go.”

The White House is preparing to send a rescissions package to Congress to reinforce some of DOGE’s proposed cuts. The Office of Management and Budget stated that the package would include a $1.1 billion cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and an $8.3 billion reduction in foreign aid.

Musk, reflecting on his experience, admitted to being surprised by the entrenched nature of Washington’s bureaucracy. “The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realised,” he told media. “I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.”

He also hinted at stepping back from political involvement more broadly, saying, “I think I’ve done enough,” referencing plans to reduce his political spending.

Musk had been a high-profile supporter of Trump, donating over $250 million to his campaign, appearing in MAGA hats at the White House, and hosting rallies. Trump often praised Musk in return, even using the White House driveway to promote Tesla during a slump in sales, calling Musk “a truly great American.”

By Tamilla Hasanova