Musk quits DOGE, thanks Trump for’reduce wasteful spending’
Musk departs from DOGE, expresses gratitude to Trump for the opportunity to ‘reduce wasteful spending’. Tesla chief Elon Musk is resigning from his position as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role he occupied during US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Musk announced on Wednesday (local time) via a post on his social media platform X. “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.” “As my tenure as a Special Government Employee concludes, I wish to express my gratitude to President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to mitigate 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
His departure occurred merely a day after he expressed criticism of Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ during an interview with CBS, characterizing it as a “massive spending bill” that would increase the federal deficit and jeopardize the efforts made by his department. Trump’s bill encompasses tax reductions and strengthened immigration enforcement. Musk’s designation as a temporary government official was scheduled to conclude approximately on May 30. Musk has been appointed to lead DOGE in conjunction with Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican who previously challenged Trump in the presidential race. However, Ramaswamy departed shortly thereafter, allowing Musk to take the helm of the department independently.
Trump often lauded Musk’s initiatives aimed at reducing government inefficiencies. Musk’s initiatives resulted in certain federal agencies reducing their workforce by tens of thousands, as employees were either purged or opted for buyouts. Democrats ridiculed Musk following his declaration of stepping down as a ‘special government official’. The official X handle of the Democrats disseminated a widely circulated meme from the Toy Story franchise, depicting Trump releasing Musk in a manner reminiscent of how Andy let go of Woody, one of the film’s toys. For an extended period, Democrats have raised objections to Musk’s involvement with DOGE. In February this year, 14 states led by Democrats initiated a lawsuit against him and DOGE, claiming violations of the US Constitution.
Although Trump endorsed Musk’s initiatives, they faced backlash from Tesla investors. DOGE’s operations have also led to legal challenges regarding its authority and access to government data. Musk has encountered inquiries regarding potential conflicts of interest. The repercussions reached Tesla’s business. In the first quarter, vehicle sales experienced a decline, reaching a level not seen in nearly three years, while the stock price similarly decreased. Tesla showrooms, vehicles, and charging stations faced protests from individuals dissatisfied with Musk’s involvement in politics. Trump expressed his support for Musk by purchasing a red Tesla and cautioning that the offenders would “go through hell”.
