Tesla CEO Elon Musk is stepping down from his role in the Trump administration following a stormy tenure focused on slashing federal spending and bureaucracy.
His departure as a special government employee with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was confirmed by a White House official, who stated that the off-boarding process began Wednesday night.
Musk announced his exit on his social platform X, thanking President Trump. However, he reportedly did not speak directly with the president before making his decision, which was finalized by senior staff.
His resignation follows his criticism of Trump’s flagship tax legislation, which he deemed too costly and damaging to DOGE’s cost-cutting goals.
This drew backlash from key administration figures and required damage control with Republican senators.
Initially seen as a bold outsider unafraid to shake up Washington, Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting measures and disdain for federal workers sparked tension within the cabinet.
Though DOGE claims $175 billion in savings, far short of Musk`s promised $2 trillion, the figure remains unverified.
Musk clashed with several senior officials, including Secretaries Marco Rubio, Sean Duffy, and Scott Bessent, and insulted trade adviser Peter Navarro.
Growing pushback from cabinet members and a recent Tesla earnings call, where Musk indicated a refocus on his businesses, signaled his retreat from government work.
