Elon Musk leaves Trump administration

WASHINGTON,— Billionaire businessman Elon Musk is departing his post as a special government employee in the Trump administration after leading an ambitious campaign to reduce federal spending, according to a White House official.

Musk’s exit begins Wednesday night, the official said, marking the end of his 130-day tenure with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The Tesla CEO acknowledged his departure earlier in the day via his social media platform X, thanking former President Donald Trump for the opportunity.

While Musk did not meet with Trump before the announcement, the decision was made at a senior level inside the administration, a source familiar with internal discussions told AP.

His resignation follows public criticism of a Republican tax proposal that Musk said would inflate the national budget, contradicting DOGE’s aims.

Senior aides, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, reportedly pushed back on Musk’s comments, prompting direct outreach to Republican senators to reaffirm Trump’s support for the bill.

Though Musk retains ties to Trump, sources said his influence in the White House had been on a downward trajectory for weeks. Initially welcomed for his bold proposals, Musk’s confrontational style and unilateral decisions on federal workforce cuts stirred resistance from cabinet members.

At February’s Conservative Political Action Conference, Musk wielded a metallic chainsaw on stage, declaring it a symbol against bureaucratic inefficiency.

At that time, he asserted DOGE would trim federal spending by $2 trillion. DOGE later reported $175 billion in savings, though those figures have not been independently verified.

Demonstrators hold a rally at the Pennsylvania state capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., during the “Hands Off!” national day of protest against the Trump Administration and Elon Must, April 5, 2025. Photo: The Patriot-News/via AP

Musk had openly expressed opposition to remote work in government, arguing that ending COVID-19-era telecommuting would lead to voluntary resignations. But insiders say his aggressive downsizing agenda met internal pushback, particularly after Trump reminded department heads in March that final staffing decisions were under their jurisdiction.

Disputes escalated between Musk and several top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Musk also clashed with Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro, whom he reportedly insulted during a private meeting. Navarro declined to respond in kind, stating, “I’ve been called worse.”

In recent weeks, Musk signaled he would reduce his involvement in federal affairs, citing limited progress. “The scale of dysfunction in the bureaucracy is far worse than I expected,” Musk told The Washington Post.

DOGE will continue its operations following Musk’s departure. Although some departments intend to preserve parts of the initiative, others are likely to reassert control over budget and staffing matters, sources said.

Despite opposition from unions and legal obstacles—including federal courts that reversed DOGE shutdowns—DOGE claims it has reduced the civilian federal workforce by 260,000, nearly 12% of total staff, using buyouts and early retirements.

Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump Las Vegas hotel, killing driver — Flames rise from a Tesla Cybertruck after it exploded outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., January 1, 2025 in this screengrab taken from a social media video

However, rapid restructuring efforts have also resulted in operational issues, including procurement delays, increased spending in key sectors, and a loss of technical personnel.

Tensions peaked Tuesday when Musk criticized a GOP-led budget bill during a CBS interview, stating, “This package increases the deficit and undermines everything we’ve done at DOGE.”

The remarks reportedly angered Trump’s senior aides. Some investors have urged Musk to step away from politics and refocus on Tesla, which has faced recent declines in stock value and sales.

Musk, who has spent nearly $300 million on Trump’s campaign and Republican causes, said this month he plans to sharply cut political contributions. “I think I’ve done enough,” he said at a forum in Qatar.

(With files from Reuters)