Elon Musk Quits Trump’s Gov’t After ‘Disappointing’ Budget
On Thursday, tech billionaire Elon Musk announced his exit from President Donald Trump’s administration following months at the helm of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The department tasked with cutting costs in the federal government sometimes faced criticism for its aggressive approach, slashing budgets, eliminating programmes, and laying off hundreds of thousands of workers.
While his exit was anticipated due to the temporary nature of his role, it comes a day after Musk criticised Trump’s new tax bill.
In a message posted on his social media platform, X, the tech billionaire thanked Trump for the opportunity to “reduce wasteful spending” but expressed concern that the administration’s fiscal priorities are shifting.
“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @reallDonaldTrump,” Musk wrote.
“The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” he added.
DOGE, created early in Trump’s second term, was established as a cornerstone of the administration’s promise to drain the massive waste by previous administrations.
Musk, designated a “special government employee,” was legally allowed to work in a federal capacity for up to 130 days per year. That term was set to expire by the end of May.
In an interview with CBS, Musk warned that the “big, beautiful bill” would deepen the national deficit and jeopardise DOGE’s mission.
“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both,” Musk said.
DOGE has already led to massive cuts within the federal workforce. According to administration figures, around 260,000 out of 2.3 million civilian employees have been laid off or accepted redundancy packages.
In some cases, federal judges blocked the firings, particularly where critical agencies like the U.S. nuclear program were affected.
Initially, Musk had pledged to cut $2tr from the federal budget. That target was gradually scaled back to $1tr, then halved again to $150bn amid internal resistance and legal hurdles.
Musk’s government service coincided with turbulent times for his private ventures.
Tesla, his flagship electric car company, suffered a 13% drop in sales in the first quarter of the year, the largest in its history, while its stock price plummeted by as much as 45%.
The backlash against Musk’s political involvement even turned violent, with Tesla showrooms and charging stations vandalised across the U.S., prompting Attorney General Pam Bondi to warn that such acts would be prosecuted as domestic terrorism.
At a recent economic forum in Doha, Qatar, Musk signalled a return to focus on his business empire, pledging to remain at the helm of Tesla for at least five more years.
He also announced plans to reduce his political donations, after reportedly spending nearly $300m in support of Trump and other Republican candidates last year.
“DOGE is becoming the whipping boy for everything that goes wrong,” Musk told The Washington Post in Texas.
“Something bad happens anywhere in the country, and somehow we get blamed for it,” he added.
Despite stepping down, Musk insisted the spirit of DOGE will live on.
“This wasn’t about me. It was about proving that government can run leaner, faster, and smarter. That mission isn’t over,” Musk said.
Elon Musk Quits Trump’s Gov’t After ‘Disappointing’ Budget is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
