Elon Musk, billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), has officially stepped down from his role in the U.S. government.
His departure marks the end of a controversial chapter as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a position created under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The announcement was made during a ceremony in the Oval Office on Friday, where President Trump praised Musk’s influence and leadership.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that Trump thanked Musk for what he called a “colossal change” in how Washington conducts official business.
He commended Musk’s efforts to streamline government operations, adding that some of Musk’s appointed staff would continue serving in the administration.
Musk, wearing all black and a shirt labeled “The Dogefather,” accepted a ceremonial key and expressed confidence in the continued success of DOGE.
“I think the DOGE team is doing an incredible job,” Musk stated, implying ongoing support for the reforms he began.
Musk’s time in government was marked by significant upheaval.
Thousands of federal workers were dismissed or pressured out of their roles as Musk sought to cut bureaucratic waste.
The most affected institution was the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which previously delivered aid globally.
Researchers from Boston University estimate that cuts to USAID have led to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths worldwide.
Despite promising sweeping budget reductions, Musk fell short of his original goals.
He initially aimed to slash $1 to $2 trillion in federal spending.
However, he revised that figure to $150 billion for the current fiscal year.
The DOGE website claims $175 billion in savings, but its data has been widely criticized for inaccuracies and exaggerations.
Nevertheless, President Trump hailed Musk’s reforms as the most significant in decades.
He hinted that Musk’s departure may not be permanent, suggesting the tech mogul could still play an advisory role.
“He’s going to be back and forth,” Trump noted, implying Musk would monitor DOGE’s progress.
Musk appeared in the Oval Office with a visible bruise under his right eye, which he attributed to playtime with his young son.
“I said, go ahead, punch me in the face. And he did,” Musk joked.
Recently, Musk declared he would scale back his political contributions.
He was notably Trump’s top donor during the last presidential campaign.
In a social media post, Trump called Musk “terrific” and hinted that his involvement with the government was far from over.
As a special government employee, Musk’s role was always meant to be temporary.
However, he had openly speculated about working part-time indefinitely if Trump desired.
Musk declined to outline how DOGE would operate in his absence but stated that it could gain momentum without him.
“DOGE is a way of life,” Musk recently told reporters, comparing it to a spiritual movement like Buddhism.
Musk’s tenure sparked fierce debate in Washington and beyond.
Critics condemned his aggressive downsizing, while supporters praised his disruptive approach to bureaucracy.
His legacy in public service will likely remain a point of contention for years to come.
