Billionaire CEO Elon Musk announced on his social media platform X that he is stepping down from his role as a special government employee leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under U.S. President Donald Trump.
Musk was charged with overhauling federal bureaucracy and cutting what he described as excessive government spending. However, his ambitious plan to cut $2 trillion in federal spending was reduced over time to around $150 billion, figures that remain unverified. Musk’s aggressive approach included significant layoffs and agency overhauls, reducing the federal workforce by 12% (about 260,000 jobs), which triggered political clashes, legal setbacks, and protests both in the U.S. and abroad.
Musk’s 130-day tenure ended after public criticism of Trump’s major tax and budget bill as a “massive spending bill” that undermined DOGE’s work and increased the federal deficit. Meanwhile, Tesla saw a 52% drop in sales amid mounting backlash over Musk’s political involvement.
