- Elon Musk agreed with President Trump to step back from his government role at Doge, a department created to reduce wasteful government spending
- Musk’s involvement in government sparked frustration among cabinet members, who privately accused him of overreach and mass firings within federal agencies
- Musk’s political donation to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race failed to sway voters, potentially expediting his departure from government service
Elon Musk is set to leave his role as a “special government employee” at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), according to sources within President Donald Trump’s inner circle.
Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX billionaire, has been a key figure in efforts to reduce wasteful government spending, but Trump is reportedly preparing for him to return to his businesses.
The news, which was first reported by Politico, reveals that both men have agreed it is time for Musk to develop an exit strategy.
Sources suggest that Musk’s departure will coincide with the end of his designation as a special government employee, which limits him to 130 days of service within a one-year period. Although his exact departure date remains unclear, it’s expected that the transition will occur soon, following Musk's completion of most of his work at Doge.
Trump’s administration had made Musk a central figure in the drive to cut down government waste, but tensions within the cabinet have grown in recent months. Some cabinet members have privately accused Musk of overreach, especially in relation to his drastic measures that have led to mass firings within the federal workforce and the closure of entire government departments.
Despite these frustrations, Trump has expressed continued support for Musk, with reports indicating that he remains pleased with the work the tech billionaire has done so far.
It is believed that Musk may continue to have an informal advisory role, even after stepping down from his official position.
Frustration within the Trump cabinet
Musk’s tenure as a key adviser has been marked by clashes with cabinet ministers. His hard-hitting approach, including significant staff cuts and the shutdown of government departments, has not been well received by some officials.
At a cabinet meeting earlier this month, Musk was at the centre of a fiery exchange with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was particularly upset with Musk’s proposed cuts to air traffic control, despite a national shortage of controllers.
In another tense moment, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins voiced concerns that Musk’s cuts were affecting services at Veterans Affairs hospitals, where operations were allegedly being cancelled.
Musk, who had previously been hailed as a bold reformer, found himself humiliated by these public rebukes during a tense cabinet meeting.
These confrontations, combined with Musk’s limited success in political endeavours, have contributed to a growing sense that his time in government service may be nearing its end.
Musk’s failed political influence
Musk’s political influence had been on display during the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where he donated a staggering $21 million to support the Republican candidate.
However, the Republican nominee, whose campaign Musk had heavily funded, lost to the Democratic challenger, Susan Crawford. The defeat was seen as a blow to Musk’s political clout, and it has raised questions about whether his efforts to sway voters through financial backing were effective.
During the campaign, Musk had warned that the election could “decide the future of America and Western civilisation,” making the loss even more significant in terms of his political strategy. Musk’s financial support was seen as a major effort to boost Republican chances, but it ultimately failed to secure a victory for his candidate, highlighting the limitations of his influence in political campaigns.
The end of an era?
Musk’s political and advisory role in Trump’s administration had been somewhat unconventional. The billionaire, best known for his groundbreaking work in electric cars and space exploration, had become a de facto member of the Trump administration, sitting alongside top aides in key meetings. He had been given a seat at the president’s cabinet table and had even participated in the unveiling of major policy initiatives.
However, the political environment is shifting. Musk’s absence from a key moment in Trump’s recent “liberation day” address raised eyebrows. During the address, Trump unveiled his long-awaited reciprocal tariffs, a major policy announcement.
While most of Trump’s cabinet officials were seated in the front row, Musk appeared to be absent, with reports suggesting that he may have been excluded from this symbolic position.
Trump’s reaction
Despite tensions within the cabinet and the challenges Musk faced in the political arena, Trump has been supportive of Musk’s work. The president hinted at Musk’s departure on Monday, stating that “He’s got a big company to run... At some point, he’s going to be going back.”
Trump added, “I’d keep him as long as I could keep him,” suggesting that while the president values Musk’s contributions, he understands that the billionaire must return to his business empire.
Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s press secretary, has dismissed the reports of Musk’s imminent departure as "garbage," asserting that both Musk and Trump have publicly stated that Musk will leave once his work at Doge is complete.
Leavitt emphasised that Musk’s contributions are still valued, and the decision to depart is based on the completion of his work in government.
Elon Musk’s net worth hits $447 billion
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Elon Musk’s net worth climbed to $447 billion, fuelled by the success of his numerous ventures, including electric vehicles, space exploration, Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and tunnelling technologies.
Musk’s wealth increased by $62.8 billion in 2024 alone, according to Bloomberg, largely due to the increasing valuation of SpaceX, his privately held aerospace company.
