Musk’s Exit From Trump’s Government

Elon musk,CEO of Tesla and SpaceX,concluded his time as a special government employee in President Donald Trump’s administration in May 2025.His departure followed disagreements over policy and frustrations with the pace of change within the federal government.

A White House official confirmed Musk’s departure to Reuters on May 29, 2025, stating, The dismissal will start tonight. Musk himself acknowledged the end of his term on social media platform X, thanking President Trump for the chance.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Musk’s role was within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative focused on streamlining the federal government. Despite his exit, the U.S. government asserted that DOGE’s mission would continue.

The DOGE mission will only be stronger as time goes by because it becomes part of life throughout the government, Musk stated.

The Trump administration claimed success in reducing the federal workforce through DOGE, reportedly cutting almost 12%, or 260,000 positions, from 2.3 million federal civilian workers. These reductions were primarily achieved through attrition, buyouts, and early retirement offers, according to a Reuters review.

Disagreement Over the ‘One Big, Lovely Bill Act’

A key point of contention between Musk and the Trump administration was the ‘One big, Beautiful Bill Act.’ Musk publicly disagreed with the bill, arguing that it would increase the deficit and undermine the work of DOGE.

Musk, who had previously been supportive of Trump, voiced his concerns in an interview with CBS News: To be honest, I was disappointed to see a massive shopping bill that increased the budget deficit, not just reducing it, and damaged the work done by the Doge team.

The ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,’ passed by the House of Representatives and submitted to the Senate, proposed tax relief and extensive spending. Critics warned that it could inflate the national deficit by up to $4 trillion over a decade and negatively impact healthcare.

A bill can be large, or it can also be beautiful. But I don’t know whether the two can. That is my personal opinion, Musk commented on the bill.

Frustrations With Federal Bureaucracy

Musk’s tenure in the Trump administration was marked by frustration and challenges in navigating the complexities of the federal government. Despite initial ambitions, he faced resistance and political pushback from entrenched officials.

According to the Associated Press,Musk’s resignation signaled the end of a tumultuous period. He reportedly scaled back his initial goal of cutting expenses from $2 trillion to $150 billion, reflecting his growing frustration with the slow pace of change and resistance to his proposals.

musk’s experience highlights the challenges faced by outsiders attempting to reform established government structures and processes.

FAQ: elon Musk’s Departure

• Why did Elon Musk leave the Trump administration? He disagreed with the ‘One Big, Beautiful bill Act’ and faced frustrations with federal bureaucracy.
• What was Musk’s role in the administration? He served as a special government employee in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
• What were the goals of DOGE? To restructure and reduce the size of the federal government.
• How many federal jobs were cut during Musk’s tenure? Approximately 260,000, primarily through attrition, buyouts, and early retirement offers.