Elon Musk Bids Farewell to Trump Administration, Cites Mission Accomplished
Elon Musk has officially stepped away from his role in President Donald Trump’s administration, marking the end of a high-profile stint focused on slashing government spending.
The tech billionaire shared the news on his social media platform, X, thanking Trump for the opportunity. “As my time as a Special Government Employee wraps up, I’m grateful to President @realDonaldTrump for the chance to reduce wasteful spending,” Musk wrote on Wednesday night.
He also mentioned the government efficiency project he helped lead — known as DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) — saying, “The @DOGE mission will only grow stronger as it becomes a mindset across government.”
A White House official confirmed Musk’s departure to Reuters and the Associated Press.
Musk joined the administration back in January with ambitious goals: to cut at least $1 trillion from the federal budget. So far, DOGE has reportedly saved around $175 billion — or roughly $1,089 per taxpayer, according to its website.
His exit coincides with the 130-day limit for temporary government employees. Despite Musk’s departure, the White House says DOGE’s mission to trim government spending will continue.
However, Musk’s relationship with Trump has reportedly cooled. Even after investing nearly $300 million into Trump’s campaign last year, Musk recently voiced concerns about a massive new spending bill, dubbed the “big, beautiful bill.”
The 1,000-page bill extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts but also adds stricter rules for food stamps and Medicaid. It includes funding for Trump’s signature projects like the US-Mexico border wall and increases spending for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Musk said he was “disappointed” by the bill, arguing it could undo DOGE’s progress. “It increases the budget deficit instead of reducing it,” he said. “I think a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both.”
President Trump responded by saying negotiations on the bill are still ongoing. “I’m not happy with some parts, but I’m thrilled with others — that’s how these things go,” he told reporters.
While Trump hasn’t criticized Musk directly, reports suggest tensions have been brewing behind the scenes. According to Politico, talks about Musk’s departure began as early as April after clashes with top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Some of Musk’s cost-cutting measures also stirred backlash among voters — especially in key swing states. For instance, his $20 million push to support a conservative candidate in Wisconsin fell flat earlier this year.
A Washington Post–ABC News poll in April showed Musk’s approval rating for his government role was just 35%.
Facing mounting criticism, Musk recently said he’ll be pulling back from political efforts and focusing more on his companies.
“Back to working around the clock and crashing on factory floors,” he posted over the weekend. “I need to stay laser-focused on X, xAI, Tesla, and the upcoming Starship launch — we’ve got some critical tech rolling out.”
