The world’s wealthiest man and renowned tech innovator, Elon Musk, is preparing to step down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after serving a four-month term.
Musk’s anticipated departure from Trump’s cabinet has fueled speculation about his relationship with President Donald Trump, with some believing that tensions between the two may be rising. However, Trump addressed Musk’s upcoming exit earlier this week, emphasizing that his role was always meant to be temporary.
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In response to the speculation, Musk clarified in a recent interview that his tenure had a 130-day limit, explaining that his objective of reducing the U.S. deficit by $1 trillion would likely be accomplished by the time his term ended.
Musk had previously hinted that DOGE was never intended to be a permanent entity, stating that “the final step of DOGE is to delete itself.” However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt quickly dismissed this notion, reiterating that both Musk and Trump had publicly acknowledged the temporary nature of his position.
During his short stint in office, the Tesla CEO made a significant impact by implementing drastic budget cuts across key U.S. agencies, including the Department of Education, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
These reductions, which resulted in widespread layoffs, sparked protests, with some demonstrators even targeting Tesla vehicles. Additionally, Musk introduced a new policy requiring federal employees to submit weekly progress reports outlining their accomplishments in five bullet points. This initiative was met with resistance, leading Trump to clarify that DOGE was designed to function more as a “tech support” agency rather than a conventional human resources department.
As discussions continue over DOGE’s future and its influence within the Trump administration, questions remain about how Musk’s exit might reshape the administration’s direction moving forward.
