Elon Musk Steps Down from Government Role Following Criticism of Trump’s Tax Policies

Elon Musk has shared on social media that he is stepping down from his position in the Trump administration.

“As my designated time as a Special Government Employee concludes, I want to express my gratitude to President Donald Trump for the chance to minimize unnecessary spending,” the billionaire posted on X, his social media platform.

“The DOGE initiative will only grow stronger over time as it becomes a lifestyle within the government,” he mentioned, alluding to his “department of government efficiency.”

A White House representative confirmed to Reuters that Musk is indeed leaving the administration and that his “off-boarding will commence tonight.”

His exit was swift and without ceremony. He did not engage in a formal discussion with Trump prior to announcing his departure, according to a source familiar with the situation, who noted that the decision was made “at a senior staff level.”

Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, has defended his position as an unelected official who was given extraordinary power by Trump to dismantle segments of the US government. His 130-day term as a special government employee in the Trump administration was scheduled to end around May 30.

Both Musk and the administration have stated that DOGE’s initiatives to reform and reduce the size of the federal government will persist.

He recently criticized the president’s flagship tax legislation, labeling it excessively costly and a policy that would hinder his efforts to enhance government “efficiency.”

“The state of the federal bureaucracy is far worse than I had anticipated,” Musk expressed to the Washington Post on Tuesday. “I was aware of some issues, but it certainly feels like a daunting task to make improvements in DC, to put it mildly.”

Trump and DOGE have succeeded in reducing the federal civilian workforce by nearly 12%, or 260,000 employees, from a total of 2.3 million, primarily through threats of termination, buyouts, and early retirement incentives, according to a Reuters analysis of agency exits.

Musk’s involvement in politics has sparked protests, and several investors have urged him to resign from his role as Trump’s adviser and focus more on managing Tesla.

After investing close to $300 million to support Trump’s presidential campaign and other Republican candidates last year, he mentioned earlier this month that he plans to significantly decrease his political contributions.

 “I believe I have contributed enough,” Musk said at an economic forum in Qatar.