Musk is leaving Trump

“As my appointed term as a special government employee comes to an end, I want to thank President Trump for the opportunity to cut useless spending. DOGE's mission will only grow stronger over time, becoming a way of life throughout the government,” he said.

Musk resigned amid growing criticism and political pressure. His reform program led to the reduction of tens of thousands of government employees and even the elimination of individual agencies, but the financial impact Musk promised has not been achieved.

Trump initially set the end of the initiative for July 4, 2026, giving DOGE nearly 18 months to find $2 trillion in savings, as Musk promised. He later lowered that goal to $1 trillion and then to $150 billion.

According to a White House spokesman, Musk initiated the firing process himself, which was coordinated with the president. Musk announced his decision after an interview in which he harshly criticized the Trump administration's flagship tax bill, the One Big Fine Law, saying it would not do much to reduce the federal budget deficit.

Musk joked that his position in the White House is “chief nobody” and insisted he is not mission-critical.

The department's activities have sparked a series of lawsuits over questionable authority and inaccurate performance data. Musk was accused of a potential conflict of interest, since his companies - in particular Tesla and SpaceX - have contracts with the state.

Photo: screenshot.