Elon Musk has indicated that he could step down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency once his term as a special government employee is finished.
The Tesla CEO and top Trump adviser can spend a maximum of 130 days in his current position, and, with mounting public and political pressure on him to step back, Musk could finish his work at DOGE as soon as May this year.
The Context
Musk has become one of the most-prominent members of President Donald Trump‘s administration due to his work on cutting federal spending via DOGE, but that publicity has been a double-edged sword. Musk has faced criticism for his aggressive rhetoric toward international actors and interference with politics both home and abroad, culminating in his failure to secure a Republican victory at the Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 1.
What To Know
In a recent interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, Musk said that he is aiming to cut a total of $1 trillion in federal spending by the end of his 130-day deadline.
As a special government employee, Musk is under a 130-day time limit in his current role as DOGE lead. Assuming that the start date for Musk’s position was the first day of Trump’s administration, this would mean that he is no longer able to lead the department on May 30.
This could be changed if the president decides to employ Musk as a permanent official; Trump has repeatedly praised his contributions to his administration.
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However, Politico reported that Trump and Musk have discussed him taking a step back from DOGE: “The president remains pleased with Musk, but both men have decided in recent days that it will soon be time for Musk to return to his businesses and take on a supporting role.”
The White House rejected the idea that Musk would be resigning, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt writing on social media: “This ‘scoop’ is garbage. Elon Musk and President Trump have both publicly stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete.”
Musk himself also rejected the reports, agreeing with Leavitt that the claims were “fake news.”
What People Are Saying
Doug Gordon, Democratic strategist, told Newsweek: “The calculation Elon and Trump were making is that he is still popular enough with the GOP base to drive turnout. Time will tell if that bet pays off or not.”
What Happens Next
Musk’s future in the White House beyond his term as a special government official is not yet clear. He is expected to reevaluate his approach to elections and local politics following the Wisconsin results.
