BREAKING: After Slashing $1.2 Billion in Wasteful Contracts, Elon Musk Officially Departs Trump Administration as 130-Day Special Government Employee Role with DOGE Comes to a Close

Elon Musk Departs Trump Administration as 130-Day DOGE Role Ends, Leaving Mixed Legacy of Efficiency Gains and Criticism

Washington, D.C. – Tech billionaire Elon Musk has officially stepped down from his role as a special government employee in the Trump administration, concluding his 130-day tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The announcement, made late Wednesday night, marks the end of a high-profile and controversial stint that aimed to streamline federal operations but has drawn both praise for its cost-cutting measures and criticism for its limited systemic impact.

A Planned Exit After 130 Days

The White House confirmed Musk’s departure, with an official stating that his off-boarding process began Wednesday night, May 28, 2025. Musk’s role as a special government employee was always intended to be temporary, capped at 130 days by federal regulations—a limit he reached by Friday, May 30, 2025. In a post on X, Musk expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for the opportunity, writing, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.” He added that the DOGE mission “will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”

Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration began on January 20, 2025, when President Trump established DOGE through Executive Order 14158. The initiative, born from discussions between Trump and Musk in 2024, aimed to revolutionize federal efficiency by modernizing technology, maximizing productivity, and slashing wasteful spending. The name “DOGE” itself—a nod to the Dogecoin meme coin Musk has long championed—was suggested by an X user and enthusiastically adopted by Musk, who replied, “That is the perfect name.”

Achievements and Setbacks of DOGE

During his tenure, Musk spearheaded efforts that resulted in measurable savings. According to data from doge.gov, DOGE terminated 262 wasteful contracts worth $1.2 billion and reduced non-defense federal obligations by 20.5% compared to 2024 levels. These cuts were part of Musk’s broader mission to downsize the federal workforce and eliminate inefficiencies, a goal the White House had publicly supported as early as April 2025, when Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed rumors of Musk’s early exit, stating he would stay until the DOGE mission was complete.

However, the initiative faced significant challenges. A report from The New York Times revealed that 187 of the 262 contracts terminated by DOGE were later revived by federal agencies, citing operational necessities. This setback fueled skepticism about the long-term impact of Musk’s reforms. Critics, including X user Pippa Brackpool, expressed disappointment in DOGE’s overall effectiveness. In a reply to ABC News’ post, Brackpool wrote, “DOGE started well but ended up not achieving much at all!! That’s the end of that gimmick, back to the corruption now.” Her sentiment reflects a broader concern that the initiative, while ambitious, failed to address deeper systemic issues within the federal government.

Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Concerns

Musk’s role in the administration was not without controversy. Legal and ethics experts, as reported by The Guardian in February 2025, raised alarms about potential conflicts of interest, given Musk’s vast business empire, which includes Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink. These companies have billions in federal contracts and have faced scrutiny from regulatory agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration—agencies that DOGE’s work could directly influence. The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) highlighted the risks, noting Trump’s history of corruption and his refusal to divest from the Trump Organization as a precedent that amplified fears of favoritism under Musk’s influence.

Musk and Trump consistently downplayed these concerns. Musk stated he would recuse himself from decisions involving conflicts, but critics argued that his lack of oversight and the opaque nature of DOGE’s operations left room for ethical lapses. Harvard Kennedy School experts, in a separate analysis, cautioned that while efficiency drives like DOGE can yield benefits, they often fall short of addressing deeper structural issues. “Achieving greater efficiency will also necessitate identifying priorities and taking actions that would ensure that the things that matter most are not at the mercy of the things that matter least,” wrote Roger B. Porter, IBM Professor of Business and Government.

A Legacy of Debate

Musk’s departure has sparked a wider debate about the role of private sector leaders in government reform. Supporters argue that his outsider perspective brought much-needed innovation to a bloated federal system. The $1.2 billion in savings, though partially reversed, demonstrates the potential for significant cost-cutting. Yet, critics contend that DOGE’s focus on headline-grabbing cuts overlooked the complexities of governance. The Wikipedia entry on DOGE notes that some experts warned its actions could “negatively impact the economy and markets” and leave “taxpayers with an enormous bill and federal agencies in operational disarray.”

The initiative’s future remains uncertain. The White House has not clarified whether DOGE will continue under new leadership, though Musk’s X post suggested that its mission would endure as a “way of life” in government. However, with many of DOGE’s top figures tied to Musk, as reported by Reuters, it’s unclear if the initiative can maintain momentum without its ideological force.

What’s Next for Musk?

As Musk returns to the private sector, his influence on government policy may not entirely wane. His time in the administration has bolstered his public profile, and his businesses continue to intersect with federal interests. On X, users like Zombie Putin welcomed him back to the platform, with one writing, “Welcome back Elon!! Come play with us on here now.” Meanwhile, the debate over DOGE’s legacy—and the broader question of how to achieve meaningful government efficiency—remains unresolved.

For now, Musk’s 130-day experiment in government has come to a close, leaving behind a complex legacy of cuts, controversies, and unanswered questions about the future of federal reform.

Sources:

• ABC News X Post (May 29, 2025)
• doge.gov data on contract terminations and federal obligation reductions
• The New York Times report on revived contracts
• Reuters article on Musk’s role (April 2, 2025)
• The Guardian on conflicts of interest (February 27, 2025)
• Harvard Kennedy School analysis on government efficiency
• Wikipedia entry on the Department of Government Efficiency
• X replies, including Pippa Brackpool’s comment