Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk has announced his departure from the Trump administration, ending his controversial 130-day stint as a Special Government Employee.
The exit, confirmed Wednesday night by a White House official, follows a growing rift between Musk and President Donald Trump over the administration’s proposed tax bill and internal government reforms.
In a post on his social media platform X, Musk thanked Trump for the opportunity to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), saying his tenure had come to a “scheduled” end. “The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time,” Musk wrote, despite mounting political pushback and internal clashes with White House officials.
Sources close to the administration confirmed Musk made the decision without directly notifying Trump, with one insider calling the departure “quick and unceremonious.” Musk’s frustration had reportedly boiled over after Trump’s proposed tax legislation, which Musk called “too expensive” and counterproductive to his efficiency goals.
DOGE, Musk’s brainchild aimed at shrinking the federal workforce and cutting bureaucratic waste, has been both praised and criticized.
A Reuters analysis revealed the department played a role in reducing the federal civilian workforce by 12%, or over 260,000 jobs.
Yet behind the scenes, Musk battled senior officials and openly ridiculed White House trade adviser Peter Navarro as a “moron.”
His growing disillusionment with Washington also stemmed from failed political investments, including a $25 million loss in a Wisconsin judicial race.
While Musk has been one of Trump’s top financial backers—reportedly pledging nearly $300 million to Republican efforts—he hinted at dialing back future donations, saying, “I think I’ve done enough.”
