The South African entrepreneur exits after citing frustrations with federal bureaucracy and criticism of Trump’s major spending bill.
Elon Musk has announced he is stepping down from his role as an advisor to President Donald Trump after leading efforts to cut and reform federal bureaucracy.
The billionaire entrepreneur posted his decision Wednesday on X, his social media site:
“As my scheduled time as Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. The mission of the @DOGE will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout government.”
The DOGE — short for Department of Government Efficiency — was a Musk-driven initiative aimed at reshaping federal spending. Initially, the South African-born magnate set out to cut $2 trillion from public expenditures, though that goal was eventually scaled down to $150 billion.
Throughout the process, Musk faced internal resistance and multiple lawsuits.
“The state of federal bureaucracy is much worse than I thought,” he told The Washington Post.
“I knew there were problems, but it’s really an uphill battle trying to improve things in Washington, to say the least,” he added.
Break after clash over spending bill
Musk’s departure comes just one day after he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda, saying he was “disappointed” by what the president calls his “big beautiful bill.”
The legislation mixes tax cuts with stricter immigration enforcement. Speaking to CBS, Musk described it as a “massive spending bill” that raises the federal deficit and “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“I think a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful,” Musk remarked. “But I don’t know if it can be both.”
From Capitol Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly thanked Musk:
“The House is eager and ready to act on the DOGE’s findings.”
Political involvement and distancing
During his time in government, Musk took on an active political profile. He contributed at least $250 million to Trump’s campaign, wore campaign hats at the White House, and hosted partisan events.
In February, Musk declared: “The more I get to know President Trump, the more I like him. Frankly, I love him.” Trump, in turn, praised Musk as “a great American.”
When Tesla faced a sales slump, the president allowed Musk to stage a vehicle showcase at the White House entrance as a sign of support.
However, Musk’s recent remarks suggest a growing distance: “I think I’ve done enough” in politics, he said.
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