Elon Musk Exits DOGE After 130-Day Term Facing Challenges

Elon Musk has officially stepped down from his role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), acknowledging the significant challenges he faced during his tenure. Musk's departure comes as his term as a Special Government Employee leading DOGE concludes, having reached the legal maximum of 130 days. He confirmed his exit in a post on May 29, expressing gratitude to President Donald Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.

Musk's experience with DOGE was fraught with difficulties, which he described as an "uphill battle." In an interview with The Washington Post, he revealed that the federal bureaucracy was far worse than he had anticipated, making it extremely challenging to implement changes. He also criticized a multi-trillion-dollar tax break package approved by House Republicans, asserting that it would increase the budget deficit and undermine DOGE's efforts.

Despite the challenges, DOGE claimed to have saved taxpayers $175 billion since Trump's return to the White House. However, this figure has been disputed by multiple news outlets, which reported inaccuracies and overstatements in the claimed savings. The project's actual savings amounted to only 8.5% of Musk's initial goal to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, which he later revised down to $150 billion. DOGE's efforts resulted in the reduction of almost 12% of the federal workforce, or 260,000 employees, through layoffs, buyouts, and early retirement offers.

Musk's departure from DOGE comes as a federal judge allowed a lawsuit to proceed, accusing him and DOGE of illegally exerting power over government operations. The lawsuit, filed by 14 states, alleged that Musk and DOGE violated the Constitution by illegally accessing government data systems, terminating federal employees, and canceling contracts at federal agencies.

In a separate interview with Ars Technica, Musk admitted that he had spent "a bit too much time" on politics, which some critics claim has impacted Tesla's performance. He acknowledged that his involvement in DOGE was more significant than many believed, but he blamed media coverage for overrepresenting his involvement. Musk also noted that his time spent on DOGE was not as significant as many believed, and he had reduced his involvement in recent weeks.

Musk's departure from DOGE marks the end of a significant chapter in his career, as he shifts his focus towards other endeavors. Despite the challenges he faced, Musk remains optimistic about the future of DOGE, stating that its mission will "only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government."