Elon Musk has officially concluded his short yet high-impact federal stint. After just over three eventful months, Musk is stepping down from both the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Donald Trump’s Cabinet . This shift marks a realignment of Musk’s priorities—and could have significant implications for Tesla, the crypto world, and broader markets.
Trump’s $TRUMP Cabinet: A Brief But Bold Chapter
Musk made his announcement in classic fashion—face-to-face at a Cabinet meeting in the White House on April 30. He stated that, starting in May, his focus would return fully to Tesla . “It’s been an honor working with your remarkable Cabinet,” Musk said to Trump and others. “Thank you—it was a privilege.”
Musk also applauded Trump’s first 100 days in office as “record-breaking,” a bold—but very Musk—statement.
Hints of this move had already surfaced during Tesla’s latest earnings call, where Musk said he would reduce his involvement in government work to “a day or two per week.” That was the first solid sign of his exit strategy.
DOGE Delivers—but Misses the Mark
Musk reported that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) saved the government $160 billion—a strong result, but far short of the $2 trillion goal he had initially promised.
At the Cabinet meeting, Trump mentioned a $150 billion savings figure, but Musk quickly corrected him: “$160 billion—but who’s counting?”
Still, some data showed a more complicated reality. The New York Times reported that DOGE-related disruptions like layoffs and productivity delays might cost the government $135 billion this year alone. Meanwhile, The New York Post confirmed Musk had physically left the West Wing, though his team continued working nearby in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
Despite the mixed results, Trump publicly praised Musk. “You’ve really sacrificed a lot,” Trump said. Musk replied humorously, “Well, they like to burn my cars, which is not great”—a nod to recent acts of Tesla vandalism tied to his government role.
Trump added, “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.” The room erupted in applause, highlighting Musk’s ongoing influence—even in politics.
Back to Tesla—and the Road Ahead
During the earnings call, Musk made it clear: DOGE is no longer his top priority. “I’ll stay involved as long as the president wants me to—and as long as it’s useful,” he said. “But the hard part is done.”
A printed DOGE report was handed to Trump during the meeting, serving as a quiet, symbolic close to Musk’s Washington chapter.
Now, he’s shifting back to what he does best building cars, leading Tesla , and possibly steering the next wave of crypto disruption.
As someone closely tracking the crypto sector, I’ll be watching. Whether or not DOGE the agency lived up to the hype, one thing’s for sure: Elon Musk never exits quietly.