Elon Musk has officially stepped back from his short but headline-grabbing role in Donald Trump’s Cabinet. After just over three months running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk says his focus is returning to Tesla. The billionaire said he’ll now spend only “a day or two per week” on DOGE. That’s a big shift from the full-time attention he gave the government earlier this year. His announcement came during a White House Cabinet meeting, where he personally thanked Trump and his team.
While Musk praised the administration’s progress, this move suggests he sees his mission in Washington as mostly complete. He called the first 100 days of the Trump administration more productive than any other in U.S. history. But behind the praise was a quiet admission: the government savings promised by DOGE didn’t match the hype.
Elon Musk’s $2 Trillion Dream Shrinks to $160 Billion Reality
When Musk launched DOGE, he said it would slash at least $2 trillion from federal spending. But by the time he left the West Wing, the actual number was just $160 billion. He corrected Trump himself during the Cabinet meeting—“$160 billion, but who’s counting?” Musk joked, trying to lighten the moment. It was a sharp contrast to the bold claims he made months earlier.
And even that $160 billion may be optimistic. A nonprofit group says the government could lose $135 billion this year from DOGE-related disruptions. Those losses come from layoffs, re-hiring gaps, lost productivity, and paid leave. In other words, the savings may barely outpace the damage. Critics now wonder if DOGE was more of a PR stunt than a real policy win.
Elon Musk, DOGE, and Donald Trump: A Complicated Partnership
Throughout the DOGE project, Musk enjoyed Trump’s public support. Trump called Musk a tremendous help and said he had “sacrificed a lot.” He even invited Musk to stay in the Cabinet as long as he wanted. But Musk’s work came with consequences. Tesla locations were vandalized. His reputation in some political circles took a hit. Still, Trump’s team clapped as Musk gave his farewell, showing there were no hard feelings—at least on the surface.
This wasn’t Musk’s first bold move into government spaces, but it may be his shortest. It’s clear now that DOGE was never meant to last. What remains unclear is whether it will be remembered as visionary cost-cutting—or expensive disruption.
Elon Musk Refocuses on Tesla, Leaving DOGE Behind
With DOGE’s foundation laid, Musk says it’s time to get back to what he does best: running Tesla. On a recent earnings call, he confirmed he’ll devote far more time to his car company starting in May. He said he’ll still help DOGE “as long as it’s useful” and if Trump wants him involved. But the era of Musk as a federal force is effectively over.
DOGE’s final report was placed in front of Trump during that Cabinet meeting. It was a quiet symbol of Musk’s exit from the political stage. Now, the world’s richest man is going back to factories, product launches, and shareholder calls—with just a bit less government in his life.
What DOGE Taught Us About Tech, Politics, and Power
The DOGE experiment showed what happens when Silicon Valley energy meets Washington bureaucracy. Elon Musk brought his usual intensity and over-the-top promises. Donald Trump gave him space to operate. But the results were mixed. Big savings turned into modest gains. Bold plans got bogged down in red tape.
DOGE is a case study in ambition versus reality. It also shows how tech leaders like Musk can influence government—without fully becoming part of it. Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on who you ask. But one thing is clear: when Elon Musk joins a political team, the headlines come fast, and the outcomes stay complicated.
