On April 30, Elon Musk officially stepped back from his short but headline-grabbing role in Washington. After just over three turbulent months serving with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Donald Trump’s $TRUMP Cabinet, Musk is returning his full attention to Tesla—a move that may carry major market implications.$TRUMP
In true Musk fashion, the announcement was made in person during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. Standing before President Trump and his team, Musk expressed gratitude and confirmed that starting in May, his time would once again be focused almost entirely on Tesla. “It’s been an honor to work with your incredible Cabinet,” he said. He also lauded the administration’s early performance, calling the first 100 days “record-breaking”—a characteristically bold claim from the tech mogul.$BTC
This move was somewhat expected. On Tesla’s recent earnings call, Musk hinted at dialing down his federal involvement, suggesting he’d only spend “a day or two per week” on government initiatives moving forward. That subtle signal has now turned into a clear transition.
The DOGE Report: A Mixed Outcome
During his time with DOGE, Musk claimed the department helped save the federal government $160 billion—substantial, though well below his initial $2 trillion target. Trump had mentioned $150 billion in savings during the Cabinet session, but Musk quickly corrected him with a smirk: “$160 billion, but who’s counting?”
Still, not all the data painted a rosy picture. Reports indicated that DOGE-related disruptions—such as layoffs, hiring delays, and productivity issues—could cost the government around $135 billion this year. And while Musk’s team remains operational near the White House, he’s already vacated his post in the West Wing.
A Graceful Exit
Despite the mixed results, President Trump publicly thanked Musk for his efforts, noting, “You really have sacrificed a lot.” Musk, never one to shy away from levity, quipped, “They like to burn my cars, which is not great”—a nod to recent acts of vandalism reportedly linked to his federal role.
Trump’s response? “You’re invited to stay as long as you want.” The Cabinet room responded with applause, underscoring Musk’s enduring influence—even in political circles.
What’s Next for Musk?
Back on the Tesla earnings call, Musk made it clear: DOGE is no longer the top priority. “I’ll continue for as long as the president wants and as long as it’s useful,” he said. “But the heavy lifting is done.” Starting in May, most of his time will once again be dedicated to Tesla—and potentially, to furthering innovation in the crypto space.
A printed DOGE report was handed to Trump during the Cabinet meeting, closing the chapter on one of the most unexpected political-tech collaborations in recent memory.
As someone following this intersection of tech, finance, and crypto closely, I’ll be watching what comes next. Whether or not DOGE lived up to the hype, one thing’s for sure—Elon Musk’s impact is always felt, wherever he goes.