Musk officially leaves the Trump administration, ending federal government reform mission
On May 29, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced via social media platform X that his term as a "special government employee" under the Trump administration is coming to an end, and he thanked the president for giving him the opportunity to push for government efficiency reforms. Shortly thereafter, a White House anonymous official also confirmed this news, stating that Musk's departure process will begin tonight local time.
Some analysts believe that Musk's departure was directly triggered by his differences with Trump on fiscal policy. Just one day before his departure, he publicly criticized Trump's promoted "Big and Beautiful Act" as a "massive spending bill," arguing that the bill increases the federal deficit and undermines the achievements of the government efficiency department (DOGE) he led. DOGE previously claimed to have cut $17.5 billion in government spending but has yet to reach the promised trillion-dollar target.
The market reacted positively, with some analysts suggesting this is Musk's "graceful exit," as Tesla shareholders especially welcome Musk's return to the company. During his tenure in the government efficiency department, Musk led a massive downsizing of federal agencies, including reducing the National Security Council from 300 to 50 staff members, but these radical reforms also sparked legal challenges and public controversies.
As his term ends, Musk stated he will refocus on business projects such as Tesla, SpaceX, and the X platform, while reducing political involvement. Observers point out that although this tech tycoon’s political attempts were brief, they deeply influenced the operation of the U.S. federal government, and the DOGE model he established may continue to have an impact.
Conclusion:
Musk's relatively short political career serves as a typical example of tech elites crossing into politics. Although his "streamlining government" reforms driven by entrepreneurial thinking have sparked controversy, they have provided a new perspective for improving the efficiency of federal agencies.
As this "Silicon Valley Iron Man" returns to the business realm, how his political legacy continues to influence the operational model in Washington remains to be seen.
Do you agree with Musk's approach of managing government operations like running a business? With his departure, will the reform effects initiated by his DOGE continue to last?
