On May 29, both the tech industry and the political arena dropped a heavy bombshell—Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced via social media X that his term as a 'special government employee' in the Trump administration was about to come to an end. The White House quickly confirmed that the departure process would begin that evening local time. This cross-border attempt has finally reached its conclusion.
Looking back at Musk's political journey, it is filled with controversy and topics of discussion. The government efficiency department (DOGE) he led once claimed to drastically cut government spending and even set a trillion-level reform target. In practice, Musk demonstrated decisiveness and courage as an entrepreneur by conducting large-scale layoffs of federal agencies, reducing the National Security Council from 300 to 50 staff members. These actions were like throwing a giant stone into the calm lake of politics, creating ripples. Supporters believe this is a necessary means to break bureaucratism and improve government efficiency; opponents accuse him of ignoring the complexities of government operations, potentially harming the quality of public services and even triggering legal disputes.
The trigger for this departure may lie in Musk's differences with Trump over fiscal policy. Just a day before announcing his departure, Musk publicly criticized Trump's push for the 'Big and Beautiful Act,' stating that it was a 'massive spending bill' that would increase the federal deficit and undermine the reforms he led at DOGE. Although DOGE previously claimed to have cut $17.5 billion in government spending, there is still a huge gap compared to the trillion-dollar target, which undoubtedly frustrated Musk's reform ambitions.
The market reacted quite positively to Musk's departure. Many Tesla shareholders believe that this tech giant's return to the business sector will allow him to focus more on core businesses such as Tesla, SpaceX, and the X platform, potentially bringing new growth momentum to the company. To some extent, this may be Musk's 'graceful exit.'
Musk's brief political career is a vivid epitome of tech elites crossing into politics. He attempted to manage the government with the mindset and model of running a business. This bold attempt, though controversial, provided a new perspective for improving federal government efficiency. Government and business inherently have different operational logics and goals; businesses pursue profit maximization and efficiency optimization, while governments need to balance various interests, ensuring public service and social equity. Musk's reforms, while causing shocks in the short term, remain to be seen whether they can truly achieve long-term, sustainable improvements in government efficiency.
As Musk returns to the business stage, whether the reform achievements of DOGE he established can continue has become a new suspense. Will the positions that were cut and the policies that were adjusted 'resurrect' with his departure? Can the reform ideas and models he left behind take root and grow in Washington's political ecosystem? These questions not only concern the future operational model of the U.S. federal government but also provide important reference samples for government reforms worldwide. The wave of government reform initiated by Musk may have temporarily subsided, but its impact continues to ferment.
