Elon Musk’s government role nearing an end amidst challenges

Thursday 03 April 2025 - 12:00

By: Zahouani Ilham

Elon Musk’s government role nearing an end amidst challenges

Elon Musk has recently hinted at stepping back from his governmental role, with President Donald Trump acknowledging that Musk will likely return to focus on his businesses soon. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a government initiative Musk has been involved with, is also facing an uncertain future. Although DOGE was initially set to operate until 2026, it now seems to be winding down ahead of schedule.

The momentum behind DOGE faltered recently after Musk’s candidate for the Wisconsin state Supreme Court was rejected, despite Musk's significant financial support and campaign efforts. Additionally, his Tesla business saw a 13% decline in sales during the first quarter of the year. These challenges have led Trump to inform close associates that Musk will soon step away from his government duties. A White House source confirmed that Musk’s investors are pushing for his return to his companies, and Musk himself has indicated that his work with DOGE will be concluded within 130 days.

While DOGE’s closure is not yet official, government employees have begun transitioning to other agencies, with layoffs occurring to achieve the cost-cutting objectives Musk and Trump outlined. The future of DOGE is still unclear, but the program may soon reach its conclusion.

Musk’s involvement with DOGE was originally meant to be temporary, as he was hired as a special government employee with a 130-day work limit. His work was aimed at reducing the national deficit, but so far, DOGE has not met its target. Although Musk has not specified an exact departure date, his role is expected to end soon. Despite the challenges, Trump has praised Musk, emphasizing his talent and stating that he would keep him as long as possible. However, he also indicated that the DOGE initiative will likely conclude in the near future, signaling a shift away from Musk's direct involvement.