Elon Musk Steps Down from Trump Administration Role Amid Controversy

Elon Musk has announced his departure from the Trump administration, ending his temporary role as a Special Government Employee after leading efforts to downsize the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).

Musk shared the news on his social media platform X, thanking former President Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. His exit follows criticism of Trump’s recent budget bill, which Musk claimed undermines Doge’s mission and would increase the federal deficit.

During his tenure, Musk aimed to cut government spending by up to $2 trillion, though that figure was eventually revised to $150 billion. The initiative led to around 260,000 job cuts from the federal civilian workforce, though some firings were later overturned by court rulings.

Musk cited growing backlash, including criticism from within the Trump administration and negative impacts on Tesla sales and stock value, as key reasons for stepping back. Protests and vandalism targeting Tesla prompted federal warnings about domestic terrorism.

Now focusing back on Tesla and SpaceX, Musk confirmed he will reduce political donations after contributing nearly $300 million to Trump-aligned campaigns in the past year.