The Trump administration had given a place to the cabinet to the big American industrialist Elon Musk, but Musk has abandoned him.
SNPNEWS.IN 29 May 2025: Musk has announced his departure from the Trump administration, concluding his role as a special government employee leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His exit, which began offboarding on May 28, 2025, follows a turbulent tenure marked by significant friction and unmet expectations. Musk expressed frustration with bureaucratic resistance and the political backlash his efforts to slash federal spending incurred, notably criticizing Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” for increasing the deficit, which he felt undermined DOGE’s mission. Initially aiming to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, Musk scaled back expectations to $150 billion, with DOGE achieving an estimated $175 billion in savings.
His departure coincides with the 130-day limit for special government employees, though tensions with administration officials and public criticism, including protests and a decline in Tesla’s sales, also contributed. Musk has signaled a shift back to focusing on his companies, like Tesla and SpaceX, and plans to reduce political spending after investing nearly $300 million in Trump’s campaign. While he remains on good terms with Trump, according to White House officials, Musk’s influence has waned, and he is now distancing himself from politics to rehabilitate his and his companies’ reputations.
Explain DOGE’s Impect
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), co-led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, was a temporary advisory group tasked with streamlining federal operations and reducing government spending during the Trump administration. Its impact, based on available information, is as follows:
Budget Cuts and Savings: DOGE aimed to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget but faced significant resistance, leading to a revised target of $150 billion. Ultimately, it achieved an estimated $175 billion in savings. These cuts involved workforce reductions, program eliminations, and regulatory rollbacks, though specific details on the programs affected are limited.
Workforce Reduction: DOGE implemented a federal hiring freeze and reduced the federal workforce by approximately 2%, primarily through early retirement offers and natural attrition. This impacted around 50,000 federal employees, with some agencies like the Department of Education facing significant staff cuts.
Regulatory Reforms: DOGE spearheaded efforts to eliminate regulations deemed burdensome, particularly those affecting businesses. It successfully rescinded several environmental and labor regulations, aligning with Trump’s deregulation agenda, though this sparked legal challenges and public protests.
Government Shutdown and Political Backlash: DOGE’s aggressive cost-cutting led to a partial government shutdown in late 2024, lasting 21 days, as Congress debated funding bills. The shutdown disrupted services and drew criticism from both Democrats and moderate Republicans, who argued it harmed vulnerable populations.
Public and Economic Impact: The cuts and shutdown contributed to economic uncertainty, with Tesla reporting a 1% sales drop in Q1 2025, partly attributed to Musk’s polarizing role. Public protests, including one in Washington, D.C., highlighted concerns over reduced social services and job losses.
Legacy and Limitations: DOGE’s impact was constrained by its advisory nature, bureaucratic resistance, and the 130-day limit for special government employees. While it achieved measurable savings, the long-term effects are unclear, as some cuts face legal challenges and others require Congressional approval to be permanent.
Musk and Ramaswamy’s departure on May 28, 2025, marked the end of DOGE’s active phase, with its recommendations now under review by federal agencies.
The initiative polarized opinion, lauded by supporters for tackling inefficiency but criticized by opponents for prioritizing cuts over social welfare. Its full impact depends on how the administration implements its recommendations moving forward.