Elon Musk stepped down as chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on May 28, 2025, thanking U.S. President Donald Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. Musk emphasized that DOGE will continue to grow as a long-term reform initiative.
His resignation came a day after publicly criticizing Trump‘s major spending bill, saying it undermines the department’s cost-cutting efforts. Musk stated, “A bill can be big or it can be beautiful. But it cannot be both.”
Despite being a key Trump ally and campaign donor in 2024, Musk increasingly faced internal conflicts and admitted DOGE had become a scapegoat for broader administrative issues. While DOGE cut tens of thousands of jobs and downsized departments, Musk began distancing himself in April, acknowledging unmet goals.
His focus also shifted back to his companies, as Tesla faced attacks and SpaceX suffered mission failures, including the Starship explosion over the Indian Ocean during its ninth test flight.
