Elon Musk’s controversial tenure as a special government employee is nearing its legal limit, with the world’s richest man expected to step back in the coming weeks. According to former President Donald Trump, who commented on the situation, “He’s got a big company to run … at some point he’s going to be going back.” Trump expressed his desire to retain Musk’s services for as long as possible, indicating the high regard in which he holds the billionaire.
Musk's role is subject to a strict 130-day service cap, which is set to expire around late May. This timeline is based on his inauguration day, despite earlier claims from the White House suggesting that Musk would be "here to stay." Sources close to the administration revealed to Politico that Musk would be stepping down, a claim that Musk has vehemently denied as “fake news.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also dismissed the report, labeling it as “garbage.” She stated, “Elon Musk and President Trump have both publicly stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at Doge is complete.”
While Musk prepares to exit, his initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), is slated to continue operating until 2026 under Trump’s executive order. The high-level officials Musk appointed to lead various agencies are likely to persist in their roles beyond his departure. Since joining Trump’s team in January, Doge has figuratively—and at times literally—wielded a “chainsaw” through government agencies.
Under Musk’s leadership, Doge has initiated significant layoffs, with approximately 10,000 employees from the Department of Health and Human Services affected this week alone. Furthermore, Doge aims to eliminate entire agencies, such as the humanitarian-focused USAID and the state-backed global media outlet Voice of America. Reports indicate that around 56,000 federal jobs have been cut since January 20, with an additional 75,000 employees accepting voluntary buyouts and plans for at least 171,000 further reductions, according to the New York Times.
Public response to Musk’s actions has been largely negative. A recent poll conducted by Marquette Law School revealed that only 41% of Americans approve of Doge’s efforts, while Musk’s personal approval rating was even lower at 38%. A mid-March Quinnipiac poll indicated that over half of the population believes Musk and Doge are detrimental to the United States.
Despite these criticisms, Doge claims to have achieved $140 billion in savings, though investigative reporters have pointed out significant errors in these figures. Musk has expressed his ambition to complete the necessary work to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion before his tenure concludes.
There are growing conflict-of-interest concerns regarding Musk's involvement in government, especially given the extensive contracts his companies hold with the federal government. As a special government employee, Musk's financial disclosure forms remain confidential, raising questions about transparency. Notably, USAID had begun investigating oversight issues related to Starlink terminals sent to Ukraine, and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau faced scrutiny shortly after publishing a rule that could impact companies like X, which was planning a partnership with Visa.
In summary, as Elon Musk’s controversial government service approaches its end, the implications of his initiatives and the future of the agencies he has influenced remain critical topics of discussion. With public opinion largely against him, the long-term effects of Doge’s policies on federal bureaucracy will be closely monitored as the billionaire transitions back to his primary business ventures.
