Overview

• Musk’s official stint as DOGE head ended when his special government employee term expired, and he will remain an adviser to President Trump.
• The Department of Government Efficiency’s website credits up to $175 billion in savings, while Musk cites $160 billion and critics warn reinstatement and legal costs could erase much of those cuts.
• He drew sharp criticism for extensive program eliminations and mass layoffs that nonpartisan researchers say undermined key federal services and triggered potential court battles.
• At the Oval Office send-off Musk appeared with a black eye—which he said came from a playful punch by his son X Æ A-12—and received a golden key from Trump in recognition of his work.
• Musk declined to address a New York Times report detailing alleged heavy drug use during the 2024 campaign when pressed at the farewell press conference.