Overview

• Musk’s 130-day tenure as a Special Government Employee ended on May 29 when he stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
• He publicly denounced Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” saying it conflicted with DOGE’s mission to cut wasteful federal spending.
• Under Musk’s leadership, DOGE enforced cuts that eliminated about 260,000 civilian positions and canceled contracts, prompting legal challenges and court orders to reinstate some staff.
• No successor has been named, leaving the future of DOGE’s cost-reduction initiatives uncertain without Musk’s direct backing.
• After exiting Washington, Musk signaled he will cut back on political donations and refocus on his businesses, including Tesla and SpaceX.