Overview

• Elon Musk officially stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency on May 30, concluding a four-month stint in the Trump administration.
• He delivered roughly $160 billion in spending reductions against an initial pledge of $2 trillion, with independent estimates placing actual savings as low as $2 billion.
• His aggressive restructuring methods and alleged conflicts of interest drew criticism from experts and some White House officials alike.
• Donald Trump lauded Musk as “formidable” at a White House press conference and said the billionaire will remain an adviser and friend.
• Senior officials pledge that the unit’s work on waste, fraud and abuse will continue, but some former members predict it will collapse without Musk’s leadership.