Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, May 30: In a high-profile exit from the US administration, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has officially stepped down as Chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), drawing warm praise from President Donald Trump, who hailed him as "terrific".
Musk, who was appointed to lead the newly-formed DOGE department aimed at trimming government fat and bureaucratic excess, exits amid both acclaim and controversy. His final day in office was marked by a flurry of statements, including an announcement of a joint press conference with Trump scheduled for Friday afternoon at the Oval Office.
Taking to Truth Social, President Trump wrote, “I am having a Press Conference tomorrow at 1:30 pm EST (11:00 pm IST), with Elon Musk, at the Oval Office. This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way. Elon is terrific! See you tomorrow at the White House.”
Musk, for his part, thanked Trump and reiterated his commitment to streamlining government operations even beyond his official tenure. “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President Donald Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” he said in a statement.
The departure comes at a time of mounting protests and backlash against Musk’s administrative decisions, as well as following his criticism of Trump’s tax reform bill. Musk remarked, “A bill can be big, or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both. My personal opinion,” suggesting concerns over its potential impact on federal cost-saving efforts.
Despite the disagreements, Trump has maintained a strong rapport with the tech mogul. Musk was notably the largest donor to Trump's 2024 re-election campaign and played a visible role in both pre-poll activities and the subsequent transition to power. Trump had even proclaimed during his victory speech, “A star is born,” referring to Musk.
Under Musk’s leadership, the DOGE department became synonymous with aggressive cost-cutting, structural downsizing, and digitization of federal operations. Several departments were consolidated or shut down, reflecting Musk’s corporate-style efficiency models.
Following his exit, Musk has announced a return to his business ventures, stating he is once again "spending 24/7 at work" and has resumed sleeping in conference rooms—an image familiar to Tesla and SpaceX employees.
As Musk pivots back to his corporate empire, the legacy of his short but high-impact government stint is expected to fuel debate over the role of private-sector leadership in public administration.