Musk announced that he plans to step back from his role at DOGE at the end of May, after leading what he claims is a $1 trillion reduction in the US deficit. As a “special government employee,” Musk’s term is limited to 130 days, which will expire around that time.
“I think we will have accomplished most of the work required to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion within that time frame,” Musk told Fox News – a testament to the efficiency with which he has approached this government role.
Trump has acknowledged Musk’s impending departure, telling reporters, “I heard him say that he’ll start easing which is always, he was always, at this time, going to ease out. And when he goes back to Tesla that will be taken care of, it was just, it’s artificial.”
The timing of Musk’s departure coincides with challenges at Tesla, where profits declined in the first quarter of 2025. During a call with investors, Musk indicated he would spend less time on DOGE but didn’t plan to abandon the project entirely.
“If the ship of America goes down, we all go down with it,” he said, defending the time he has spent focusing on slashing the size of the federal government. He also promised to continue spending “a day or two per week on government matters for as long as the president would like me to do so and as long as it is useful” – demonstrating his continued commitment to America’s fiscal health.
The Future of DOGE
According to Trump’s executive order, DOGE is scheduled to terminate on July 4, 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. When asked whether DOGE would continue operating without Musk, Trump responded, “I can’t tell you that.”
Whether DOGE continues in its current form after Musk’s departure or evolves into something new, its impact on Washington’s culture of waste and inefficiency will be lasting. In an era of mounting national debt and expanding government, the Department of Government Efficiency represents a rare and welcome commitment to the taxpayers who fund it all.