U.S. President Donald Trump held a farewell ceremony today in the Oval Office for Elon Musk, marking the end of the billionaire’s controversial tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — an experimental unit Musk led as a special government appointee.
Musk, dressed in black and wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with “The Dogefather”, received a ceremonial key from Trump, who praised him for implementing “colossal changes to the old ways of doing business in Washington.”
“I think the DOGE team is doing an incredible job and will continue to do an incredible job,” Musk said during the send-off.
Musk is stepping down to refocus on his private ventures — Tesla, SpaceX, and the social media platform X — after a tumultuous term in government that saw deep cuts across federal agencies and a controversial overhaul of the bureaucratic system.
A Disruptive Legacy
Under Musk’s leadership, DOGE oversaw the elimination of thousands of government jobs, with some agencies all but vanishing. Among the most notable was the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which previously provided humanitarian aid worldwide. According to Boston University researchers, hundreds of thousands may have died as an indirect result of these cuts.
Though Musk initially pledged to slash federal spending by $1–2 trillion, that goal was eventually scaled back to $150 billion. DOGE’s official website claims $175 billion in savings, but AP reports the figures are riddled with errors and embellishments.
Despite the fallout, Trump described Musk’s work as “the most comprehensive and impactful government reform effort in generations.” He added that Musk’s departure may be temporary, hinting that he could return in an advisory role.
“This may be his last day, but not really — Elon will always be with us, helping all the way,” Trump wrote on social media last night.
Musk’s Future & Political Influence
Musk, the world’s richest man, was a major donor to Trump’s re-election campaign and recently announced plans to reduce his political donations moving forward.
His position within the administration was always intended to be temporary, though Musk often downplayed concerns about the department’s future without him. At one point, he likened DOGE to a philosophy rather than a government office:
“DOGE is a way of life — like Buddhism,” Musk quipped to reporters recently.
Background
Musk’s government role has drawn both admiration and criticism. While some hailed his outsider approach as a bold step toward efficiency, others denounced the human cost of his aggressive downsizing. His tenure was also marred by allegations of drug abuse, including ketamine use, as reported by The New York Times.
For now, Musk leaves government service amid praise from Trump and continued speculation about his future influence over the administration — whether in office or from the sidelines.
