Washington, D.C.: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has officially stepped down from his role as a Special Government Employee (SGE) in the Trump administration amid protests and mounting scrutiny of his expanding corporate and political footprint.
In a post on X, Musk wrote:
“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.”
Source: Musk’s post on X
DOGE Mission and Budget Criticism
Musk played a key role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era initiative meant to curb excessive federal spending. However, in a video released earlier this week, Musk criticized the administration’s latest sweeping tax and spending bill, saying it undermines DOGE’s mission by ballooning the U.S. budget deficit.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it,” Musk said in remarks reported by CNN. “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both.”
Despite his departure, DOGE staffers will reportedly continue to operate within various federal agencies.
Corporate Headwinds: Tesla, X, SpaceX, and xAI
Musk’s return to the corporate frontlines follows a tumultuous stretch for his companies:
- Tesla is grappling with falling sales and a troubled Cybertruck launch.
- X (formerly Twitter) suffered a major outage, while its AI arm xAI’s chatbot Grok came under fire for spreading conspiracy theories.
- SpaceX’s Starship rocket broke apart over the Indian Ocean after losing control mid-flight this week.
CNN reports that Musk is once again “spending 24/7 at work”, even sleeping in conference rooms, to stabilize his floundering empire. Investors appear cautiously optimistic, with Tesla shares rising 25% in the past month—though still far below their late 2024 peak.
Looking Ahead: Robotaxis and Rebuilding Trust
Investors are particularly focused on Musk’s upcoming autonomous robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas, expected in the coming weeks. The success of that initiative could determine whether Musk can regain momentum in the electric vehicle market.
His political and professional balancing act continues to spark controversy and fascination, as both supporters and critics monitor whether Musk’s blend of “hardcore” work ethic and unfiltered public messaging will translate into concrete results across sectors.