Elon Musk has decided: He’s leaving politics

Elon Musk has announced his departure from his role as one of President Donald Trump’s top advisors and the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The 53-year-old entrepreneur shared his decision on Wednesday via the social media platform X, which he owns.

Ambitious Plans and Administrative Resistance

As highlighted by the Associated Press (AP), this marks the end of a turbulent period in the Trump administration, defined by thousands of layoffs and a major restructuring of federal agencies. Musk’s initial ambitious plans aimed to cut federal spending by $2 trillion, but in the end, he managed to reduce the budget by only $150 billion. His efforts were met with significant resistance from other members of the administration.

Thanks to Trump

“As I conclude my planned tenure as a special government employee, I would like to thank President Donald Trump for the opportunity to work on reducing unnecessary expenditures. The DOGE mission will only grow stronger, becoming a fundamental part of the entire government’s operation,” Musk stated.

Criticism of the Budget Bill

His announcement coincided with public criticism of a key Trump administration budget bill, which Musk described as a “massive budget proposal,” expressing disappointment with its scale and format.

Frustration and Challenges

Despite his initial enthusiasm and financial support for Trump’s campaign, Musk repeatedly expressed frustration with Washington’s bureaucratic limitations. He admitted that attempts to implement reforms proved far more difficult than expected, calling it a “hard-fought battle.”

Planned Budget Cuts

The Trump administration has now submitted a $9.4 billion budget cut plan to Congress. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced further savings, in line with earlier DOGE recommendations. However, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the proposed changes could actually increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion over the next decade.