By Lydia Kane, Senior Correspondent
Elon Musk has officially stepped down from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), ending a headline-grabbing 130-day tenure that blended Silicon Valley disruption with Washington bureaucracy. The announcement was made during a joint press conference at the White House on Friday, where President Donald Trump presented Musk with a ceremonial golden key in recognition of his contributions.
The billionaire tech mogul, who was tapped by President Trump earlier this year to lead DOGE, was hailed for his aggressive cost-cutting initiatives and technological modernization of several federal programs. President Trump, flanked by House Speaker Mike Johnson, praised Musk for “saving billions” by eliminating “wasteful government spending” and “bringing private sector innovation into the heart of Washington.”
A Costly Campaign of Reforms
Musk’s tenure at DOGE was marked by sweeping—and often controversial—changes. He oversaw the closure or downsizing of more than 20 federal agencies, including large-scale layoffs at USAID and the Department of Education. Under his leadership, DOGE introduced a real-time spending tracker dashboard, automated several bureaucratic processes using AI, and canceled dozens of legacy contracts.
Despite the fanfare, critics argue the reforms were rushed and poorly executed. While Musk claimed DOGE saved the federal government $160 billion, watchdog organizations and former agency heads disputed those figures, suggesting the uncoordinated shutdowns and terminations could ultimately lead to greater costs due to rehiring and rebuilding essential services.
One of the more controversial moves included freezing all new international student enrollments at federally funded institutions, including Harvard University. The decision triggered immediate backlash and legal challenges from academic institutions and civil liberties groups. Harvard filed a federal lawsuit, alleging the policy undermines the United States’ global educational leadership and violates constitutional protections.
President Trump defended the policy, accusing elite universities of political opposition and prioritizing “globalist agendas” over American interests. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to redirecting education funds toward vocational and trade schools.
Personal Controversies and Media Frenzy
The press conference also served to address a series of personal and political controversies that have followed Musk throughout his time in Washington. Reporters noted Musk’s bruised eye, which he explained was the result of roughhousing with his young son. The tech CEO also brushed off questions about his past drug use, particularly after a resurfaced video reignited debates about the culture of leadership at Tesla and its potential influence on government decision-making.
Trump took the opportunity to weigh in on unrelated topics, including renewed trade tensions with China, investigations into federal funding of transgender-related research, and hints at possible future pardons—including, controversially, hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Musk’s leadership was at odds with Trump at times, particularly when he criticized a recent federal spending bill that added significantly to the national deficit. In one memo, Musk reportedly warned that the bill “undermines every principle of efficient governance” and called for “fiscal discipline rooted in results, not rhetoric.”
The Road Ahead
Although stepping down from his official government role, Musk confirmed he would remain an adviser to the administration and continue advocating for efficiency and reform across federal agencies. “The mission isn’t over,” Musk said. “I believe in a government that works for people, not politics.”
Trump praised Musk’s commitment and left open the possibility of future collaborations. “Elon’s a visionary,” the president said. “He’ll be back.”
DOGE, meanwhile, will continue under new leadership, though no successor has been publicly named. The department’s ongoing reforms are expected to remain in place, but their long-term sustainability is uncertain without Musk’s direct oversight.
As Musk returns his focus to his private ventures—including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company—questions remain about the long-term impact of his time in Washington. Some see his brief tenure as a necessary shake-up to an entrenched system, while others warn it may have done more harm than good.