Elon Musk has concluded his short but notable tenure in Donald Trump's administration, returning to Tesla management. After three months leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the billionaire announced he would now dedicate only a day or two a week to the project.
Departed Position and Return to Tesla
Musk announced his departure during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, thanking Trump and his team. He noted his shift back to Tesla, as his time in government shifted to less active engagement.
Financial Results of the DOGE Project
When launching DOGE, Musk promised to cut federal spending by at least $2 trillion. However, by the end of his tenure, this figure was only $160 billion. During the Cabinet meeting, Musk joked with Trump, correcting him, '$160 billion, but who's counting?'. Concerns remain that this may be an optimistic figure, as a nonprofit group reports potential losses of $135 billion due to DOGE-related disruptions.
Impact of Musk and Trump's Collaboration on Politics
Throughout the DOGE initiative, Musk garnered public support from Trump, who praised his contributions. Nevertheless, some of Musk's actions led to controversy and even vandalism at Tesla. It remains unclear whether DOGE will be viewed as a visionary cost-cutting effort or an expensive PR stunt.
Musk's exit from the government signifies a return to his business and the end of a brief but impactful experiment that revealed the complexities of tech and politics interaction.
