Billionaire Elon Musk’s attempt to prolong his controversial leadership of the Trump administration’s cost-cutting initiative was declined by White House officials, according to two sources close to Musk. This rejection occurred before Musk’s contentious departure from his position as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last week.
Musk’s role as a “special government employee” limited him to 130 days of government service per year. Despite his requests to continue his efforts to reduce federal spending, administration officials did not extend his position, sources told The Telegraph. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, announced his departure on Wednesday evening, May 28, via X, expressing gratitude to President Donald Trump for the opportunity to cut wasteful spending.
His exit came a day after he criticized Trump’s spending bill as a “disgusting abomination,” causing tension with Republican lawmakers working to gain support for the extensive legislative package.
Reuters reported that Musk’s departure was swift and without ceremony, with no direct conversation between him and Trump prior to the announcement. The decision was made at a senior staff level, not by the president. Several senior DOGE officials are also leaving, including chief attorney James Burnham and longtime Musk associate Steve Davis.
In his Oval Office farewell, Trump praised Musk’s contributions, stating, “He stepped forward to put his very great talents into the service of our nation, and we appreciate it.” The president added, “And I just want to say that Elon has worked tirelessly, helping lead the most sweeping and consequential government reform program in generations,” during the ceremonial send-off.
DOGE reported savings of $175 billion through contract terminations, asset sales, and workforce reductions. This amount is a fraction of Musk’s initial $2 trillion goal, later revised to $1 trillion. Several news organizations questioned the validity of these figures and the methods used to calculate savings.
A Washington Post analysis revealed DOGE had overstated savings, including contracts that were already completed and paid. The agency subsequently reduced the originally listed savings by $9.3 billion after the analysis was published. The Partnership for Public Service estimated that DOGE’s actions could cost taxpayers $135 billion this fiscal year due to costs associated with placing employees on paid leave, rehiring mistakenly terminated workers, and decreased productivity across government agencies.
Sources pointed to several factors contributing to Musk’s contentious exit beyond his desire to extend his tenure. The administration’s spending bill removed electric vehicle tax credits beneficial to Tesla. Moreover, Musk’s efforts to persuade the Federal Aviation Administration to adopt his Starlink satellites for air traffic control were unsuccessful, and the White House withdrew the nomination of Jared Isaacman, a close ally, to lead NASA.
Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and other senior aides were particularly upset by Musk’s public criticism of Trump’s legislative priorities. In a CBS interview that aired after his departure announcement, Musk expressed disappointment with the extensive spending bill, saying it “increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”
Trump and DOGE managed to cut nearly 12 percent of the federal civilian workforce—about 573,000 positions—mainly through termination threats, buyout offers, and early retirement packages. The U.S. Agency for International Development faced particularly severe cuts, eliminating 83 percent of its programs and 5,200 contracts following a six-week DOGE review.
However, the efficiency initiative encountered significant legal challenges during Musk’s tenure. Fourteen states filed lawsuits alleging Musk exercised unchecked and unconstitutional authority over federal operations. Federal courts repeatedly challenged and, in some cases, reversed workforce cuts and agency eliminations executed by the DOGE team.
Musk acknowledged the difficulties he faced in transforming federal operations. He told The Washington Post that the federal bureaucracy was in worse condition than he realized, describing his efforts as an uphill battle to improve conditions in Washington.
Public opinion also turned against Musk during his government service. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found 57 percent of Americans disapproved of how Musk handled his responsibilities in the Trump administration. His political activities led to nationwide protests, vandalism at Tesla dealerships, and significant declines in the company’s stock price and vehicle sales during his government involvement.
Musk had previously indicated he planned to reduce his government involvement starting in May, telling investors during Tesla’s first-quarter earnings call that he would limit his DOGE involvement to one or two days per week for the remainder of Trump’s term. He also announced he would substantially reduce his political spending after investing over $290 million to support Trump and other Republican candidates.
Despite his departure from formal government service, Musk is expected to maintain an informal advisory role with the Trump administration. The DOGE initiative will continue with remaining staff members embedded across federal agencies, with its mandate extending through July 4, 2026. House Republicans are preparing to introduce rescissions legislation that would codify many of the cuts initiated during Musk’s controversial tenure.
