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Elon Musk Departs DOGE

June 3, 2025

Elon Musk resigned from his role as a special government employee leading the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last week.

• While Musk is departing, he posted to X last week that the work of DOGE will continue and that the “DOGE mission will strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”
• Musk expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and indicated that the mission of DOGE would continue to influence government operations. 
• President Donald Trump acknowledged Musk's contributions, stating that while Musk is officially leaving, he would remain as an informal adviser.

By the numbers: Musk's tenure at DOGE was marked by ambitious goals to reduce federal spending by up to $2 trillion. "I think if we try for 2 trillion, we've got a good shot at getting 1,” Musk said earlier this year, according to Reuters. He described the $2 trillion target as a "best-case outcome."

However, DOGE has only reported savings of approximately $175 billion, a figure that has been met with skepticism due to questions over data accuracy and the broader economic impact of the implemented cuts. DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts have sought to reduce the federal workforce through a variety of firings, buyouts, and planned reductions in force.

• Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) recently vocalized his opposition to the bill on X, arguing that it would explode the country’s debt and undermine all the progress DOGE has made.
• His vote, among others, in the Senate will be key to ensuring the bill’s success or failure.

Contact James Montfort (Jmontfort@crefc.org) with any questions.

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