Elon Musk’s Government Role Nears Its End Amid Controversy

 Elon Musk’s highly controversial tenure in the federal government appears to be coming to a close as his legal service limit approaches. The billionaire entrepreneur, who has led sweeping cuts to the U.S. civil service since January, is expected to step down within weeks, despite earlier White House claims that he was “here to stay.”

“He’s got a big company to run … at some point he’s going to be going back,” President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday.

“I’d keep him as long as I could keep him,” Trump added, underscoring Musk’s influential role in his administration.

Under U.S. law, Musk’s status as a special government employee restricts him to 130 days of service, which is expected to expire by late May, counting from Inauguration Day. Administration officials told Politico on Wednesday that Musk would indeed be stepping down soon from his lead role.

However, Musk immediately dismissed the report as “fake news”, while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt doubled down, calling Politico’s claims “garbage”.

“Elon Musk and President Trump have both publicly stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at Doge is complete,” Leavitt said in a statement.

Government Overhaul and Mass Layoffs

While Musk prepares for his departure, his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) will continue operating until 2026 under Trump’s executive order. High-ranking officials appointed by Musk to oversee agencies are also expected to remain long after he leaves.

Since its launch, Doge has aggressively dismantled federal agencies, cutting roughly 56,000 government jobs since January 20 and prompting an additional 75,000 voluntary buyouts, according to The New York Times. The administration is planning another 171,000 job reductions in the months ahead.

Among the most dramatic actions:

• 10,000 layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services in a single week.

• The near elimination of USAID, the U.S. government’s humanitarian aid agency.

• Major staff reductions at Voice of America, the state-funded global media organization.

Doge’s sweeping reforms have met fierce opposition. A Marquette Law School poll found that only 41% of Americans approve of its work, while Musk’s personal approval rating stands at just 38%. A separate Quinnipiac poll in mid-March revealed that more than half of Americans believe Musk and Doge are harming the country.

Despite the backlash, Musk remains adamant about the success of his efforts. He told Fox News that Doge had already achieved $140 billion in savings, and he expected to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion before his tenure ended—though journalists have identified significant discrepancies in these calculations.

Conflict of Interest Concerns and Political Attacks

Musk’s government involvement has sparked serious conflict-of-interest concerns, given that his companies hold extensive government contracts. However, as a special government employee, his financial disclosure forms remain confidential, limiting public scrutiny.

Recent reports have pointed to potential political motivations behind Doge’s actions. For instance:

• USAID had begun investigating the distribution of Starlink terminals in Ukraine before the agency was nearly dismantled.

• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was abruptly targeted just a week after introducing new regulations that could affect X’s planned partnership with Visa.

• Multiple regulatory agencies tied to Musk’s business interests have faced abrupt restructuring or leadership changes.

At the same time, Musk has faced increasing political attacks from Democrats. Senator Cory Booker delivered the longest speech in Senate history, speaking for over 24 hours to criticize both Trump and Musk. Democrats have also taken issue with Musk’s $20 million investment in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race, calling it an unprecedented influence campaign.

The Road Ahead

As Musk’s official government tenure nears its conclusion, questions remain about the long-term impact of his policies. While Trump and his supporters hail Doge’s aggressive cuts as a triumph of efficiency, critics warn of lasting damage to federal institutions.

With Trump’s re-election campaign ramping up, Musk’s future political influence—whether inside or outside the government—remains a subject of intense debate.