President Donald Trump announced last week that Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, will soon conclude his role as a special government employee (SGE) in the Trump administration. Musk, who has been involved in a controversial effort to reduce federal spending through his DOGE team, is expected to leave at the end of his 130-day stint as an SGE, which caps an individual’s workdays per year at 130.
Musk began his role on January 20, 2025, and with his term ending at the close of May, he will have completed his allotted time. The Tesla CEO’s departure had been anticipated, as Trump acknowledged Musk’s significant business commitments. In a statement, Trump expressed appreciation for Musk’s contributions, saying, “I think he’s been amazing, but I also think he’s got a big company to run… and at some point, he’s going to be going back. He wants to.”
Despite speculation about Musk’s departure, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed recent reports as “garbage,” clarifying that Musk and Trump had both agreed he would step down from his public service role once his work at DOGE was complete.
In a March 10 interview with Fox Business, Musk had hinted at extending his term when asked whether he would serve another year. Musk responded affirmatively, saying, “Yeah, I think so.”
Musk has been a major financial supporter of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, underscoring his close ties to the former president. However, recent political developments, such as the defeat of Musk-backed conservative Brad Schimel in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election, indicate that Musk’s influence in the political arena may be facing challenges.
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