Elon Musk ends his official position as a Special Government Employee.
Elon Musk has officially wrapped up his time working inside the Trump administration. His short-term role as a Special Government Employee ended this week, with the White House starting his off-boarding process on Wednesday night.
On his platform, X, Musk thanked Donald Trump for the opportunity to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force created to tackle unnecessary government spending. He posted:
“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending… The DOGE mission will only grow stronger as it becomes a habit in government.”
His 130-day appointment was close to hitting its legal limit. Though he’s no longer in an official role, a White House source confirmed Musk could still attend important meetings and may remain in the loop as an unofficial adviser.
But not everything ended on a friendly note.
Musk Criticized Trump Bill Before Exit
Sources have hinted that the decision was not entirely smooth. The exit comes just a day after Musk questioned Trump’s flagship “big, beautiful bill.” That piece of legislation was key to Trump’s economic plans.
Insiders believe this public criticism sparked tension between Musk and other top-level officials, possibly speeding up his departure.
Still, Musk remained active until his final day. On Wednesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard posted that Musk visited the ODNI offices to explore ideas around technology and national security partnerships.
His departure marks the end of a bold but short-lived chapter, though his presence in Washington’s back rooms may not fade just yet.
