Elon Musk officially ended his time at the Department of Government Efficiency on Wednesday night. He shared his goodbye message on his social media site X. He thanked President Donald Trump for giving him the opportunity to reduce waste in the federal system. His term was set to expire around May 30 and now his off-boarding is complete. Musk led DOGE as a special government employee for 130 days. He was appointed during the early days of Trump’s second term. He promised that DOGE would not die with him gone. He stated that the mission would grow stronger over time.

Musk Steps Down But Says DOGE Will Live On

Musk criticized the White House’s “Big Beautiful Bill” just days before stepping down. He called it too expensive and against the goals of DOGE. The bill's price tag sparked major debate and some believe it played a role in his exit. Despite that, the Trump team claims Musk will stay on as an adviser. Musk made headlines earlier in the month comparing his exit to the death of Buddha. 

“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.” – Elon Musk

He believes DOGE is now a lifestyle within the government. Photos from his tenure show him beside Trump and world leaders. At CPAC he received a chainsaw from Argentina’s president, symbolizing cuts to waste. He has also shown up in shirts labeled “Tech Support” while speaking to officials. Musk said DOGE will keep converting believers in its mission. He suggests that his leadership is not required for its success. The future of DOGE will be watched closely after his exit.