Elon Musk is leaving the federal government. What's next for DOGE? [View all]

(NPR) Elon Musk is leaving his role as the guiding force behind the Department of Government Efficiency initiative Friday after facing legal setbacks, clashes with Cabinet members and little evidence to support claims of savings or government efficiency.

Musk is set to join President Trump for a final press conference in the Oval Office on Friday afternoon, capping a 130-day tenure that also saw Musk face rising unfavorability numbers, financial stress on his business empire and a rift between the world's richest man and its most powerful political leader.

Framing his departure as the end of his "scheduled time" as a special government employee, Musk's departure from the federal government will likely do little to change DOGE's work carrying out Trump's vision of shrinking the federal bureaucracy and purging it of people and programs that the president disagrees with.

His role within the White House has been nebulous and confusing. While Trump and others have touted Musk as the leader of DOGE's restructuring efforts, lawyers for the government have insisted the billionaire has no legal authority and have downplayed his efforts.

https://www.npr.org/2025/05/30/nx-s1-5415641/musk-leaves-doge-what-comes-next