Elon Musk recently left his role as a government employee, marking the end of a tumultuous tenure in Washington D.C. The billionaire had been leading the Department of Government Efficiency since taking the job, but struggled to deliver on cost savings promises, resulting in criticism and protests that have damaged his business empire.
During a warm sendoff ceremony at the Oval Office, President Donald Trump thanked Musk for his work, describing him as someone who has “delivered a colossal change” in government operations. However, Musk’s true impact on the federal government remains disputed, with critics pointing out that he shuttered agencies and instituted mass layoffs without sufficient cost savings.
Musk had vowed to continue working on DOGE, the initiative aimed at cutting costs in the federal government, but his efforts have been met with skepticism. The project has yielded around $160 billion in savings, far short of Musk’s initial promises. Experts warn that most of these savings may be undone by the costs of reinstating workers and defending cases in court.
The backlash against Musk’s DOGE initiative took a toll on his reputation, both personally and professionally. During the Oval Office ceremony, Musk revealed that he had been punched in the face by his young son, X, resulting in a black eye. He also sidestepped questions about alleged drug use during the 2024 campaign.
Trump fielded questions about various topics, including French President Emmanuel Macron’s marital incident and a potential pardon for rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs. The event marked Musk’s exit from his role as a government employee, but it remains to be seen how this will affect his businesses, particularly Tesla and SpaceX.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/30/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-leaves-sendoff/83947782007