Donald Trump has informed members of his cabinet that tech billionaire Elon Musk will soon step back from his high-profile role as a key adviser and government efficiency czar, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing three Trump insiders.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, was tasked by Trump to lead efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut government spending and dismantle various U.S. agencies.
His exit comes as his 130-day “special government employee” status, which granted him temporary exemption from certain ethics rules, nears expiration.
It also comes amid increasing frustration within Trump’s administration over Musk’s unpredictability, with many cabinet members viewing him as a political liability, Politico wrote.
Musk’s role has been questioned following a high-profile political defeat. On Tuesday, a liberal judge in Wisconsin won election to the state Supreme Court, easily defeating a conservative judge whose campaign was heavily funded by Musk and associated groups. The vote was seen as an early referendum on Trump’s presidency and Musk’s push to remake the U.S. civil service.
Asked on Monday if he wanted Musk to stay beyond his 130-day term, which expires in late May or early June, Trump told reporters: “I think he’s amazing, but I also think he’s got a big company to run. At some point, he's going to be going back. He wants to.”
There has been growing unease across the U.S. over Musk’s blunt approach to cutting tens of thousands of workers from the government workforce.
Republican lawmakers have faced the wrath of angry voters at unruly town halls while many of DOGE’s efforts have become the subject of lawsuits.
Tesla dealerships in both the U.S. and Europe have been vandalized, and in Europe, the electric car manufacturer has seen a sharp decline in sales amid consumer backlash sparked by Musk’s interference in regional politics.
The billionaire has frequently used his social media platform X to drum up support for far-right parties in Europe.
One senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely retain an informal advisory role and occasionally be present at the White House.
His exit comes as his 130-day “special government employee” status, which granted him temporary exemption from certain ethics rules, nears expiration.
It also comes amid increasing frustration within Trump’s administration over Musk’s unpredictability, with many cabinet members viewing him as a political liability, Politico wrote.
Musk’s role has been questioned following a high-profile political defeat. On Tuesday, a liberal judge in Wisconsin won election to the state Supreme Court, easily defeating a conservative judge whose campaign was heavily funded by Musk and associated groups. The vote was seen as an early referendum on Trump’s presidency and Musk’s push to remake the U.S. civil service.
Asked on Monday if he wanted Musk to stay beyond his 130-day term, which expires in late May or early June, Trump told reporters: “I think he’s amazing, but I also think he’s got a big company to run. At some point, he's going to be going back. He wants to.”
There has been growing unease across the U.S. over Musk’s blunt approach to cutting tens of thousands of workers from the government workforce.
Republican lawmakers have faced the wrath of angry voters at unruly town halls while many of DOGE’s efforts have become the subject of lawsuits.
Tesla dealerships in both the U.S. and Europe have been vandalized, and in Europe, the electric car manufacturer has seen a sharp decline in sales amid consumer backlash sparked by Musk’s interference in regional politics.
The billionaire has frequently used his social media platform X to drum up support for far-right parties in Europe.
One senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely retain an informal advisory role and occasionally be present at the White House.
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