Elon Musk’s 130-day tenure as a Special Government Employee is officially coming to an end, but if President Trump’s latest statement is any indication, the billionaire visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX is far from done influencing the administration.
In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump announced a joint press conference with Musk in the Oval Office, marking his last official day — with an asterisk:
“This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way. Elon is terrific!” Trump declared.
Musk’s government service began in January, when he was appointed by executive order to head the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — a Trump administration initiative launched on Inauguration Day with the goal of cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.
Musk accepted the role under the “Special Government Employee” designation, which by law is capped at 130 days of service. That limit officially expires on May 30, making Thursday his final legal day in the post.
In a farewell post on X, Musk wrote:
“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 strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced that DOGE’s work is far from over, noting:
“The DOGE leaders are each and every member of the President’s Cabinet and the president himself, who is wholeheartedly committed to cutting waste, fraud and abuse from our government.”
According to a May 26 update on DOGE’s official website, the department has achieved staggering results:
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$175 billion in savings through asset sales, contract cancellations, fraud crackdowns, and other measures.
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That equates to approximately $1,087 in savings per taxpayer, a major talking point for Trump heading into the 2024 election cycle.
From unnecessary federal land holdings to inflated government contracts, DOGE has cast a wide net across federal agencies. But the sweeping cuts and Musk’s outsider influence have not come without resistance.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 30, 2025
Musk’s direct role in shaping executive branch priorities has drawn sharp criticism from House Democrats, particularly those on the Oversight Committee.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) described Musk’s influence as “reckless and illegal,” saying Trump was “outsourcing governing to a billionaire who answers to no one.”
MSNBC’s @anandwrites: “[Elon] didn’t just leave. He’s not just, you know, slipping out of Washington. He was chased out of Washington by democracy, by people saying no, by people protesting so much around his cars & dealerships that he lost billions and billions of dollars.” pic.twitter.com/yYZ3Xki4BK
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) May 30, 2025
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) warned during a February hearing that Musk had become an “unelected official” operating within the executive branch — a charge that Musk’s defenders reject, citing the legal boundaries of his limited appointment.
While some in Washington object to Musk’s role, Wall Street is breathing a sigh of relief.
According to Bloomberg, Tesla shares rose 4.2% this week, buoyed by news that Musk will be refocusing his energy on his business empire. Investors had expressed concern that his Washington duties were distracting from operational challenges at Tesla and SpaceX.
Musk reassured investors during a recent earnings call:
“Starting in June, I’ll be allocating far more time to Tesla and SpaceX now that the groundwork at DOGE is in place.”
