United States: On Wednesday, Elon Musk announced the end of his “scheduled time as a special government employee” through his social media platform X.
He extended gratitude to President Donald Trump for granting him the “opportunity to reduce wasteful spending” and revealed that the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) would carry forward in his absence.
“The Doge mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur originally from South Africa, stated.
In response to Musk’s departure, US President Donald Trump described the tech magnate as “terrific” in a social media post made Thursday.
“This will be his last day, but not really, because he will always be with us, helping all the way. Elon is terrific! See you tomorrow at the White House,” Trump posted.
During the farewell event, President Trump began by commending Musk’s efforts, saying he did a “fantastic job.”
“Our government is a little nasty on occasion,” Trump commented. “Yeah, at times,” Musk replied, according to BBC News.
President Trump then presented a video clip from CNBC on a laptop, highlighting a rise in the stock market.
What Was the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge)?
Despite its title, the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) was not a formal government department, which requires Congressional approval. Instead, it functioned as an advisory unit, born from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
Doge’s mission, as laid out in the order, focused largely on technological modernization to enhance governmental efficiency. The group’s work was scheduled to conclude by July 2026.
The department was known for its youthful, tech-driven staff, many of whom had little to no prior experience in government work, as reported by BBC News.
Elon Musk emphasized that Doge’s purpose was to dismantle bureaucratic inefficiencies, conserve taxpayer money, and help reduce the US national debt, which had reached $36 trillion.
The advisory group’s activities had included closing federal agencies, withdrawing funding from certain programs, and implementing large-scale layoffs.
