For 130 days, Elon Musk helped shape what the Trump team called a leaner, smarter government. Now, that experiment has quietly closed. Musk's term as a Special Government Employee—head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—has officially ended, coinciding with sharp criticisms of Trump’s flagship spending bill and growing tensions between tech and government.
Musk's stint in Washington ends with policy clashes, public backlash, and a renewed focus on his private tech ventures—and less on politics.
- Elon Musk ended his scheduled 130-day advisory role under President Trump.
- He clashed with Trump over a sweeping tax and spending bill.
- Musk noted protests and arson targeting Tesla linked to his political role.
- The DOGE initiative aimed at cutting federal red tape and waste.
- Musk now plans to step back from politics and focus on SpaceX and Tesla.
Musk leaves behind an idea, DOGE, that may continue to shape discussions on government efficiency, even as he returns to rockets and electric cars.
