Elon Musk plans to step down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), frustrated by what he sees as relentless and unethical criticism from political opponents on the left, The Washington Post reports. Musk's special civil servant status expires at the end of next month, but an official date for his resignation has not yet been announced.
A source familiar with Musk’s thinking told The Post that he believes that DOGE initiatives have taken on a life of their own, and that his staff already work at many federal agencies, so his departure would not harm the ongoing reform of the US government. However, Musk’s departure from the Trump administration could also indicate a decrease in his influence.
The New York Times reported last week that the acting IRS commissioner was replaced after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant objected to Musk’s pick. Other officials have complained that Musk’s spending cuts are being implemented without coordination, leading to strained interdepartmental relations.
Meanwhile, problems are also mounting at one of Musk's businesses, electric car maker Tesla. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives urged Musk to "Musk needs to leave the government, take a major step back on DOGE, and get back to being CEO of Tesla full-time," warning of a "code red" for the automaker. "Tesla has unfortunately become a political symbol globally of the Trump Administration/DOGE," Ives wrote to clients, predicting a potential permanent 15-20% decline in demand if Musk gets bogged down in partisan bickering.
The Washington Post also reported that Musk’s order requiring federal employees to send weekly emails listing five accomplishments was quietly rescinded by the Office of Personnel Management just two days after it was issued. Some agencies have dropped the mandate altogether, while others use it sporadically, leading many employees to treat it as a bureaucratic joke rather than a serious performance evaluation tool.