Elon Musk’s brief and unconventional tenure in the Trump administration has come to an end. As of May 28, Musk is no longer serving as a Special Government Employee, marking the conclusion of his high-risk, high-visibility campaign to reinvent the federal government from the inside.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!At the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk set out to do what few before him had dared: treat the U.S. government like a tech startup in desperate need of streamlining. His approach—radical transparency, aggressive automation, and performance-driven budgeting—delivered both tangible results and intense backlash.
In just over a year, DOGE claimed billions in projected savings, slashed project backlogs, and cut dozens of redundant programs. Musk rolled out AI-powered systems that tracked procurement waste, reduced paper-based workflows, and allowed public access to interactive agency scorecards.
“Why should your bank app be more responsive than your government?” Musk asked during his first press briefing as DOGE head. “That makes no sense.”
Yet for all the progress, Musk found himself increasingly at odds with the system he aimed to transform. His critics said his reforms ignored the social responsibilities of government. Departments that faced sudden budget cuts pushed back, unions filed grievances, and watchdogs raised concerns about the speed and scope of DOGE’s restructuring.
Matters came to a head with the administration’s 2025 omnibus proposal, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Designed to inject trillions into new projects and national security initiatives, the legislation stood in sharp contrast to Musk’s vision of minimalism and precision.
He didn’t hold back: “This bill is government bloat in 4K,” he posted on X, setting off a media firestorm and further straining ties with the administration.
According to insiders, the White House had already been preparing for Musk’s exit. His SGE status—meant to be temporary—was allowed to expire without renewal. Both parties emphasized gratitude and mutual respect in their official statements, but few observers missed the underlying tension.
“Government needs innovation,” said Kennedy Brooks, a former Obama-era policy adviser. “But it also needs continuity, inclusivity, and legitimacy—things the startup model often overlooks.”
Still, Musk’s impact on federal operations may outlast his brief tenure. Several agencies are expected to retain the software tools and dashboards he introduced. Some departments have even launched internal “efficiency squads” modeled after DOGE’s structure.
Outside of government, the billionaire’s focus is back on familiar terrain: rockets, AI, and electric vehicles. SpaceX is preparing for its Mars colony feasibility trial, and Musk’s new AI initiative, xAI, is reportedly nearing a major release.
Asked in a recent podcast what he learned from his experience in Washington, Musk replied, “You can’t fix a machine if it thinks it isn’t broken. But that doesn’t mean you stop trying.”
Whether Musk’s stint in public service is viewed as a failed experiment or a daring push for change will depend on who’s telling the story. What’s undeniable is that he left an imprint—and perhaps opened the door for future technologists willing to wade into the messiness of governance.
