Trump prepares Musk exit as political fallout from DOGE grows

Elon Musk’s tenure as a high profile special government employee in the Trump administration is nearing its end, according to multiple insiders cited by Politico. President Trump has told aides and Cabinet members that Musk will soon transition out of his role spearheading DOGE, where he has led sweeping federal workforce cuts and championed deficit reduction.

While Trump has repeatedly praised Musk—calling him a “patriot” and “friend”—frustration has grown inside the administration over Musk’s unpredictable behavior, rogue communication style, and perceived political liability. His vocal support for a conservative Wisconsin judicial candidate who lost by 10 points underscored concerns that Musk’s prominence may be hurting Republican prospects ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The White House had given Musk the temporary status of “special government employee,” exempting him from many ethics rules for up to 130 days. That period is expected to expire in late May or early June. Musk told Fox News last week that DOGE’s work would be largely complete by then, claiming the initiative would have helped reduce the deficit by $1 trillion.

Despite public displays of loyalty, Trump has increasingly limited Musk’s scope. At a 24 March 2025 Cabinet meeting, he told agency heads they—not Musk—would lead future cuts. Officials close to the president said Musk will likely retain an informal advisory role, though his operational authority is expected to wind down.

Musk’s critics inside the administration say his freelance policy announcements and provocative comments—like calling Social Security a “Ponzi scheme”—have undermined Trump’s message discipline. Still, others credit Musk with absorbing criticism that might otherwise target Trump directly.