Elon Musk Completes His Role as Special Government Employee
Elon Musk has officially concluded his brief tenure in the U.S. government. On May 30, 2025, his position as a Special Government Employee reached the 130-day legal limit for such roles. The White House marked the occasion by presenting Musk with a gold key to the White House in recognition of his service.
While the expiration of the time limit was the formal reason for Musk’s departure, there were underlying tensions that played a role in his exit. Musk had openly criticized President Trump’s tax bill, clashed with members of the cabinet, and found it challenging to navigate the bureaucratic processes and pace of federal agencies. Additionally, Musk expressed a desire to refocus his attention on his various businesses, particularly Tesla, which has been grappling with a slowdown in sales.
Despite stepping down from his government position, Musk is expected to continue serving as an informal advisor to President Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly expressed gratitude to Musk for his service, noting that the DOGE team, which Musk led, had uncovered significant inefficiencies and financial misuse within government systems. Johnson praised the team for saving taxpayers billions of dollars and indicated that Congress intends to act on their findings to streamline programs and prevent future fiscal mismanagement.
Following the announcement of Musk’s departure, Tesla’s stock saw a slight uptick of 0.12% in after-hours trading. Musk’s return to focusing on his businesses, particularly Tesla, has sparked interest among investors and industry watchers eager to see how he will steer the company forward in the wake of his government service.
Overall, Musk’s foray into government service may have come to an end, but his impact on the efficiency and transparency of government operations is likely to endure. As he transitions back to his role as a business magnate and innovator, the lessons learned from his time in government are sure to inform his future endeavors.