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‘Don’t Let the Door Hit You on The Way Out’: Elon Musk Exits Washington

Source: Youtube
Billionaire Elon Musk has officially ended his role as a special government employee under the Trump administration. His 130-day term expired this week and closed a confusing chapter marked by sharp policy disruptions, deep internal divisions, and mounting political fallout. Sadly for him, the public expected the Elon Musk exit to happen sooner than later. Weeks of declining public appearances and growing tension between the billionaire and Trump’s senior administration officials left him no choice but to head out the door.
Musk joined the administration to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-created agency tasked with slashing federal spending. In that capacity, Musk spearheaded controversial shutdowns, including the dismantling of USAID. Needless to say, the eccentric billionaire’s methods were unconventional. He once brandished a chainsaw at CPAC to illustrate his commitment to cutting bureaucracy. But while he claimed DOGE identified $175 billion in savings, analysts and watchdog groups challenged those figures.
Tension with Officials and Loss of Influence
What began as a high-profile appointment turned into a strained alliance and eventually led to an Elon Musk exit. The billionaire’s cavalier approach drew backlash from cabinet officials, lawmakers, and even Trump’s closest advisers. Reports surfaced of screaming matches between Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Attempts to install his own leadership within the IRS were blocked internally.
Musk also clashed with congressional Republicans. Many objected to his demand that all federal employees submit weekly accomplishments or face termination. That mandate was eventually reversed, but the damage to morale remained.
Soon, Musk publicly distanced himself from Trump’s major legislative victory, the “Big Beautiful Bill,” criticizing it for worsening the deficit. Though the bill extended key tax cuts, it also added trillions to spending. “It undermines what DOGE is trying to do,” Musk said in a CBS interview. Trump declined to respond directly, while aides like Stephen Miller dismissed Musk’s critiques as irrelevant. Ultimately, Elon Musk exited the Capitol unceremoniously.
Decline in Political Capital
Musk’s influence further declined following the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, where his $25 million donation to a losing candidate raised questions about his political judgment. Internationally, his objections to an OpenAI-UAE partnership drew ridicule when his own company was left out of the deal.
Despite these setbacks, Musk still joined Trump’s trip to the Middle East. But foreign officials appeared more interested in meeting Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, than interacting with Musk. By May, he was largely sidelined. At a palace reception in Qatar, Musk waited in line like any other guest.
His government role may have hurt his business interests as well. Critics, including Bill Gates, blamed him for shutting down humanitarian programs. Tesla’s reputation suffered, and Musk admitted he had overcommitted to politics. “The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,” he told The Washington Post.
Elon Musk Exit Signals Shift Back to Private Sector
Musk’s departure appears to be mutual. Trump officials were reportedly uneasy about his growing conflicts of interest, especially after learning he would receive a sensitive briefing at the Pentagon. Meanwhile, Musk acknowledged he had spent “too much time on government” and said he would now focus on Tesla, X, xAI, and SpaceX.
At a recent SpaceX event, he emphasized this new focus, posting, “Back to spending 24/7 at work.” Though some of his DOGE allies remain in government, Musk’s direct involvement is over.
Still, the impact of the Elon Musk exit lingers. His aggressive approach to bureaucracy won both praise and condemnation. Some officials admired the intent, if not the method. Others see his exit as a necessary reset.
Whether the administration can continue any of Musk’s reforms without his disruptive leadership remains to be seen. For now, an Elon Musk exit from the government means a return to the private sector. Meanwhile, Washington will begin its recovery from one of its most unusual experiments in public-private collaboration.
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