Trump Predicts Elon Musk’s Departure from DOGE in a Few Months

President Donald Trump recently shared that Elon Musk will likely step away from his role with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a few months, as he returns to focus on his business ventures.

Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has been serving as a “special government employee,” a role that limits his time to 130 days per year, which is set to expire in late May.

Trump made these remarks while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday. He acknowledged that Musk would stay in his government role for a certain period but ultimately wanted to return to his companies.

“There will be a point at which the secretaries will take totally over,” Trump added.

This announcement marks the first time Trump has given a general timeline for Musk’s expected departure from his advisory position. The president stated that while Musk would likely leave in a few months, DOGE will continue its work even after his exit. The role Musk has played in DOGE has focused on reducing inefficiencies and streamlining federal operations, a mission Trump has supported.

Trump’s comments follow reports earlier in the week that Musk could soon scale back his involvement with the White House after helping lead DOGE, an initiative aimed at curbing wasteful government spending. Despite these reports, Vice President JD Vance dismissed claims of Musk leaving imminently, calling such reports “fake news” and emphasizing that Musk would remain a friend and advisor to both Trump and himself.

Musk’s involvement with DOGE has sparked both praise and controversy. Critics have raised concerns over the aggressive cost-cutting measures Musk has advocated, while others have praised his push for efficiency. As the 130-day cap on Musk’s role approaches, his influence on government operations is expected to continue, with some indicating that the work of DOGE is far from finished.

As Musk prepares to depart from his official capacity, Trump expressed his satisfaction with the CEO’s work but also noted that there are no immediate plans to rush Musk’s departure. However, once Musk steps down, Trump has indicated that the Cabinet secretaries will take over the ongoing work of DOGE.

With input from Axios, the Guardian, and Newsweek.