On May 30, 2025, Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, sent shockwaves through Washington, D.C., when he announced his departure from his role as a special government employee leading the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a post on X, his social media platform, Musk wrote, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.” The announcement, abrupt and unceremonious, left his DOGE team reeling, not just because of his exit but because of what followed: Musk’s claim that DOGE’s mission would “only strengthen” without him, likening it to a “way of life” akin to Buddhism. This bold assertion, coupled with the chaotic legacy of his 130-day tenure and the unexpected continuation of DOGE’s influence, stunned his team and the public alike. As Musk returns to his business empire, the fallout from his departure raises questions about his impact, his frustrations, and the future of government reform in the Trump era.

The Abrupt Exit

Musk’s role in DOGE, created to slash federal spending and streamline bureaucracy, was always intended to be temporary, capped at 130 days due to his status as a special government employee. However, his exit on May 30 came with little warning. Sources report that Musk did not have a formal conversation with President Trump before announcing his departure, with the decision finalized at a senior staff level. In a CBS News interview, Musk expressed frustration with Washington’s resistance, stating, “The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized. It’s an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C.” His team, a group of engineers and operatives like Luke Farritor and Gavin Kliger, was reportedly blindsided, expecting Musk to remain a central figure in their mission to cut $1 trillion from the federal budget.

The announcement came after weeks of mounting tensions. Musk had publicly criticized Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” a $3.3 trillion spending package, calling it a “disgusting abomination” that undermined DOGE’s efforts to reduce the deficit. In an April 22 Tesla earnings call, he signaled his intent to scale back, saying his time allocation to DOGE “will drop significantly” to focus on Tesla, which faced a 13% sales drop in early 2025. His X post on May 29 confirmed the shift, stating, “Back to spending 24/7 at work and sleeping in conference/server/factory rooms.” For a team that saw Musk as the driving force behind their aggressive reforms, his sudden pivot to business priorities was a jolt.

The Shock: DOGE’s Unexpected Momentum

What stunned Musk’s team most was not just his departure but his assertion that DOGE would thrive without him. At a May 30 Oval Office press conference, flanked by Trump, Musk wore a “DOGEFATHER” T-shirt and declared, “DOGE is a way of life, like Buddhism. It’s permeating throughout the government.” Trump echoed this, saying, “Elon’s really not leaving. He’s gonna be back and forth. It’s his baby.” Federal workers from six agencies, including the Treasury and FBI, told WIRED that DOGE-style work was escalating, with team members like Edward Coristine continuing to push reforms in new departments. This unexpected momentum—despite Musk’s absence—left his team grappling with a paradox: the man who wielded a chainsaw at CPAC to symbolize bureaucracy-slashing was stepping away, yet his vision was taking root.

The shock was compounded by DOGE’s mixed record. Musk initially promised $2 trillion in savings, later revised to $1 trillion, then $150 billion. Reuters reported actual savings closer to $30 billion annually, with 260,000 federal jobs cut—12% of the civilian workforce. However, many cuts faced legal challenges, with courts reinstating agencies like USAID and rehiring fired employees. The Brookings Institution noted that overall government spending in 2025 slightly increased from 2024, undermining Musk’s claims of efficiency. His team, expecting to deliver “generational savings,” faced the reality that their efforts caused chaos, including purchasing bottlenecks and a brain drain of scientific talent, as per Reuters. Musk’s optimism about DOGE’s future, despite these setbacks, left his team stunned, questioning how the mission could succeed without his direct leadership.

Context of Frustration

Musk’s departure was fueled by clashes with Washington’s establishment. He butted heads with Cabinet secretaries, notably Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, over decisions like appointing an IRS leader without consultation. The Atlantic reported a heated West Wing argument where Bessent accused Musk of overstepping, while Musk mocked his hedge fund record. Musk also called White House trade adviser Peter Navarro a “moron” on X for dismissing his zero-tariff proposal. These conflicts highlighted Musk’s Silicon Valley approach—fast, disruptive, and unapologetic—clashing with government’s slower, consensus-driven processes.

His frustration peaked with Trump’s spending bill. In a CBS interview, Musk said it “increases the budget deficit, not decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.” This public rebuke, coupled with his failure to deliver a promised $100 million to Trump’s political groups, strained their once-close relationship. Musk’s earlier self-description as Trump’s “first buddy” gave way to distance, with Trump telling allies in April, per POLITICO, that Musk was becoming a “political liability.” The chainsaw-wielding bravado of February’s CPAC had faded, replaced by Musk’s realization that Washington was not Silicon Valley.

Public and Team Reaction

The DOGE team, described by WIRED as a mix of young engineers and loyalists, was left in disarray. Sources told NPR that Musk’s lack of communication with senior staff had long frustrated the team, with policies like demanding weekly accomplishment emails from federal workers overruled by Cabinet heads. The abrupt exit, without a formal team meeting, amplified their shock. On X, sentiments were mixed: @MagaMemeLord praised Musk’s “incredible work exposing waste,” while @PolicyWonk88 called his departure “a face-saving move after DOGE’s failures.” House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed to codify DOGE’s cuts, signaling political support, but the team faced uncertainty about their influence without Musk’s clout.

The public was equally stunned. Musk’s high-profile tenure, marked by viral moments like brandishing a chainsaw, had polarized opinion. Supporters saw him as a hero fighting bloated government; critics, including former employee Trae Cervantes, who quit Tesla in June 2025, cited his political stances as morally compromising. The backlash against DOGE’s cuts, including vandalism of Tesla vehicles labeled “domestic terrorism” by Attorney General Pam Bondi, added to the chaos. Musk’s claim that DOGE would become a “way of life” seemed audacious to a public grappling with the real-world impacts, like delayed Social Security checks and reduced Ebola prevention funding.

A Critical Perspective

Musk’s exit and the claim that DOGE would thrive without him must be viewed skeptically. His tenure achieved far less than promised, with $30 billion in savings against a $2 trillion goal, per PBS News. Legal setbacks and unintended consequences, like increased costs from staff cuts, suggest DOGE was more disruptive than efficient. Musk’s Buddhist analogy, while poetic, glosses over these failures, leaving his team to navigate a mission that lacks clear direction. His frustration with bureaucracy reflects a misunderstanding of government’s complexity, where checks and balances exist to prevent unilateral action.

The shock felt by his team likely stems from their reliance on Musk’s charisma and wealth to push reforms. Without him, as Brookings notes, DOGE operatives lack the clout to bypass Cabinet opposition, potentially limiting their impact. Musk’s pivot to Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, amid Tesla’s 45% stock drop in early 2025, suggests self-preservation over commitment to public service. His regret over political overreach, expressed in a Qatar Economic Forum interview where he said, “I’ve done enough,” hints at a recognition that his Washington stint damaged his reputation.

Conclusion

Elon Musk’s declaration that he was “done” with DOGE stunned his team, not just for its abruptness but for his bold claim that the mission would flourish without him. The continuation of DOGE’s influence, despite legal and practical setbacks, shocked a team expecting Musk to remain their driving force. His exit, driven by frustration with bureaucracy and a need to salvage Tesla’s fortunes, marks the end of a turbulent chapter that promised trillions in savings but delivered chaos. As Musk returns to his business empire, the world watches to see if DOGE can sustain its “way of life” or if Musk’s departure signals the limits of his disruptive vision in the face of Washington’s realities. The silence that followed his announcement wasn’t just shock—it was uncertainty about what comes next.