Trying to calm down the afraid shareholders Tesla after the company's sale broke in the first 4th of this year, Musk announced that his 24-hour commitment to DOGE would shortly be restricted to just 1 or 2 days a week.
The message for the markets is clear — Musk refocused on his companies. But his public withdrawal from Washington leaves DOGE without a leader, possibly destroying an institution that spent the first 100 days of Trump's second term, with momentum firing specialists and cutting funds for key institutions.
Step back of a billionaire
Without Musk's continued presence in U.S. president Donald Trump DOGE's orbit, he may lose his current force of leverage and influence. Heads of government agencies may regain powers to conduct their institutions comparatively more independently and implement cost-cutting activities at their own pace.
For a long time, many in the White home did not know how to talk to Musk erstwhile DOGE took drastic action, specified as a request from national workers weekly email with 5 tasks performed by the person.
White home officials believe that only Trump can say no to Musk.
— How do we tell the richest man in the planet to stop?
As Musk steps back, high-ranking White home officials are already taking steps to limit DOGE competence. They conduct, among others, actions to induce Musk to abandon the goal of cutting 1 trillion dollars. (about PLN 3 trillion 760 billion, counting at the current exchange rate) to just $150 billion (more than PLN 564 billion, counting at the current exchange rate) for fear of besides severe cuts.
“He is in a feud with Washington”
One of Trump's elder officials stated that reduced engagement of Musk will not radically change the way DOGE works, at least on paper. “It will not be a large change from the current situation,” he said.
The institution, which Musk had built, gained a bay in almost all corner of the executive power. The majority of DOGE employees work in government agencies as politicians without a time limit for their employment, continuing a quiet cleaning in small, independent bodies.
Lieutenants Muska, Antonio Gracias and Steve Davis, stay committed to directing the initiative, giving guidance to DOGE staff imprisoned in various agencies who proceed to reduce employment. This process has been going on for months.
The DOGE’s first mandate — the limitation of waste and fraud — went far beyond simply cutting costs. The institution has become powerfully active in another Trump administration priorities, specified as collecting immigration data to plan mass deportations.
Nevertheless, Musk's public withdrawal will bring relief to any cabinet officials who had tensions with a billionaire and DOGE around staff cuts.
Higher Trump administration officials were not amazed by Musk's decision. 1 of them, who is simply a large fan of Musk, said that in fresh days it has become increasingly clear that the technological mogul is feuding with Washington. This individual in a conversation with POLITICO stated that Musk's frustration is felt due to the fact that a billionaire is accustomed to being on his own and making final decisions in his companies.
Meanwhile, Musk concluded that his influence was weakening. The billionaire in fresh months has been brought to earth by another cabinet secretaries and people in the White House. The emphasis on coordinating DOGE's efforts with another authorities slowed down the staggering pace of the billionaire's action.
Chip Somodevilla / POOL / EPA / Getty Images / PAPElon Musk (illustration picture)
“I think I will proceed spending a day or 2 a week on government matters”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week regained control of the Government's Department of Efficiency, sacking DOGE worker Gavin Kliger.
One of the people acquainted with private discussions within the US President's administration said in an interview with POLITICO that defence Secretary Pete Hegseth publically praised DOGE's work, but privately expressed concern over plans to reduce tens of thousands of civilian workers.
In response, the elder defence officer said that Hegseth “is leading respective initiatives to meet the president’s intentions, including, inter alia, the removal of programmes DEI from the department and review of fitness and training standards in all services".
— erstwhile I think about cuts in DOGE, I don't know what else is going on, but we actually build things," said Transport Secretary Sean Duffy in early April, hitting a confrontational speech towards Musk.
— You can't just halt building a road or a bridge. The fresh air traffic control tower cannot be shortened, said Duffy.
Even if Musk promises to limit his commitment, there is no indication that he should retreat from politics completely. Far from it — White home officials say he and Trump have specified a strong individual relationship that a billionaire is expected to be in Washington at least erstwhile a week.
In his companies, Musk utilized to ask and participate in weekly meetings on current projects, presenting his ideas and detailed feedback. He participated in weekly brainstorm sessions on Tesla's Optimus robot and received weekly updates on voters' contact details during the presidential campaign.
"I think I will proceed spending a day or 2 a week on government matters as long as the president wants it and as long as it is useful," said Musk during a fresh gathering with investors.
