Elon Musk’s Future in Washington Looks Uncertain After Turbulent Times at Trump’s DOGE
Elon Musk may be nearing the end of his time in Washington. The billionaire entrepreneur, who has played a prominent role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), recently hinted that his work there is coming to a close. President Donald Trump confirmed as much this week, telling reporters, “At some point, he’s going to be going back” to running his companies. Trump also suggested that DOGE itself may be on its way out, stating simply, “It will end.”
A Major Setback in Wisconsin
Musk’s political influence took a hit Tuesday when voters in Wisconsin rejected his preferred candidate for the state Supreme Court. Despite pouring over $21 million into the race and making a campaign appearance in the final days, Musk’s pick, Brad Schimel, lost to Susan Crawford, securing a liberal majority on the court. The defeat adds to a growing list of challenges for Musk, including troubles at Tesla, where sales dropped 13% in the first quarter of the year.
DOGE’s Future in Doubt
The White House has not given a clear timeline for shutting down DOGE, which was never meant to be a permanent fixture in Washington. Initially slated to operate until July 4, 2026, signs indicate that its wind-down is already underway. Employees have been reassigned to federal agencies expected to take over cost-cutting efforts, and government-wide layoffs have begun to align with DOGE’s objectives.
Last week, Trump hinted at a transition, stating, “We think probably over the next two or three months, we’ll be pretty much satisfied with the people that are working hard and want to be members of the administration.”
Musk’s Role as a Political Lightning Rod
Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting measures and high-profile presence in Washington have made him a polarizing figure. DOGE was initially envisioned as an independent advisory panel, with Musk co-leading alongside biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. However, Ramaswamy left to run for Ohio governor, and DOGE became a government entity staffed by Musk allies. These operatives were tasked with canceling contracts, accessing sensitive data, and pushing for budget reductions.
As a special government employee, Musk is limited to working 130 days within a 365-day period. On March 27, he told Fox News’ Bret Baier, “I think we will have accomplished most of the work required to reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars within that time frame.” However, DOGE’s own calculations have been criticized as inflated and inaccurate, leaving its true impact in question.
Will Musk Stay or Go?
Musk has not committed to an exit date, and it remains unclear how the administration is tracking his 130-day limit. By May 30, it will be 130 days since Trump’s inauguration, potentially signaling the end of Musk’s tenure. Still, Trump appears reluctant to let him go, telling reporters Monday, “I’d keep him as long as I could keep him” and calling him “a very talented guy.”
While Trump is known for abrupt breakups with top advisers, that hasn’t been the case with Musk. “I think he’s amazing, but I also think he’s got a big company to run,” Trump said. “And so, at some point, he’s going to be going back.”
When pressed on whether DOGE would continue without Musk, Trump gave a vague response, saying some DOGE personnel might remain in federal agencies. “But at a certain point, I think it will end,” he concluded.
A Political Loss, but a Strategic Move?
Musk’s involvement in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race proved costly, both financially and politically. His preferred candidate lost, and Democrats capitalized on Musk’s declining popularity to energize voters. After the defeat, Musk took to X to downplay the loss, writing at 3:13 a.m., “I expected to lose, but there is value to losing a piece for a positional gain.”
With DOGE’s future uncertain and political setbacks mounting, Musk’s time in Washington may be drawing to a close. Whether his departure marks the end of his influence in politics remains to be seen.
