Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk told Tesla shareholders on Tuesday that he’s planning to dramatically cut back on his work for the Trump administration next month.
“Starting next month, I will be allocating far more of my time to Tesla,” the electric car company CEO said on Tesla earnings call, according to Business Insider.
Musk noted that “the major work of establishing” DOGE has been completed and that his “time allocation” to President Trump’s government cost-cutting initiative “will drop significantly” come May.
The billionaire tech tycoon, 53, indicated he’s interested in continuing to spend a day or two a week on government matters, “as long as it is useful,” and Trump is amenable to the idea.
Musk’s special government employee status expires at the end of May.Getty Images
Musk was already widely expected to leave his post as the unofficial head of DOGE at the end of May, when his special government employee (SGE) status expires.
Per federal regulations, SGEs can only work in government for 130 consecutive days — pegging May 30 as the Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink CEO’s last day as DOGE chief.
Earlier this month, Trump told reporters that he wants Musk to be a part of his administration for “as long as possible” but acknowledged that the world’s richest man may want to spend more time on his business endeavors.
Anti-Trump vandals have targeted Tesla cars, dealerships, and charging stations in recent weeks over Musk’s work with the Trump administration.Getty Images
“We’re in no rush, but there will be a point in time in which Elon’s going to have to leave,” Trump said on April 3, noting that Musk has “a number of companies to run.”
The president didn’t put an exact date on when Musk would be departing the administration but said he expects it will happen “in a few months.”
Trump insisted that Musk is welcome to stay “as long as he likes.”
New Tesla Cybertrucks were vandalized in Seattle on March 10.Jonathan Choe / SWNS
Tesla, which reported a 71% drop in net income for the quarter during the earnings call, has been targeted by arsonists and vandals nationwide over Musk’s work with the Trump administration.
“I think a great wrong is being done to the people of Tesla and to our customers,” Musk said of the spate of vandalism in an interview with Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier last month.
“I mean, Tesla’s a peaceful company that has made great cars, great products — that’s all it’s done,” he argued. “It hasn’t harmed anyone, and yet, people are committing violence.”
