Elon Musk steps down from Trump's cost-cutting team
Elon Musk announced the conclusion of his role in the Donald Trump administration, where he served as a special government employee.
What do you need to know?
- Elon Musk served as a special government employee in the Donald Trump administration, focusing on reducing expenditures.
- His time in this role is coming to an end due to the 130-day annual work limit.
- Musk expressed gratitude to President Trump for the opportunity to work on cutting unnecessary spending.
Why is Elon Musk leaving the Trump administration?
Elon Musk, the well-known billionaire and entrepreneur, announced on Thursday that his time as the leader of the cost-reduction team (DOGE) in the Donald Trump administration is concluding.
"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," wrote Musk.
In his post on platform X, he expressed hope that the government efficiency agency, known as Doge, would continue to grow and strengthen.
Musk served as a special government employee, permitting him to work for the government for 130 days a year. According to this limit, his work time ends at the end of May.
What are the reactions to Musk's departure?
The White House confirmed that the process of ending his role as a special government employee began on Wednesday evening. Musk had previously criticised some of Trump's decisions, including a bill involving multi-billion-pound tax breaks and increased defence spending.
Musk emphasised that his work in the administration focused on reducing unnecessary expenditures, which he considers crucial for government efficiency. However, his departure from the administration does not signify the end of his involvement in public affairs.
