Elon Musk’s tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is set to be a short one, with an expected departure date around the beginning of June. This information was confirmed by Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, echoing earlier communications from President Trump.
Under Musk’s direction, DOGE has purportedly economized on a massive scale, with total savings reported to be in the ballpark of $155 billion. This equates to an approximate saving of $960 per taxpayer. From internal discussions within the President’s circle, it’s understood that Musk’s period in this role is nearing its conclusion.
Despite the rumors and discussions on this topic, as of April 15, there has been no public declaration regarding Musk stepping down. A rather unexpected announcement occurred on April 11 though when Musk proclaimed that the projected savings goal of DOGE for the fiscal year 2026 had been considerably reduced from $1 trillion to $150 billion.
During an interview on March 27, Musk revealed that he was on track to wipe out a whopping $1 trillion from federal expenditure by the end of May. Consequently, the downward adjustment of the savings target was quite a surprise for many.
In last month’s press interaction, President Trump expressed his satisfaction with Musk’s performance. At the same time, he also indicated that Musk would eventually resume his leadership roles at Tesla and SpaceX. He complimented Musk’s efforts but cited his commitments to his own companies as the reason for his imminent departure from DOGE.
President Trump suggested that while Musk had been outstanding in his role at the department, there’s an understanding that he also has large organizations to oversee. It’s widely believed that Musk will continue to excel in his primary role as the leader of these major tech corporations after his stint with DOGE ends.
Musk’s official designation is a special government employee, which means his appointment is temporary, for a period of 130 days. The U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority, clarifying Musk’s employee status, stated that it is ‘not expected to extend beyond 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days.’
By counting the 130-day timeframe, it is anticipated that Musk’s tenure will conclude at the end of May or the beginning of June. And if he continues to serve past the 130-day limit, he would still retain his status as a special government employee, since the stipulated 130 days are deemed ‘a fair estimate’ per the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s ethical guidelines.
Should Musk decide to leave DOGE, it’s unlikely to influence the proposed $5,000 stimulus checks for Americans. Musk has clarified that decisions on this front are majorly dependent on President Trump and the U.S. Congress. ‘The decision to cut specific checks mostly falls under the authority of Congress and perhaps the president,’ he stated at a rally in Wisconsin on March 30.
As per the homepage of the Department of Government Efficiency, the department has amassed an estimated total savings of $155 billion till April 14. The savings, calculated based on the total estimated number of 161 million taxpayers, amounts to about $960 per taxpayer.
DOGE has achieved substantial savings from a multitude of departments. As of April 14, the agencies from where the most savings have been realized include: Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, General Services Administration, Department of Labor, Office of Personnel Management, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Small Business Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Homeland Security.
The post Elon Musk’s Short Tenure as DOGE Department Head Expected to End Soon appeared first on Real News Now.
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