The departure of Elon Musk leaves unanswered questions about the fate of his "two trillion dollar" claim promised earlier.
White House Announces Elon Musk's Departure from Cost-Cutting Role
Elon Musk, the tech magnate who had pledged to help save a substantial amount of federal funding for the U.S. government, has ceased his role as a special advisor. This move follows the completion of his 130-day tenure under U.S. regulations.
In a statement issued by the White House, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that efforts to minimize wasteful spending, eradicate fraud, and curb abuse will persist. These efforts will be spearheaded by President Donald Trump and his cabinet, along with members of the cost-cutting initiative known as Doge, who will continue their duties within the U.S. administration.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Musk announced that his term as a special government employee had reached its end. Commenting on his exit, he stated that he would now focus more on the affairs of Tesla, the electric vehicle company he leads.
Musk had been identifying himself as a champion of cost reduction within the government. However, reports questioned his claimed savings of around $160 billion, stating that some of these savings were either double-counted or achieved before the commencement of the Doge initiative. Initially, Musk had promised savings of two trillion dollars during the election campaign.
Musk's political endeavors in Washington saw him gain unpopularity among some. Microsoft founder Bill Gates went as far as to accuse him of responsibility for future deaths of children in underprivileged nations. Musk's criticism stemmed from remarks made regarding the transformation of the U.S. development aid organization USAID into a "pulpwood" over a weekend. Additionally, some U.S. buyers refrained from purchasing Tesla vehicles due to Musk's right-leaning political views and his actions in Washington.
Musk invested over $250 million in Donald Trump's election campaign and became a trusted Republican. He was frequently spotted alongside the president during the early months of Trump's second term.
Independent analyses have raised concerns regarding the accuracy of the Doge initiative's savings calculations, with reports revealing errors, double-counting, and misleading claims. It is important to note that the most recent, publicly available figure stands at $175 billion, a figure that remains contested. Furthermore, genuine data indicates that overall government spending has actually increased by approximately six to seven percent compared to the previous year, indicating that the assumption of trillions in savings has not been achieved. Federal courts are still assessing the legality of some of the savings measures, while Congress has been asked to retroactively approve approximately $9 billion of past cuts.
- The focus on finance within the U.S. administration, particularly in terms of cost-cutting initiatives, will continue beyond Elon Musk's departure, as President Donald Trump and his cabinet, along with members of the cost-cutting initiative Doge, take on greater roles.
- Despite Elon Musk's exit from his special advisory role, his influence in business and politics is still contested, with ongoing debates about the accuracy of savings claims made during his tenure and concerns expressed by figures such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
