The tech mogul prepares for a role transition while continuing to advise the government
Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is about to officially leave his position at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is located just steps from the Oval Office. However, his withdrawal from in-person work had not been previously disclosed.
“Instead of meeting him in person, I speak with him on the phone, but the end result is the same,” said White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to The Post during an extensive interview to mark Trump’s 100th day in office.
Musk, who played a significant role in the early weeks of Trump’s return to power, “hasn’t been here physically, but that doesn’t really matter that much,” Wiles added.
She also pointed out that “his parents are not going anywhere,” as they continue to work in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, adjacent to the West Wing.
It’s unclear how often Musk will return to the White House campus before completing his term as an unpaid special government employee, which is scheduled to end in late May. After that, he will continue to advise informally.
For several months, Musk was actively involved in Trump administration decisions, personally briefing the president in the Oval Office, attending cabinet meetings, and frequently traveling on Air Force One, often accompanied by his young son, X. He was focused on implementing plans to reduce the annual deficit by $1 trillion, aiming to cut it in half.
Although the exact figures of the cuts made by DOGE have not been released, Wiles stated: “He’s not completely checked out. He’s just not physically present as much as before.”
“Whoever is taking over the job is doing good work and focused on the details. He’s stepping back a little, but he’s not abandoning the project. And his team will definitely keep working.”
Musk was a key figure in the early months of the Trump administration, leading efforts to reduce the size of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its 10,000 employees, and supporting the Office of Management and Budget in eliminating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which employs 1,700 people.
Recently, during a Tesla earnings call, Musk announced that “starting next month, I will dedicate much more time to Tesla.”
The South African-born billionaire also mentioned that although “the main work of establishing” DOGE has been completed, he would continue to dedicate one or two days a week to government matters “if it’s helpful.”
Source and images: NyPost / Disclosure. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
