Elon Musk to Leave Government Role, But Will Stay Close to Trump, Says VP Vance

Billionaire Elon Musk will officially leave his position as a special government employee at the end of May. But according to Vice President J.D. Vance, Musk is not leaving the Trump White House completely. He will continue to act as a friend and adviser to both Vance and President Trump.

Speaking to Fox News on Thursday morning, Vance explained that Musk’s influence is far from over. “Of course he is going to continue being an adviser,” Vance said. “The work of DOGE is not even close to done. And the work of Elon is not even close to done.”

Musk currently leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a division created by President Trump during his second term to reduce the size of the federal government. In the past few months, DOGE has eliminated thousands of federal jobs, closed departments, and pushed major changes across government agencies.

Musk’s current role is temporary. He was hired as a special government employee, which allowed him to work for the federal government for up to 130 days without violating conflict-of-interest laws related to his businesses. That time period is expected to end in late May.

After that, Musk will no longer have an official position, but Vice President Vance made it clear that he will still be involved. “Yeah, that work is going to continue after Elon leaves,” Vance said. “He’s going to remain a friend and an adviser.”

White House officials confirmed that Musk will not have the same legal status after May, but did not deny that he will continue to play a behind-the-scenes role.

Musk has been close to Trump since Trump’s 2024 election victory. He has regularly visited the White House, joined meetings with top advisors, and flown with Trump on Air Force One.

The two men reportedly speak often about technology, the economy, and government reform. President Trump has called Musk a “patriot” and a “visionary.” In one unusual gesture, Trump even bought a Tesla car for the White House fleet, calling it “a symbol of American innovation.”

Although Musk is not a government employee by career, Trump has trusted him with major responsibilities. As the leader of DOGE, Musk has been one of the most powerful unelected people in Washington during Trump’s second term.

Not everyone is happy about Musk’s role in government.

Some members of Trump’s own Cabinet have complained about Musk’s behavior. They say he often acts without warning, shares plans on social media before informing agencies, and ignores traditional processes. One official said Musk creates “chaos” and “doesn’t understand how government works.” 

“He just tweets out changes before we’re even told about them,” said one source close to the Department of Transportation. “Then we have to scramble to figure out what’s actually happening.”

Democrats have also criticized Musk’s position. They say that someone with massive business interests — like Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and Neuralink — should not be given such power in the federal government. 

“Elon Musk is not elected. He is not accountable to the public,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). “Yet he’s making decisions that affect millions of Americans.”

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is one of the most dramatic changes in Trump’s second term. The goal is to make the federal government smaller, cheaper, and faster.

Under Musk, DOGE has:

• Cut more than 50,000 federal jobs

• Closed or merged over a dozen federal departments

• Reduced funding for multiple programs, including public health and education

• Forced federal employees to justify their jobs through weekly reports

• Used AI to recommend which positions to eliminate

Supporters of DOGE say these reforms are saving taxpayer money and reducing unnecessary government spending. Critics say essential services are being cut too deeply, especially in healthcare, education, and environmental protection. 

“You can’t cut your way to efficiency if it means losing what people depend on,” said a former CDC official who was laid off.

After his 130-day role ends, Musk is expected to return full-time to his companies: Tesla, SpaceX, X, and Neuralink. However, he will likely continue advising the White House informally.

There are also reports that the Trump administration may create a new Federal Innovation Council, which would include Musk and other tech leaders in an advisory role. This council would help guide modernization efforts across all government agencies.

Vance suggested that even without a formal position, Musk will still have influence over DOGE’s future. “This is a long-term project,” Vance said. “We’ve only started to chip away at the problem. Elon’s insight and drive will continue to be part of that.”

White House sources say the decision to let Musk step back was a mix of timing and politics.

While President Trump still supports Musk, some advisors have warned that his public behavior — including controversial tweets and podcasts — has become a distraction.

In recent weeks, Musk’s critics used his involvement in a failed court race in Wisconsin as proof that his presence is causing more harm than good. “We’re heading into the midterms,” said one senior White House staffer. “We need message discipline. And Elon doesn’t always follow the message.”

Still, officials insist the relationship remains strong. “He’s not being pushed out,” said one aide. “It’s a shift — not a split.”

Musk’s departure raises questions about the future of DOGE. Will the next leader have the same aggressive vision? Will the cuts continue at the same pace? Will public backlash slow the program down?

As of now, there’s no official word on who will replace Musk as head of DOGE, though names are already being floated, including Peter Thiel and Stephen Miller.

Regardless, the Trump administration is expected to keep pushing DOGE’s agenda. “This isn’t about one man,” Vance said. “It’s about changing the way government works.”