Elon Musk has introduced that his time because the chief of President Donald Trump’s Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) is reaching its finish.
“As my scheduled time as a particular authorities worker involves an finish, I wish to thank President [Trump] for the chance to scale back wasteful spending,” Musk stated on X. “The DOGE mission will solely strengthen over time because it turns into a lifestyle all through the federal government.”
Tesla CEO Musk has applied a slew of far-reaching modifications in his bid to eradicate waste throughout the authorities. His cuts at federal businesses and the termination of billions of {dollars} of presidency contracts—a lot of which have reportedly since been revived—prompted a lot criticism.
And Musk has personally taken a success, too. His Tesla showrooms have been the topic of arson assaults and other people have boycotted each him and his companies in protest.
Learn Extra: Inside Elon Musk’s Conflict on Washington
Right here’s a glance again at Musk’s most controversial moments throughout his time as a “particular authorities worker.”
“Merciless” e mail to federal workers sparks mass criticism
In February, Musk’s management was questioned over an e mail despatched to numerous authorities departments, requesting that workers reply inside a sure timeframe and summarize their work for the week.
The e-mail—which boasted the topic line “What did you do final week?”—was despatched from the Workplace of Personnel Administration (OPM) to employees in a number of authorities departments. Musk added by way of social media that “failure to reply will probably be taken as a resignation.” Nonetheless, there was no point out of resignation within the e mail despatched to workers.
The e-mail—and Musk’s accompanying social media warning—garnered ire from a number of unions and outstanding voices.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Authorities Workers (AFGE), referred to the directive as “merciless and disrespectful,” and referred to as Musk an “out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire.”
Some division heads initially instructed their workers to deal with their very own inner efficiency overview course of, versus responding to the e-mail. FBI Director Kash Patel instructed workers in an e mail that they need to “pause any responses.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that the Pentagon had ended the initiative with its civilian workers, who will now not be required to ship an e mail specifying what they did the earlier week.
Overhauling a number of businesses by way of DOGE
Musk has garnered a lot controversy throughout his time main DOGE, particularly for his large cuts on the federal stage which, alongside actions from the Trump Administration, contributed to mass layoffs, the termination of presidency contracts, and efforts to shut whole businesses. DOGE claims to have saved an estimated $175 billion for the federal authorities, a quantity which has been introduced into query throughout numerous verification makes an attempt.
Musk’s purpose to chop $2 trillion {dollars} has resulted in a multi-state lawsuit towards Musk and DOGE, amid allegations that they violated the Structure by accessing authorities information programs, canceling contracts of federal businesses, and terminating federal workers.
In February, throughout an look on the Conservative Political Motion Convention, Musk displayed his penchant for slashing authorities spending by waving round a chainsaw on stage. He was gifted the mechanical device by Argentine President Javier Milei, who made the chainsaw a trademark of his when he campaigned to chop public spending in his native nation.
Musk’s straight-arm salute at a Trump rally
At a celebratory rally after Trump’s inauguration, Musk’s White Home profession received off to a contentious begin when he seemingly supplied a straight-arm salute on the Capitol One Enviornment in Washington, D.C., as he excitedly instructed the group: “My coronary heart goes out to you.”
The movement instantly garnered controversy, with some individuals, together with historical past professors who examine fascism and U.S. Representatives, expressing concern that the motion was just like a Nazi salute.
Some, together with the Anti-Defamation League, got here to Musk’s protection, arguing that he was seemingly making an “awkward gesture in a second of enthusiasm.”
Musk addressed the controversy himself, saying: “The unconventional leftists are actually upset that they needed to take outing of their busy day praising Hamas to name me a Nazi.”
DOGE workers resigning
A number of civil service workers resigned from DOGE, citing their refusal to make use of their experience to “dismantle essential public providers,” in response to a joint resignation letter despatched to the White Home chief of workers Susie Wiles on Feb. 25, that was obtained by the Related Press.
The workers had labored for the US Digital Service, however stated their duties had been built-in into DOGE.
Musk immediately responded to the AP article, calling it “pretend information from Related Propaganda.”
“These had been Dem political holdovers who refused to return to the workplace,” Musk stated of the workers. “They’d have been fired had they not resigned.”
There have additionally been mass resignations from top-ranking authorities officers since Trump returned to the White Home and arrange DOGE.
David Lebryk, the highest-ranking Treasury Division profession official, retired on Jan. 31 after clashing with Musk’s crew over entry to authorities cost programs, the Washington Submit reported.
Musk criticizes Trump’s “large, lovely invoice”
Shortly earlier than asserting that his DOGE function was coming to its scheduled finish, Musk criticized Trump’s “large, lovely invoice” in a public discussion board. Throughout an interview with CBS, he agreed that the spending invoice—which is now heading to the Senate—undermines the spending cuts led to by DOGE.
“I used to be upset to see the large spending invoice, frankly, which will increase the finances deficit,” Musk stated. “I feel a invoice will be large or it may be lovely, however I don’t know if it may be each, [that’s] my private opinion.”
It is not the primary time that Musk has brazenly critiqued actions or individuals from the White Home. He beforehand referred to as out Peter Navarro—the senior counselor for commerce and manufacturing, and the architect of Trump’s tariffs—calling him “dumber than a sack of bricks.”
