In a dramatic turn of events, tech billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is reportedly preparing to exit the political stage, citing what he describes as relentless attacks from the political left. Musk, who currently heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is expected to step down when his temporary government role expires next month.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Musk believes DOGE is now self-sufficient and can operate without his day-to-day oversight. “The department is already integrated with multiple federal agencies and doesn’t need his constant input,” an insider told The Washington Post. But behind the scenes, the story seems to be more complex — and turbulent.
Over the past year, Musk’s presence in Washington has been both headline-grabbing and divisive. While he was originally brought on to streamline government operations and bring Silicon Valley-style innovation to bureaucracy, many critics claim his methods have caused more disruption than improvement.
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One of Musk’s most controversial moves was his directive requiring federal employees to email him weekly lists of five tasks they completed. “Failure to send the email would be considered a resignation,” Musk declared in February. The backlash was swift. The Office of Personnel Management quickly responded, clarifying that the emails were entirely optional and that not submitting them would not lead to termination. Leaked internal memos later revealed that most of the emails were neither read nor tracked.
As his influence began to fade, tensions with other cabinet officials boiled over. The New York Times reported that the acting IRS commissioner was removed after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent objected to Musk appointing his own preferred candidate without consultation. Bessent, along with several other high-ranking officials, has reportedly grown frustrated with Musk’s unilateral budget decisions and lack of coordination.
Outside the political sphere, Musk’s role in government appears to be taking a toll on Tesla’s brand as well. Dan Ives, a respected analyst at Wedbush Securities, believes Musk’s political involvement is creating “real damage” to the company’s global image. “Tesla has become a political symbol—closely tied to the Trump Administration and DOGE,” Ives said in a client memo. He warned that the electric vehicle giant could see up to a 20% drop in demand due to consumer backlash, especially in Europe and Asia.
With criticism mounting on all sides, Musk’s departure from government seems inevitable. While some supporters see him as a visionary trying to reform a broken system, others view his brief tenure as a cautionary tale of ego over governance.
As Musk prepares to walk away from Washington, one thing is clear: his foray into politics is ending not with triumph, but with burned bridges, internal dissent, and a growing desire to return to his true passion—technology and innovation.
Whether his exit will restore Tesla’s image and stabilize DOGE remains to be seen. But for now, the Musk era in D.C. appears to be drawing to a close.
