Elon Musk is set to conclude his tenure at the White House, putting an end to impromptu sleepovers and late-night ice cream sessions.
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ELON MUSK STEPS BACK FROM DOGE
Washington - Elon Musk announced on Wednesday that he's taking a step back from his hands-on role with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to focus on his businesses. Musk, who's been a constant presence at the White House, is shifting his focus to primarily running his companies like Tesla, which reported a dip in first-quarter profits this month.
"We have a rhythm going now," Musk told reporters at the White House. "So, the amount of time I need to spend here [in Washington] is much less. I can concentrate on my companies again," he added.
Throughout the first three months of President Trump's administration, Musk occasionally slept over at the White House, but he now expects to work on DOGE projects only one or two days a week and be present in Washington every other week.
While Musk remains confident in DOGE's success without his daily involvement, he refused to name a successor.
"Running DOGE is like practicing Buddhism," Musk said. "You wouldn't ask who would lead Buddhism."
Musk plans to keep his "comically tiny office" on the top floor of the West Wing, where he occasionally spent time playing video games like Diablo and Path of Exile. Occasionally, Trump, whom Musk describes as a "good friend," would invite him to stay over in the Lincoln Bedroom, especially when Musk was returning late from travel.
"He'll even call late at night and say, 'Make sure you get some ice cream from the kitchen,'" Musk explained, adding with a laugh, "Don't tell RFK."
During the DOGE team's presentation of their 100-day work, they highlighted their achievements and sought to counter some of the criticism they've faced. They claimed to have fewer than 100 staffers - some of whom will stay on, others who won't. Musk referred to DOGE as "basically a volunteer organization."
Critics have raised concerns about DOGE's reporting riddled with errors and misleading claims. Its savings figure does not account for expenses associated with its work, including legal fees, salaries, and money spent on carrying out the massive changes it has initiated.
When asked about the initial claim that DOGE could cut at least $1 trillion in spending, Musk acknowledged the target was still "possible," but conceded it would require dealing with a lot of opposition from the Cabinet and Congress.
Faced with questions about his repeated claims of fraud in government payment programs such as Social Security and Small Business Administration loans, Musk defended his stance on fighting fraud, stating that it would be impossible to prosecute all instances of fraud - including "fraud rings" they've discovered. He also pointed out that his team is primarily focused on closing the technological loopholes exploited by criminals, such as adding a "birth date" field to the SBA loan application page.
Musk, along with DOGE, has been accused of exaggerating claims about undocumented immigrants committing voter fraud.
"The first thing we want to do is stop the fraud, and thereafter ensure that at least some number above zero of the fraudsters are prosecuted," Musk said.
Antonio Gracias, a longtime Musk advisor and friend working with DOGE, reported that DOGE has referred 57 cases of voter fraud to the Justice Department. These individuals, Gracias explained, were "resident aliens who were registered to vote and may or may not have voted in elections."
When asked about the technical support Musk and DOGE have provided to the federal government, Musk highlighted the overhaul of the country's air traffic control systems and the upgrade to the White House's internet, provided by Starlink, a Musk-owned company. The upgrade is now complete, with reporters confirming it by logging into the high-speed service using a password provided by an aide.
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Enrichment Data:
Impact on DOGE ProjectsMusk has forcefully spearheaded cost-cutting initiatives within the DOGE department by canceling contracts, selling assets, and targeting perceived fraud. DOGE's work shifts focus towards more market-based solutions, rather than relying on traditional government spending methods. However, its narrow focus has limited the scope of savings realized to-date, with $150 billion in projected savings for FY 2026, despite its initial pledge to slash $2 trillion annually.
Controversies and Global InfluenceCritics argue that DOGE could dismantle the government and inspire similar right-wing efforts internationally. Comparable initiatives such as Build Canada have arisen, advocating for mass layoffs and restrictive immigration policies. The concentration of power in high-profile individuals like Musk raises concerns about their influence on governance and policy decisions.
- Elon Musk, known for his businesses like Tesla, will be focusing more on them after stepping back from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
- Despite Musk's departure, he remains confident in DOGE's success, likening it to the practice of Buddhism.
- Musk's role in DOGE will transition to a less frequent presence, with expectations to work only one or two days a week in Washington.
- The DOGE team highlighted their achievements during a recent presentation, noting that they have fewer than 100 staffers, some of whom will stay on.
- Critics have raised concerns about inaccuracies in DOGE's reporting, such as unaccounted expenses and misleading claims.
- Musk plans to continue fighting fraud in government programs, citing the need to close technological loopholes and prosecute instances of fraud when possible.
- In terms of voter fraud, Musk has reported 57 cases to the Justice Department, involving individuals who were resident aliens registered to vote.
