- Elon Musk's role with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is temporary, and he is expected to leave by early June.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Musk's eventual departure from DOGE, aligning with President Trump's previous statements.
- DOGE, under Musk's leadership, has reportedly saved $155 billion, approximately $960 per taxpayer.
While Elon Musk may not be in the headlines as often as he used to be, the White House press secretary says he hasn't gone anywhere.
Recent reports say President Trump told members of his inner cabinet that Musk would be stepping back from his role with DOGE in the coming weeks. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, responded on X, formerly Twitter, that this wasn't true. As of April 15, there has been no announcement of Musk stepping down from his position.
On Friday, April 11, Musk announced that DOGE would lower its projected savings estimate for fiscal year 2026 from $1 trillion to $150 billion. As recently as a March 27 interview on Fox News,Musk said he was on pace to eliminate $1 trillionin federal spending by the end of May.
Here's what to know about Musk's position with DOGE and its future.
Is Elon Musk leaving DOGE soon?
In an X response, Leavitt said, "Elon Musk and President Trump have both *publicly* stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete."
President Trump told reporters late last month that while he's pleased with Musk, he would eventually return to running Tesla and SpaceX,USA TODAY reports.
"I think he's been amazing, but I also think he's got a big company to run,"Trumpsaid on March 31 in the Oval Office. "And at some point, he's going to be going back. He wants to."
When does Elon Musk's position with DOGE end?
Officially, Musk is designated as a special government employee, allowing him to work temporarily for 130 days.
According to the U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority, his employee status is "not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days.”
Using the 130-day timeline, Musk should depart his position at the end of May or early June. If he performs duties beyond the 130-day stint,he would still be a special government employee, as the 130 days are considered a "good faith estimate," according to the agency's ethics rules.
What happens to the $5,000 DOGE checks if Musk leaves?
If Elon Musk departs from his role overseeing DOGE, it likely will not impact whether Americans receive the proposed $5,000 stimulus checks.
Musk says that DOGE payouts areup to President Trump and Congress to decide. “It's somewhat up to Congress and maybe the president to, you know, as to whether specific checks are cut,” Musk said in a rally in Wisconsin on March 30,USA TODAY reports.
How much money has DOGE saved?
According to the Department of Government Efficiency's website, the agency had saved an estimated total of $155 billion as of April 14. Based on an estimated 161 million taxpayers, the department had saved about $960 per taxpayer.
The top agencies DOGE has cut the most from, as of April 14, are:
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Education
- General Services Administration
- Department of Labor
- Office of Personnel Management
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Small Business Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Homeland Security.
The department's website does not list how much money has been saved from each agency altogether.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
