In a news conference held in the Oval Office, President Trump praised Elon Musk on his last day, stating that he was “not really leaving” and would be back and forth to the White House to oversee his initiatives. Musk's pivotal role has been tied to Doge, short for the Cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, aimed at reducing government costs and tackling the $36 trillion national debt.
Musk's 130-day tenure as a "special government employee" has been contentious, sparking debates on mass layoffs in federal agencies, particularly regarding USAID programs. As controversy mounted, the success of Doge's proposed savings found scrutiny, with a BBC analysis revealing only part of the claimed savings were substantiated as of late April.
At the press conference, Trump praised Musk's contributions to federal reform, claiming the program has saved the government approximately $175 billion. Nevertheless, the opaque nature of Doge's reported savings raised questions about the program's efficacy.
Musk maintained that the vision for Doge will continue to be bold, targeting $1 trillion in reductions. He refrained from addressing recent criticisms of Trump's significant tax and defense spending proposals, despite expressing disappointment in the legislation's implications for Doge earlier in a CBS interview.
The conference also touched on Musk's personal matters, including questions about a bruised eye which he humorously attributed to an instructive moment with his son, X Æ A-12. As the press briefed on various aspects of his departure, Musk cleverly deflected allegations of drug use during the campaign, shifting focus back to more pressing issues.
While Musk might be stepping away from the formal role, Trump's remarks suggest that his influence will still loom large over the Trump administration's efforts to cut government expenditures and challenge the status quo.
Musk's 130-day tenure as a "special government employee" has been contentious, sparking debates on mass layoffs in federal agencies, particularly regarding USAID programs. As controversy mounted, the success of Doge's proposed savings found scrutiny, with a BBC analysis revealing only part of the claimed savings were substantiated as of late April.
At the press conference, Trump praised Musk's contributions to federal reform, claiming the program has saved the government approximately $175 billion. Nevertheless, the opaque nature of Doge's reported savings raised questions about the program's efficacy.
Musk maintained that the vision for Doge will continue to be bold, targeting $1 trillion in reductions. He refrained from addressing recent criticisms of Trump's significant tax and defense spending proposals, despite expressing disappointment in the legislation's implications for Doge earlier in a CBS interview.
The conference also touched on Musk's personal matters, including questions about a bruised eye which he humorously attributed to an instructive moment with his son, X Æ A-12. As the press briefed on various aspects of his departure, Musk cleverly deflected allegations of drug use during the campaign, shifting focus back to more pressing issues.
While Musk might be stepping away from the formal role, Trump's remarks suggest that his influence will still loom large over the Trump administration's efforts to cut government expenditures and challenge the status quo.
