Trump Credits Musk, DOGE With ‘Colossal Change’ In Oval Office Farewell

United States President Donald Trump on Friday relieved Elon Musk of his duties as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency while crediting him with “a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington.” Trump defended the work done by DOGE and asserted that it would continue after Musk’s departure. 

Trump also said while referring to the X CEO that “he is not really leaving” and will continue to work back and forth for the government. The US president stated that, “This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way.” Musk served as a “special government employee” in the Trump administration, completing his tenure of 130 days which is the maximum amount allowed for the designation. 

While accepting a ceremony key from the president, Musk said that, “I think the DOGE team is doing an incredible job. They are going to continue to be doing an incredible job.”

Department of Government Efficiency

DOGE began with the aim of slashing government spending claiming to cut $1 trillion or even $2 trillion in federal funds. However, the department came under scrutiny after mass lay-offs across federal agencies and the elimination of most programmes run by USAID, the main US foreign aid organisation.

The department was the centre of a controversy for several of its decisions. Multiple US news organisations had reported that DOGE had earlier sought access for the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS. The system houses sensitive financial information pertaining to every taxpayer, business and non-profit in the United States in its bid for efficiency.

According to reports, it was allegedly behind the controversial directive where federal workers were sent a buyout mail offering payment of their salaries and retention of their benefits until the end of September if they swiftly committed to resigning. 

The department that commenced work with both Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy at its helm, saw the latter leaving ship soon after commencing its operations. Reports suggested that it was due to deep "philosophical differences” between the two heads that could have led to his departure. However, Vivek Ramaswamy’s political ambitions to run for Ohio governor had also been credited to be a part of the reason.

The DOGE website currently accounts for $175 billion in savings as of May 29. According to BBC, evidence of how the savings were achieved was only available for $32.5 billion of the total amount.

During the ceremony, Trump commended Musk for "tirelessly helping lead the most sweeping and consequential government reform programme in generations". He further claimed that DOGE’s work has led to a change in the mindset of federal officials.