Elon Musk Steps Down as DOGE Head Amid Criticism, Self-Dealing Allegations

Elon Musk concluded his 130-day tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump, a period marked by controversy and criticism. While Musk initially promised significant federal budget cuts, these targets drastically shrank from $2 trillion to effectively nothing, drawing skepticism from Trump ally Steve Bannon who demanded clear accounting of the project's findings on fraud. Musk publicly condemned Trump's recent "big, beautiful bill," a major Congressional spending law, criticizing it for increasing the deficit and cutting key social programs, an action that reportedly strained his relationship with the president. A report from Senator Elizabeth Warren's office accused Musk of abusing his government role to benefit his businesses, citing over 100 instances of alleged conflicts of interest and unethical conduct. Additionally, Senator Mark Kelly criticized Musk for causing harm through his management of DOGE, including the firing of veterans and other federal employees. Overall, Musk's stint at DOGE has sparked heated debate over his effectiveness, ethics, and political alignment within the Trump administration.