Democrats seek to oust Elon Musk from government role over 'enormous harm' caused by DOGE
WASHINGTON, DC: Elon Musk could soon be out of government duties as a cohort of 77 Democratic lawmakers has called for his dismissal.
The contingent has urged the White House to set a May 30 deadline for the tech billionaifre to wrap up his involvement with the administration, according to the Irish Star.
Democratic lawmakers call for Elon Musk's ousting from Donald Trump administration
The Tesla CEO's roles have been described in varying terms as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisor to President Donald Trump, and a "special government employee."
If Musk is classified as a "special government employee," federal regulations limit the tenure of special government employees to a maximum of 130 days, per the outlet.
Rep Greg Casar, who is leading the legislators, explained in their letter to Trump that Musk has leveraged his "special government employee" status to boost his wealth while taking billions from the national budget and has affected essential services.
The letter revealed by Axios read, "In his short time in government, Elon Musk has done enormous harm to working Americans."
The letter further mentioned, "Musk's reckless destruction of government agencies has led to everything from seniors having challenges accessing Social Security to veterans losing access to care at VA hospitals."
The document also mentioned possible conflicts of interest concerning the hefty federal contracts secured by Musk's SpaceX.
The members of Congress expressed their demand, saying, "We demand that you stop ignoring federal law and ethics rules to empower an unelected billionaire."
After dodging the subject for a prolonged period, the White House revealed that Musk is a "special government employee," which, they say, excuses him from the usual full disclosure rules for federal workers, the Express US reported.
Donald Trump tells reporters 'I don't need Elon'
Donald Trump was speaking during a televised meeting at the White House on April 10 when he let it slip that the head of DOGE was no longer crucial to his operations, signaling that their relationship has changed since he took office in January.
Trump: "I don't need Elon for anything other than I happen to like him ... I don't need his car. I actually bought one." pic.twitter.com/lUSuVqNvA5
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 10, 2025
The commander-in-chief initially praised the billionaire, saying "Elon’s done a fantastic job".
However, he then added, "Look, he’s sitting here, and I don’t care. I don’t need Elon for anything other than I happen to like him."
Trump then discussed how he had bought one of Musk’s Tesla cars as the company’s stock plunged after disappointing global sales figures and attacks on dealerships, per the Irish Star.
He said, "I don’t need his car, I actually bought one… They said, 'Oh did you get a bargain?' I said, 'No'. I said, 'Give me the top price'. I paid a lot of money for that car. But honestly, he makes a great car."
