Elon Musk 'stepping back' from DOGE as he stops working from White House but remains involved remotely

WASHINGTON, DC: Elon Musk is stepping back from his role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with the tech mogul no longer physically working out of the White House.

According to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Musk’s reduced presence is part of a gradual transition as he shifts his focus back to his companies, particularly Tesla.

DOGE to continue operations without Elon Musk's day-to-day presence

“He’s not out of it altogether. He’s just not physically present as much as he was,” Wiles told the New York Post, stressing that Musk remains involved remotely. 

“Instead of meeting with him in person, I’m talking to him on the phone, but it’s the same net effect,” White House chief of staff said.

She added that his staff at DOGE will continue their work from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, just steps from the West Wing. 

Wiles didn’t seem too concerned about Musk’s absence from the White House, telling the Post that even though the 53-year-old “hasn’t been here physically but it really doesn’t matter much.”

Despite his withdrawal from the day-to-day, Musk is expected to remain an advisor in some capacity until his official departure in May. As a “special government employee,” Musk is limited to 130 workdays per year in government service, a cap he is quickly approaching.

Wiles assured, “The people that are doing this work are here doing good things and paying attention to the details. He’ll be stepping back a little, but he’s certainly not abandoning it. And his people are definitely not.”

For months, Musk was a regular presence around Trump, personally briefing him in the Oval Office, sitting in on cabinet meetings, and frequently joining him on Air Force One, sometimes with his young son X in tow.

Musk shifts focus back to Tesla after laying groundwork for Department of Government Efficiency

While critics point out that DOGE has failed to meet its goal of slashing government spending, the department has still made waves primarily by cutting thousands of federal jobs and streamlining internal operations. Musk’s allies inside the department are staying put, Wiles confirmed, ensuring that DOGE's controversial work continues without interruption.

Speaking on a recent Tesla earnings call, Musk acknowledged the shift, saying, “I’ll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla, now that the major work of establishing the Department of Government Efficiency is done.”

He also noted his willingness to continue supporting DOGE in a reduced capacity, “for as long as the President would like me to do so.”

While neither Musk nor the Trump administration have provided exact details about his future involvement, the billionaire’s political retreat comes at a time when his companies especially Tesla face mounting financial and operational challenges.